HARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS. 



307 



deeper-yellow flowers than the type ; quercifolium has 

 curiously lobed leaflets. Alpinum, the Scotch Laburnum, 

 flowers a few weeks later, and has larger blossoms than 

 the type. 



Lapageria rosea. — A handsome climbing shrub, with 

 5-nerved leaves, and large bell-shaped fleshy flowers of 

 a deep rosy-red or white, keeping fresh for a long time 

 after being cut. On walls and trellises in the south- 

 west it is hardy, as it bears a few degrees of frost with 

 impunity. Patagonia, 1847. 



Lardizabala bitemata. — A tall rapid -growing climber, 

 with glossy, dark-green, twice-ternate leaves, and pur- 

 plish flowers in drooping racemes, appearing in December 

 and January. It flourishes only in the milder parts of 

 the kingdom. Chili, 1 848. 



Laurus Benzoin. — A shrub from 8 to 10 feet high, 

 with large oblong leaves, and minute clustered greenish- 

 yellow flowers appearing before the leaves. Requires a 

 moist shady situation in the south or west, and peaty 

 soil. Virginia, 1688. 



L. nobilis, Sweet Bay. — This, although attaining the 

 dimensions of a tree of considerable size in favourable 

 situations, is usually seen as a shrub. Except in low 

 situations on cold stiff soils, it is hardy throughout Britain, 

 and on gravelly or sandy soils it forms one of our most 

 ornamental evergreens. 1562. 



L. Sassafras. — A tree from 40 to 50 feet high, with 

 entire or three-lobed leaves, which change to a brilliant 

 red and yellow in autumn. Flowers small, greenish- 

 yellow, slightly fragrant. North America, 1633. 



Lavandula. — Several species of lavender are hardy, 

 and deserving of a place in the shrubbery or flower-garden 

 on account of their agreeable fragrance. They delight in 

 a deep free soil, and flourish well near the sea. Spica 

 and vera are the hardiest, but dentata will succeed in 

 the milder parts of the south-west. All have blue or lilac 

 flowers, and are natives of the Mediterranean region. 



Ledum. — Dwarf shrubs 2 to 3 feet high, with ever- 

 green curled leaves of a reddish -brown colour beneath, 

 and terminal clusters of small white or pinkish flowers, 

 produced in April and May. 



L. latifolium. — This has oval or oblong leaves, slightly 

 curled at the margin, and very numerous pink flowers. ! 

 North America, 1763. 



L. palustre. — Similar to the last, but of less robust habit, 

 and having narrower, revolute, distant leaves. There are 

 several varieties. North America and Northern Europe, 

 1762. 



Lespedeza bicolor. — A dwarf shrub, with trifoliolate 

 deep-green leaves, and purple papilionaceous flowers pro- 

 duced in long panicles in autumn. China and Japan. 



Leucothoe. — One of the generic groups divided from ; 

 Andromeda. 



L. Catesbcei. — An evergreen, diffuse, spreading shrub, 

 with simple toothed leaves, and axillary bracteate racemes 

 of white flowers in May or June. There are several 

 varieties. North America, 1765. 



L. racemosa {Andromeda racemosa). — An ornamental j 

 deciduous shrub 3 to 4 feet high, bearing a profusion of J 

 terminal clustered spikes of white fragrant flowers in j 

 June or July. North America, 1736. 



Leycesteria formosa. — A tall-growing shrub of distinct 

 appearance. It has hollow stems and flaccid lanceolate 

 leaves. The small white flowers are borne in whorls, 

 gradually diminishing in size towards the tip of the 

 raceme, and are subtended by foliaceous purple bracts. 

 It requires a warm sheltered situation or a wall north of 

 London. Northern India, 1824. 



Ligustrum. — Some of the Privets are ornamental 

 shrubs, having panicles of white fragrant flowers almost 

 as large as those of the Lilac. The eastern species thrive 

 best in warm situations on a light soil. 



L. coriaceum (fig. 375). — A distinct little shrub of com- 

 pact habit, with stout branches, and thick glossy dark- 

 green coriaceous ovate- 

 oblong leaves. Japan 

 1864. 



L. Ibota. — There are 

 two varieties of this in 

 cultivation, one of which 

 is worthless. The other, 

 however, is a very pretty 

 shrub, with large panicles 

 of white flowers. Japan. 

 L. japonicum. — This is 

 a suitable shrub for plant- 

 ing near the sea. It has 

 broad smooth leaves, and 

 large panicles of fragrant 

 flowers in summer. There 

 is a handsome variegated 

 form. Japan, 1845. 



L. lucidum. — In fa- 

 vourable localities this 

 becomes a tree over 20 

 feet high. It is evergreen, 

 and its large glossy leaves 

 are handsome. The white 

 flowers appear in large 

 erect panicles in August. 

 China, 1794. 



L. ovalifolium is useful 

 for hedge-making, retain- 

 ing more foliage in winter 

 than L. vulgare. The 

 golden form is by far the best of all the variegated Pri- 

 vets. Japan. 



L. sinense is sub-evergreen, and produces an abundance 

 of feathery racemes in summer, followed by clusters of 

 black-purple fruits. It thrives best when planted where 

 shelter is afforded by other trees. China, 1874. 



L. vulgare. — The variety of the common Privet called 

 sempervirens or italicum is almost truly evergreen, and 

 very desirable for shrubberies, hedges, &c, as it will 

 flourish on very poor light soils. 



Linn^ea borcalis. — A slender creeping shrub, with small 

 opposite leaves, and small bell- shaped pink flowers borne 

 in pairs on long erect stalks. An elegant little plant. 

 rising only a few inches from the soil, indigenous in pine 

 woods in Scotland, &c, and thriving best in a shady 

 situation. It flowers in summer. 



LiPPiA citriodora {Aloysia citriodora), Lemon-scented 

 Verbena. — This favourite agreeably-scented shrub suc- 

 ceeds very well in the south-west, or against a wall in 

 less favourable localities. Chili, 1784. 



Liquidambar. — Elegant, small, aromatic trees of pyra- 

 midal outline, resembling the Maples in their leaves, 

 which, however, are alternate and not opposite. Flowers 

 inconspicuous. 



L. imbcrbe (L. orientalis). — Rather smaller and more 

 tender than the following, with the central division of 

 the leaf usually three-lobed. Levant, 1759. 



L. styraciflua. — This is the species commonly seen. The 

 leaves assume very brilliant tints in autumn. North 

 America, 1681. 



Liriodendron tulipifera, Tulip Tree. — This handsome 



Fig. 375.— Ligustrum coriaceum 



