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PBACTICAL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS amsonia 



and November, later than any other 

 species, white, in loose panicles at the 

 ends of the branches and also in the axils 

 of the upper leaves. 



Culture Sc. as above. Grows well in 

 any poor soil, but of course does better in 

 rich. 



L. sinense {L. Ibota mllosum; L. 

 villosum). — A more or less evergreen 

 Chinese shrub 12-20 ft. high, with ovate 

 lanoe-shaped leaves, shining green above, 

 hairy beneath. Flowers in summer, 

 white, in loose terminal panicles. The 

 variety nanwm is a distinct and pretty 

 form, somewhat horizontal in growth, 

 having masses of creamy white flowers 

 all over the plant. 



CioUure dc. as above. 



L. spicatum (L. nepalense). — A de- 

 ciduous species 6-8 ft. high, native of 

 Nepaul. Leaves elliptic acute, hairy 

 beneath as well as the branches. Flowers 

 in summer, white, crowded, in spicate 

 clusters. 



Culture Sc. as above. This species is 

 rarely seen, and is probably not hardy in 

 the colder parts of the kingdom. 



L. vulgare {Common Privet). — A 

 well known British shrub 6-10 ft. high^ 

 also distributed over Europe and N. 

 Africa. Leaves elliptic lance-shaped, 

 deep shining green. Flowers in summer, 

 sweet-scented, white at first, but ohanging- 

 to reddish-brown in compound racemes, 

 and succeeded by deep purple-black 

 berries in autumn. 



The variety huxifoUum is distinct on 

 account of its broader leaves, which 

 persist much longer than those of the 

 ordinary form. Fructu-luteum or xan- 

 thocarpum is denser in habit, and has- 

 bright golden-yellow berries ; pendulum 

 has a weeping habit, and is sometimes 

 grafted on the top of a stem 4^5 ft. 

 high, and variegatum has the foliage 

 prettily marbled with a bright golden 

 colour. 



The Common Privet is a fairly good 

 hedge plant, but used by itself, while nice 

 and green, is very flexible and easUy 

 swayed by strong winds. It is used a 

 good deal too much in shrubberies, where 

 many finer and quite as hardy shrubs 

 would grow well. 



Culture dc. as above. 



LXXII. APOCYNACEiE- Periwinkle Order 



An order of trees or shrubs, rarely herbs, often climbers, with milky juice- 

 Leaves opposite, rarely whorled, entire. Stipules none or rudimentary. 

 Flowers regular, hermaphrodite, solitary or in cymes. Calyx 4-5-Iobed. 

 Corolla gamopetalous, salver-shaped or funnel-shaped ; throat naked or with 

 scales ; lobes usually oblique, twisted in bud. Stamens 6, rarely 4, on the 

 tube or throat of the corolla ; anthers free or united and adhering to the 

 stigma. Disc none, or ringed. Ovary superior, consisting of 2 free or united 

 carpels. Style short, dilated, with a thickened entire or 2-cleft stigma often 

 constricted in the middle. Fruit of 2 many-seeded follicles, a berry, or drupe. 

 This order contains more than 100 genera and about 900 species mostly 

 natives of the tropics and sub-tropics. The genera and species described 

 below are about the only hardy representatives of the order grown out of 

 doors in the British Islands, but there are a large number of beautiful species 

 cultivated in hothouses. 



AMSONIA. — A small genus of 

 smooth or downy erect herbs or bushes 

 with alternate membranous leaves, and 

 mostly blue flowers borne at the ends of 

 the branches in clustered or corymbose 

 cymes. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla salver- 

 shaped, with oblong or lanoe-shaped 

 twisted lobes. Stamens 5. Ovary of 2 



distinct carpels having a thread-like style 

 surmounted by a thickened stigma. 

 Follicles 2, erect, cylindrical, many- 

 seeded. 



Culture and Propagation. — Am- 

 sonias are pretty herbaceous perennials 

 which flourish in partially shaded parts 

 of the flower border or the margins of 



