308 



THE GAKDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



tree is readily known by its saddle-shaped leaves, and 

 tulip-like yellow flowers borne singly at the ends of the 

 branches in June or July. It attains a height of 150 feet 

 in its native country, North America, and as much as 

 100 feet in England, where it grows very fast. 1688. 



Loiseleuria procumbens {Chamceledon). — A small trail- 

 ing evergreen, with small leathery leaves, and clustered 

 red flowers in May or June. Native of the mountains 

 of Scotland, &c. 



Lonicera. — About eighty species of Lonicera are known, 

 these being natives of the temperate and sub-tropical 

 regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The genus includes 

 many beautiful plants, evergreen and deciduous, shrubby 

 and climbing, amongst the latter of which the common 

 Honeysuckle of our hedges occupies a foremost place. 

 The climbing species are used for covering porches and 

 walls near windows. 



L. brachypoda. — Evergreen, with oval or oblong shining 

 leaves, and pale-yellow sweet-scented flowers, borne in 

 pairs, its flowering season being of long duration. The 

 variety aureo-reticulata has leaves netted with yellow. 

 L. japonica (sinensis) is a variety of this species. In 

 severe winters it is sometimes cut down to the ground by 

 frost, even when planted against a wall. 



L. Caprifolium resembles the common Honeysuckle, 

 but the flowers are seated close upon the upper connate 

 leaves. It blooms in summer. Southern Europe. 



Fig. 376.— Lonueni flava. (i.) 



L. flava (fig. 376). — A yellow-flowered tender species 

 from North America, introduced in 1S10. The flowers 

 ai'e large and very fragrant. 



L. ifcxuosa. — A handsome species with long lanceolate 

 leaves, hairy and purplish below when young ; flowers 

 pink and yellow, borne in pairs, very fragrant, appearing 

 in summer. Japan, 1801. 



L. fragrant issima. — A deciduous shrub, with small, 

 white, highly odoriferous flowers in February. In mild 

 localities it retains some of its foliage through the winter. 

 China. 1845. 



L. Periclymenum, Honeysuckle. — A beautiful garden 

 plant, surpassing many of the exotic species. There are 

 several varieties, viz. the Dutch Honeysuckle, L. belgica, 



very commonly grown; L. serotina, the late red of the 

 nurseries; and L. quercifolia with lobed leaves, similar 

 to those of the Oak. 



L. sempervirens, Evergreen or Trumpet Honeysuckle. — 

 This is not strictly evergreen though it bears the name. 

 It has glaucous stem-clasping leaves, and terminal clus- 

 ters of showy flowers, scarlet outside and yellow within, 

 produced in profusion throughout the summer if planted 

 in a light rich soil in an open sunny situation. There are 

 several varieties. North America, 1656. 



L. Standishii. — Very near L. fragrantissima, but the 

 leaves are larger and more ovate, and the plant is 

 generally deciduous. Flowers pinkish-white, fragrant, 

 and produced in winter and spring. China, 1860. 



L. tatarica. — A shrub from 4 to 8 feet high; leaves 

 small, heart-shaped. There are pink, yellow, white, and 

 purple flowered varieties, and others with striped flowers. 

 Tartary, &c, 1752. 



L. tomentella. — A shrub of graceful and luxuriant habit, 

 6 to 10 feet high in favourable situations. Leaves downy 

 and white beneath; flowers white. Himalaya, 1849. 



L. Xylostcum. — This creamy -yellow flowered species is 

 a handsome shrub, and is quite hardy. There are varieties 

 with white, yellow, crimson, and black berries. Europe. 



Loropetalum chinense. — A curious and tender but 

 pretty shrub, allied to the Witch-hazels. It has dark- 

 green, alternate, oblong leaves, and white flowers borne 

 in terminal heads in spring ; the four petals are narrow 

 and strap-shaped. China, 1880. 



Lycium. — Rambling shrubs, with small narrow leaves, 

 and tubular purple- violet or red flowers. The branches 

 are long and slender, and more or less armed with small 

 thorns. 



L. chhwasc (L. barbarum), Tea -tree. — This has violet- 

 red flowers and a scarlet fruit, and is a rapid-growing 

 bushy climber, thriving in almost any situation, and 

 bearing the smoke of towns and the sea-breezes with 

 equal impunity. Its flowers, although not large and 

 showy, are numerous, and are produced all through the 

 summer. Southern Europe, 1730. 



L. pallidum. — A distinct and handsome shrub about 

 4 feet high, bearing large, greenish, tubular flowers in 

 May and June. New Mexico and Arizona. 



Lyonia ferruginea. — An evergreen shrub from 3 to 6 

 feet high, with coriaceous obovate leaves borne on long 

 stalks and clothed with brown scales. Flowers small, 

 rusty-white, produced in summer. Not hardy in the 

 colder parts of Britain. North America, 1774. 



Maclura aurantiaca, Osage Orange. — A dioecious tree 

 of the Mulberry family, growing about 20 feet high in 

 the south of England. It has deep-green, shining leaves, 

 and the branches are armed with stout spines. The large 

 handsome orange -coloured fruits are rarely produced in 

 this country. North America, 1818. 



Magnolia. — Most of the twenty species of Magnolia 

 known to botanists have been introduced into European 

 gardens. They vary in stature from tall trees over 

 100 feet high to dwarf bushes. The largest trees are 

 natives of North America, the smaller, and, as a rule, 

 more floriferous ones coming from China and Japan. The 

 flowers are frequently very strongly perfumed. Magnolias 

 should be planted in deep, moderately rich, loamy soil. 

 Some require the shelter of a wall in the more inclement 

 parts of the country. They are amongst the worst of all 

 trees to transplant. 



M. acuminata. Cucumber Tree. — This reaches a height 

 of 60 to 80 feet. Leaves pointed, from 6 to 12 inches 

 long. One of the hardiest. North America, 1736. 



