22 The Shrubs of North Carolina 



1. Mock Orange. (Sty rax grandifolia, Ait.) — A very beauti- 

 ful shrub, 3 to 12 feet high, with rather large leaves, 3 to 6 inches 

 long, and of a grayish aspect from the presence of a whitish down 

 on their underside. The flowers are from 15 to 20 on loose 

 nodding racemes, white, very fragrant, in size and form very 

 similar to those of the Orange. It grows on light rich soils in the 

 Lower and Middle Districts, as far west as Lincoln. This is well 

 worthy of a place in shrubberies, but has received but little 

 attention. 



2. (S. Americana, Lam.) — Distinguished from No. 1 by its 

 smooth, green leaves, 1 or 2 inches long, and smaller flowers, only 

 3 or 4 on a raceme. It is 4 to 8 feet high, not inelegant, but of 

 inferior beauty to the other, and grows on the borders of swamps 

 in the Lower District. 



1. Bush Honeysuckle. (Diervilla trifida, Msench.) — A 

 small, rather delicate shrub, 3 to 5 feet high, with pointed toothed 

 leaves which are 3 or 4 inches long, and have short foot-stalks. 

 The flowers are in clusters of (generally) 3 in the forks of the 

 upper leaves, greenish yellow, and funnel-shaped, like those of 

 the Woodbine. This is found only in the mountains. 



2. (D. sessilifolia, Buckley.) — Like the preceding, but larger 

 in several particulars, and the leaves clasp the branches, being 

 destitute of a foot-stalk. Found in the mountains. 



1. Strawberry Bush. (Euonymus Americanus, Linn.) — A 

 shrub 2 to 5 feet high, found in all the Districts, and known by 

 the names of Burning Bush, Fish-ivood, and Bursting Heart, be- 

 sides the one first given. The branches are square, straight but 

 flexible, very smooth, and about as green as the leaves. The 

 flowers are small, purplish or greenish, and unattractive. The 

 fruit gives the plant a peculiar beauty, for which chiefly it is 

 prized in shrubberies. This is of a bright crimson color when 

 mature, and covered with small warts which give it somewhat 

 the aspect of a small strawberry. This finally bursts open, ex- 

 posing its bright scarlet seeds. 



2. Burning Bush. (E. atropurpureus, Jacq.) — Every way 

 larger than the preceding, its flowers dark purple, and the fruit 

 smooth. I have not met with it, and am indebted to Prof. 

 Mitchell for my knowledge of it as an inhabitant of this State. 



(Stillingia ligustrina, Michx.)- — A shrub with slender spread- 

 ing branches, 6 to 12 feet high, very rare in this State, and not 

 found, I think, north of Cape Fear River. The leaves are 1 to 3 

 inches long, not toothed, the upper end obtuse, tapering at the 

 lower end, and with a short foot-stalk. For my knowledge of 

 this plant I am under obligations to Dr. McRee. The Tallow Tree 



