302 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



variety of japonicus, and is well adapted for covering 

 rocks, or for slowly covering a wall, as it emits roots from 

 the branches in the same way as the Ivy, and is self- 

 supporting. In a light soil the variety tricolor forms an 

 attractive border to a bed of shrubs. There are white 

 and yellow and red variegations. It is the hardiest of 

 the evergreen varieties. 



Fabiana imbricata. — An elegant small shrub with the 

 habit of a Heath, bearing a profusion of pure-white slender 

 long-tubed flowers in May or June. Should have the 

 protection of a wall unless in a mild climate. Chili, 

 1838. 



Fagus sylvatica, Beech. — Besides the ordinary form of 

 this noble tree, there are several striking varieties worth 



Fagus sylvatica pemlula. 



growing. The principal ones are F. s. purpurea, with 

 deep-purple foliage, not to be confounded with cuprea, 

 which is of a less pleasing coppery tint; aurco-variegata 

 and argenteo-variegatcL, gold-striped and silver -striped; 

 hcterophylla (incisa, aspleniifolia), with elegantly-cut foli- 

 age; and finally, paid ula, the weeping form of the type 

 (fig. 366), and purpurea pendula. 



Fatsia japonica [Aralia japonica). — A fine evergreen 

 shrub, the leaves of which are broad, of a palmate form, 

 deep-green and glabrous. It flourishes in sheltered posi- 

 tions in the wanner parts of the kingdom, producing its 

 large panicles of ivory-white flowers in winter. 



F. papyri/era (Aral la papyrifera), Rice-Paper Tree. — 

 A handsome small woody simple -stemmed plant, with 

 light-green palmate leaves, woolly, especially beneath. 

 Suitable only for the warmer parts of the kingdom. In 

 China, its native country, the pith of this plant forms the 

 well-known rice-pa} >er. 



Foksythia. — Erect or diffuse shrubs with simple and 

 trifoliolate leaves on the same branch, and yellow four- 

 petalled flowers produced in early spring before the leaves. 

 Natives of Japan and China. 



F. suspi nsa {F. Fortwnt i). — This species has long slender 

 branches, which flower freely in early spring. It is equally 

 well adapted for a wall or trellis or for the open ground, 

 Introduced into Holland in 1833, but did not reach this 

 country till about 1850. 



F. viridissima. — An erect shrub from 4 to 8 feet high, 

 with simple lanceolate dark-green leaves and a profusion 

 of yellow flowers. China, 1845. F. intcrvicdia is a hybrid, 

 intermediate in habit, flowering after suspensa but earlier 

 than viridissima. 



Fothergilla ahxifolia (F. Gardncr'i). — A dwarf shrub 

 with slender crooked branches, ovate leaves covered with 

 a silvery down beneath, and white fragrant flowers in ter- 

 minal spikes, appearing before the leaves. North America, 

 1765. 



Fraxinus. — A large genus of trees with pinnate leaves 

 and key fruits. There are several from North America 

 and Japan, but they do not excel our native Ash in 

 beauty. 



F. excelsior, Ash. — The best varieties are the gold- 

 barked aurea, the gold and silver striped and blotched, 

 and the weeping pendida; monophylla has most of the 

 leaves reduced to a single leaflet ; laciniata has much- 

 divided leaflets, and crispa has dark-green curled foliage. 



F. lentisci 'folia. — A native of Asia Minor, introduced in 

 1710. Leaflets long and slender. The variety pendula is 

 an elegant weeping tree. 



F. Mariesii. — A small tree of the Ornus group. The 

 flowers are in erect panicles and white. Leaflets five to 

 each leaf. China, 1880. 



F. Ornus {Ornus europosus), Flowering Ash. — This is 

 remarkable for its dense pendulous clusters of white 

 flowers in spring. South Europe, 1730, 



Fremontia calif omica. — A handsome half - evergreen 

 shrub with cordate lobed leaves, and bright-yellow flowers 

 about 2 inches in diameter, appearing in spring. It is 

 not hardy, except in the south-west, and even there the 

 shelter of a wall is desirable. 



Fuchsia. — Although in most parts of the kingdom the 

 species of this genus must be treated as herbaceous plants, 

 and cut down annually, in the more favoured parts of the 

 south and west they succeed either in the open or against 

 a wall. Where it is possible to have them thus, they 

 form the most ornamental of flowering shrubs. All the 

 hardiest varieties belong to the Chilian species F. macro- 

 stemma, of which F. magellanica is a synonym. Riccarioni, 

 globosa, and coccinea are the best varieties for the open 

 ground. 



Garrya clliptica. — A handsome evergreen shrub with 

 dark-green coriaceous leaves, and yellowish-green catkins 



Fig. 367.— Garrya elliptica 



borne in clusters near the tips of the branches, from 

 November till February. The male plant (fig. 367) is the 

 handsomer. Height 5 to 10 feet. North America, 1828. 

 Gaultheria. — Evergreen procumbent or half - erect 

 branching shrubs from North America. 



