1310 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III, 



If exposed to the sun, the leaves turn back with a kind of twist; and, instead 

 of their natural pure deep green, they assume a brownish tinge. The ber- 

 ries are oval, green at fust, but black when ripe; and they are a favourite 

 bod o( singing birds : though, as De Candolle observes in the Flore Fran- 

 raise, they are poisonous to all other animals. The spurge laurel is propa- 

 gated b\ seeds, like the mezereon ; but, as they will remain two years in the 

 ground before they vegetate, they are generally treated like haws, and kept 

 tor some time in the rotting-heap. It may also be propagated by cuttings ; 

 but not readily. It is much used in nurseries, as a stock on which to graft 

 the more tender species of the genus; but as, like all the other daphnes, it 

 has few roots, it requires to be transplanted with care. 



» o. 1). PO'NTICA L. The Pontic Daphne, or twin-flowered Spurge Laurel. 



Identification. Lin. Sp. PL, 511.; Pall. Fl. Ross., 1. p. 54.; Willd. Sp. PL, 2. p. 419. ; Lodd. Cat, 



chL 1896. 

 SjfmomjfWtes. rhymolaAi pfmtica, citrei foliis, Town. Itin.,3. p. 180. t. 180.; Laureole du Levant, 



/v."; Pontiseher Siedelbast, Gcr. 

 Engravings. Tourn. ltin., 3. t. 180.; Bot. Mag., t. 1282. ; and oux fig.Ubl. 



Spec. Char., cSc. Evergreen. Leaves obovate-lanceolate, glabrous. Flowers 

 bractless, glabrous, in many-flowered upright clusters, each of the long 

 partial stalks of which bears two flowers. Lobes of the calyx lanceolate, 

 long. (Spreng.) A native of Asia Minor, where it forms a shrub, growing 

 to the height of 4 ft. or 5 ft., and producing its greenish yellow flowers in 

 April and May. It was introduced in 1759, and is frequent in collections. 



Varieties. 



» D. p. 2 rubra Hort. has red flowers, and is supposed to be a hybrid. It 

 is rather more tender than the species. 



» D. p. '3 foliis variegdtis Lodd. Cat., 1836, has variegated leaves. 



Description, See. The whole plant, in general 

 appearance, strongly resembles the common 

 spurge laurel ; but the leaves are more oval, and 

 shorter; and the flowers, which are disposed in 

 twos instead of fives, are yellower, and of a 

 sweeter scent. The leaves somewhat resemble 

 those of the lemon tree, especially in colour; 

 whence Tournefort's trivial name. When bruised, 

 they smell like those of the elder. This fine plant 

 v. as first discovered by Tournefort, on the coast of 

 the Black Sea, on hills and in woods ; and Pallas 

 says that it is also found in Siberia, in thick woods, 

 and in the valleys which occur between the ridges 

 of lofty mountains. It is, generally speaking, sufficiently hardy to bear the win- 

 o\ the climate of London without protection; but, beingdisposed to put forth 

 its young shoots very early, they are often injured in exposed situations, by the 

 spring frosts; "an inconvenience which probably might be avoided by planting 

 it in thickets, and under the shelter of trees." (Jiot. Mag., t. 1282.) It thrives 

 best in Boil similar to that usually prepared for American plants, on the shady 

 of a wall, or in some other sheltered situation, where it will form a very 

 handsome bush,4 ft. or 5 ft. high, and 6 ft. or 8 ft. in diameter. It may be propa- 

 eedfl or cuttings. Plants, in the London nurseries, are l,v. 6d. each. 

 • 6. I) Vm.Mi Li. i />. The Thymelaea, or Milkwort-like, Daphne. 



Xdewt&otUm. Vahl grab.. 1. p.28 : Willd. Sp. PI., 2. p. 416. 



Hiymcla .i foliii poly gate gl ibri Bauh. Pin., 103. ; T. alplna glabra, floiculis subluteis 

 libtia, P/uft. Aim., 366. t 229. »'. 2. ; Sanamwnda viridis vcl glabra Bank. 

 i , 160. s Banamtinda glabra lumh. Hist., l. p. 592. j Pawerlna ThymelBra Dec. j the Wild 

 , / , tloter St IcU Ibai t, Oer. 

 i ' \m a li probably derived iron, thymol, poiaon, and elaia, <>r eUsa, the olive tree, 

 in referent <■ to th< "i the plant, and its iligbt reiemblance to the olive. 



Oar. Pro? , t. 17 I. 2 ; Pluk. Ahn., t. 229. f. '2. \ and our Jig. 1186. 



Spec. Char., SfC. I-.vcr'_'i( en. Stem much branched. Branches simple, wartcd. 

 1 lanceolate, broader towards the tip, crowded. Flowers axillary, 



