CHAP. LXIII. CAPRIFOLIA^CEjE. SYMPHORICA'rPOS. 



1059 



Spec. Char., %c. Flowers disposed in axillary capitate clusters, composed of 

 nearly sessile raceraules. Corolla white. Berries red, size of hempseed ; 

 but, in America, according to Pursh, the flowers 

 are small, red and yellow, and the berries pur- 

 ple. Branches brown, smooth. Leaves ellip- 

 tic ovate, obtuse, glaucous, and pubescent 

 beneath. The berries are numerous, and ripen 

 in winter. (Don's Mill. , iii. p. 451.) A shrub, n 

 growing to the height of from 3 ft. to 6 ft. ; Jj 

 native of Virginia, Carolina, and Pennsylvania, ^| 

 in sandy dry fields. It was introduced in 1730, \J 

 and flowers in August and September. 



Variety. 



& S. v. 2 foliis variegdtis, S. glomerata foliis 

 variegatis Lodd. Cat., has the leaves 

 finely variegated with green and yellow. 



Sis 2. S. RACEMO^SUS MicllX. 



St. Peter's Wort, 



The racemose^ow^ra 



Snowberry. 



Identification. Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 107. ; Dec. Prod., 4. p. 339. ; Don's Mill., 3. p. 451. 

 Si/nonymes. Symphbria racembsa Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept., 1. p. 162. ; S. leucocarpa Hort. 

 Engravings. Bot. Mag., t. 2211. ; Lodd. Bot. Cab., t. 230. ; and our^. 826. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Flowers disposed in nearly terminal, loose, 

 interrupted racemes, which are often leafy. Corolla 

 densely bearded inside. Style and stamens enclosed. 

 Leaves glaucous beneath. Corolla rose-coloured. Berries 

 large, white. This is a fine shrub, very common in our 

 gardens, easily known by its large white berries, and small 826 

 red flowers. The S. elongata and S. heterophylla Presl 

 in Herb. Hcenke, which were collected about Nootka 

 Sound, do not differ from this species, in which the 

 lower leaves are sometimes deeply sinuated. {Don's Mill., 

 iii. p. 451.) A shrub, growing to the height of from 4 ft. to 8 ft. ; native of 

 North America, on mountains near Lake Mistassins, and on the banks of the 

 Missouri; in Upper Canada it is abundant about the Saskatchawan, on the 

 banks of the Columbia, and at Puget's Sound and Nootka Sound, north-west 

 coast. It was introduced in 1817, and flowers from July to September. The 

 flowers are succeeded by white fruit, about the size of a large black currant, 

 but elliptical in form, which remain on the bush even after the leaves 

 have dropped, and make a very fine appearance. In small gardens, this 

 shrub is rather troublesome, from the numerous suckers it throws up from 

 the roots ; but, as its flowers are much sought after by bees, and its berries 

 are excellent food for game (See Gard. Mag., ix. p. 699., and x. p. 432.), 

 that habit, when it is planted for these purposes, is found rather advan- 

 tageous than otherwise. For gardens, it might be desirable to graft it on 

 Lonfcera Xylosteum, or some allied species of suitable habit. So grafted, 

 standard high, it would form a very elegant small tree. 



App. i. Hardy Species of Symphoricdrpos not yet introduced. 



S. occidentalis Richards. (Hook. Fl. Bor. Amer., i. 285.) is a native of British North America, in 

 the woody country between lat. 54° and 64°, and known under the name of wolfberry. Dr. 

 Richardson remarks of this plant, that it approaches very near to S. racemosus ; and Sir W. J. 

 Hooker says, " Among the numerous specimens in the herbarium, are some which appear almost 

 as much allied to one species as the other : but the majority of the individuals of the two species are 

 readily enough distinguished ; those belonging to the S. occidentalis, by their larger, less glaucous, 

 more rigid, and denser foliage (some of the leaves being 2^ in. long) ; by the flowers arranged in 

 dense drooping spikes, larger than in S. racem5sus ; and by the prominent style and stamens." 

 (Hook. Fl. Bor Amer., i. p. 285.) We have given this quotation to show the very uncertain grounds 

 on which what are called species are established ; and, perhaps, it cannot be otherwise, so long as 

 botanists are obliged to form their opinions from dried specimens. There is scarcely any tree or 

 shrub that, by culture in different soils and situations, could not be made to vary in magnitude, and 

 other particulars, as much as, or more than, is stated to be the case with these dried specimens of 

 Symphoricarpos. We are very much inclined to think that, if the species of all the genera of Capri- 

 foliacea? were cultivated for some years in the same garden, they would be reduced to less than half 

 their present number. 



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