SOPHORA 



LABURNUM AND BROOM OBDEB gymnocladus 353 



excellent lawn and park trees when 

 sufficient space can be given them, the 

 light airy effect of their foliage and the 

 refreshing shade they give being highly 

 appreciated. 



S. platycarpa. — A Japanese species 

 with the habit and general appearance of 

 S. jajponioa, from which, however, it 

 differs a good deal in the fruits. 



Culture So. as above. 



S. tetraptera {Edviardsia tetra^tera). 

 A beautiful deciduous tree 6-12 ft. high, 

 native of New Zealand, with leaves com- 

 posed of 6-40 pairs of leaflets j-| in. long, 

 varying from broadly obcordate to linear 

 oblong. Mowers in May, yellow, 1-2 in. 

 long, in crowded racemes at the ends of 



the branches. The variety microphylla is 

 distinguished by its smaller leaflets. 



Except in the very mildest parts of the 

 country, perhaps, this species requires pro- 

 tection from frost. It is extremely elegant 

 on account of its finely divided foliage, 

 and its great masses of drooping yellow 

 blossoms. 



Culture etc. In most parts of the 

 kingdom it requires the protection of a 

 south wall, but may possibly succeed as a 

 bush in the mildest parts of the south and 

 west. It may be increased by seeds sown 

 in gentle heat in spring ; or by cuttings of 

 the young shoots inserted in sandy soil iii 

 gentle heat ; or by layering the branches 

 in autumn. 



CiESALPINIA.— A genus with about 

 40 species of pretty trees or shrubs, some- 

 times climbing, unarmed or with stiff 

 sharp prickles. Calyx with 5 imbricated 

 segments. Petals 5, usually roundish, 

 imbricated. Stamens 10, free, bent down, 

 filaments often hairy or glandular at 

 the base. Pod ovate, oblong, lanceolate, 

 or falcate, flattened. 



Sub-Oedek II. C^SALPINE^. 



Flowers irregular, rarely regular. Sepals and petals 5, or the latter fewer by 

 abortion, imbricate, upper one innermost. Stamens usually 10, usually free. 



described below with the generic cha- 

 racters as stated under G. canadensis. 



G. canadensis. — An ornamental decidu- 

 ous unarmed tree 30-60 ft. high, native of 

 N. America. Leaves twice pinnate, often 

 3 ft. long, with 4-7 pairs of pinnae, each 

 one having 6-8 pairs of ovate leaflets. 

 Flowers from May to July, polygamous, 

 white, in clusters at the ends of the 

 branches. Calyx with 5 narrow, nearly 

 equal segments. Petals 4-5, oblong. 

 Stamens 10, free, shorter than the petals, 

 with thickish, hairy filaments. Ovary 

 minute or wanting in the male flowers ; 

 sessile, with a thickened oblique stigma in 

 the female and hermaphrodite ones. Pod 

 oblong, somewhat falcate, thick, swollen 

 or nearly round. 



Culture a/nd Propagation. — This tree 

 loves a deep rich loamy soil and somewhat 

 shady positions. It may be increased by 

 cuttings of the roots inserted in bottom 

 heat in early spring, or from imported 

 seeds. 



C. japonica (C. se-piaria). — A Japan- 

 ese prickly tree said to reach a height 

 of 60 ft. in a wild state. Leaves twice 

 pinnate, graceful, of a pleasing soft green 

 tint, each pinna being composed of about 

 10 pairs of pinnules. Flowers in summer, 

 deep yellow, with pinky anthers in the 

 centre, and borne in racemes at the ends 

 of the branches. 



Culture and Propagation. — Caesal- 

 pinias are usually grown under glass, but 

 the species described above, if planted in 

 light, sandy, peaty soil in sunny situa- 

 tions, has proved quite hardy in this coun- 

 try. It may be increased by imported 

 seeds sown in cold frames on arrival or in 

 gentle bottom heat; or by layering the 

 branches in autumn. It is better to allow 

 the prickly stems to remain unpruned 

 except in cases where they become too 

 dense and prevent the ripening influence 

 of sunshine and air. 



GYMNOCLADUS (Kentucky Cof- 

 fee Tree). — A genus with two species 



G. chinensis (Soap Tree). — A hardy 

 Chinese tree having large twice pinnate 

 leaves, composed of numerous bluntly 

 oblong leaflets. The whitish flowers are 

 produced at the ends of the branches in 

 early summer. In China the women use 

 the soft substance inside the seed pods for 

 washing the face, hence the popular name. 



Culture <tc. as above for (?. cana- 



