170 THE SHRUBS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



Its thin delicate foliage reminds one by its general 

 aspect of the English and Catalonian Jasmine of our 

 gardens. The flowers are greenish and inconspicuous. 

 The fruit is about i inch long, growing solitary on 

 the end of a branch. 



(Darbya umbellulata, Gray.)— Like the preceding, 

 a very rare plant, as yet known only in two or three 

 localities in Georgia, and in the bend of the Catawba, 

 near Lincolnton, in this State. It is 1 to 2 feet high, 

 with opposite branches and leaves, the latter ovale,' 

 acute, entire, 1 to 2 inches long, 1 to li wide, rounded 

 at base, and with short foot-stalks. The flowers are 

 small, greenish, in a cluster of 3 to 8, which is borne 

 on a foot-stalk in the forks of the leaves. 



Witch Hazel. (Hamamelis Virginica, Linn.)— 

 Well known by this name through the State. It has 

 the peculiarity of flowering late in the Fall after the 

 leaves have dropped, and maturing its fruit in the 

 following Spring. Its popular name is derived from 

 the use made of its branches in discovering hidden 

 springs of water, minerals, etc. Other kinds, as of 

 the Peach, are indeed sometimes used fortius purpose, 

 but I venture to affirm that none in the whole veget- 

 able kingdom are better than those of Witch Hazel. 



Dwarf Alder. (Fothergilla alnifolia, Linn.)— 

 Unknown north of Virginia. In this State it is 

 found from the coast to Lincoln. In the Lower Dis- 

 trict it is 1 to 2 feet high, often but a single un- 

 branched stem, terminated by a tuft of small white 

 flowers before the leaves appear. It grows here upon 



