476 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO QABDEN PLANTS 



NYSSA 



a camel-hair brush on to the pistil when 

 the tip of the latter is in a sticky condition. 

 AucubaB thrive in any garden soil, and 

 may be increased by cuttings inserted in 

 light sandy soil in spring or autumn in 

 shady borders ; or from seeds sown as 

 soon as ripe in pans or boxes in cold 

 frames. The lower branches may also be 

 layered during the summer months and 

 detached in autumn or spring when well 

 rooted. 



GARRY A. — A genus containing 

 about 8 species of shrubs with 4-angled 

 branches, and opposite entire or denticu- 

 late evergreen leaves. Flowers dioecious, 

 in slender drooping catkins. Petals none. 

 Stamens 4. Ovary 1 -celled; styles 2. 

 Berry ovoid, 1-2-seeded. 



G. elliptica. — A beautiful Californian 

 evergreen 8-10 ft. high, with elliptic, dark 

 shining green leaves, hoary beneath. 

 Flowers in mild winters as early as 

 December, pale greenish-white or yellow- 

 ish in drooping catkins so much like 

 slender tassels that the name Tassel-bush 

 has been suggested as a popular name. 

 Berries black. The poUen plant is more 

 elegant than the berry -bearing one. 



Culture amd Propagation. — This is 

 the only species at present generally 

 grown. In warm situations it makes 

 a beautiful bush ; but it is often grown 

 on a wall. In cold localities it requires 

 shelter. The plants thrive in rich sandy 

 loam, and may be increased by seeds, or 

 cuttings of the half-ripened wood inserted 

 in sandy loam in August, and shaded 

 from the sun until rooted. Also by 

 budding or grafting on stocks of Aucuha 

 ja/ponica, and by layering the shoots in 

 autumn, and detaching in spring when 

 well rooted. 



GRISELINIA. — A genus with 8 

 species of trees or shrubs, having alternate, 

 often unequal-sided, oblong, nearly quad- 

 rate or lance-shaped, thick leathery entire 

 leaves, spiny-toothed or angled. Flowers 

 dioecious, in terminal panicles. Calyx 

 teeth, petals, and stamens 5 in the male 

 flowers. Berry ovoid. 



Culture and Propagation. — Grise- 

 linias thrive in light rich loam, and may 

 be increased by cuttings or layers like 

 Aucubas. Both the species described 

 below are natives of N. Zealand. 



G. littoralis. — This grows 30 ft. high 

 in a wild state. It has ovate or oblong 

 leathery and glossy leaves, which remain 



on the plant during winter. It is a good 

 plant for seaside places and seems to be 

 hardy in the mildest parts of the country. 

 Culture dc. as above. 



G. lucida.— Grows 10-12 ft. high, with 

 obUquely ovate, unequal-sided leaves, 

 distinctly veined beneath, and of a shining 

 green above. The variety macrophyllaia 

 chiefly distinguishable irom the type by 

 its larger leaves. 



Culture dc. as above. 



NYSSA (Tupelo Tree) A genus of 



more or less silky haired deciduous trees or 

 shrubs with alternate stalked leaves which 

 are entire or lobed or toothed when young. 

 The small polygamous- dioecious flowers 

 are borne in crowded heads, or short 

 racemes at the ends of the axillary stalks. 

 The male flowers have a somewhat cup- 

 shaped calyx with 5 or more teeth. Petals 

 and stamens 5 or more. Disc large, 

 cushion-like, entire or lobed. The female 

 flowers have a more or less beU-shaped 

 calyx with 5 teeth. Petals none or very 

 smaU. Stamens none, or rudimentary. 

 Ovary l-ceUed. Fruit an oblong drupe. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 Nyssas are rather handsome trees, but 

 are very rarely seen outside botanic gar- 

 dens. They are chiefly valuable for the 

 autumn colouring of the foliage, which 

 becomes a deep scarlet tint, and looks very 

 fine wherever a good specimen is growing. 

 The plants flourish in moist or marshy 

 peat spots and may be planted near the 

 edges of lakes, streams, ponds &c. Seeds 

 do not often ripen in cultivation, but the 

 plants may be increased by layering the 

 branches in late summer or autumn. 



N. aquatica (Water Tupelo). — A 

 native of the Southern United States, 

 where it attains a height of 30-50 ft. It 

 has oval oblong entire leaves 3-4 in. long, 

 glaucous beneath, and tinged with red in 

 autumn. The flowers appear in April and 

 May, and are succeeded by pairs of dark 

 blue obovoid drupes about the size of a pea. 



Culture do. as above. 



N. capitata (Ogeechee Lime). — This is 

 also a native of the South United States, 

 and grows about 30 ft. high. The leaves 

 are more or less oval or oblong and downy 

 beneath, and the flowers appear in April 

 and May. The red Plum-like fruits 

 appear in due course and are of an agree- 

 ably acid flavour. 



Culture dc. as above. 



