310 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



believed to be of hybrid origin. M. domestica (Py?'us 

 germanica) is the Quince. 



Morus. — From the peculiar dwarf spreading habit of 

 some members of this genus they are worth planting for 

 ornamental purposes alone. 



M. alba. — Very similar to the common Mulberry, but 

 has slenderer, white-barked branches. The varieties are 

 numerous, but not often met with in this country. The 

 silkworm is fed on its leaves. China, 1596. 



M. nigra, Common Mulberry. — A round-headed tree 

 of slow growth, with deep-green cordate leaves. Western 

 Asia, 1548. 



M. rubra. — A much taller-growing species, 50 to 70 feet, 

 of peculiar habit; leaves rough on both surfaces. It is 

 impatient of transplantation, but of rapid growth when 

 well established. North America, 1629. 



Muehlenbeckia cornplexa.—A climbing plant with very 

 thin wiry stems, forming a dense interlacing mass. The 

 leaves are small and roundish. Only hardy in the south. 

 New Zealand, 1870. 



MuTISIA. — A large genus of climbers belonging to the 

 Composite?, of which some of the Chilian species are hardy 

 in the south-west and Ireland. They have pinnate or 

 lobed leaves terminating in a tendril, and very showy 

 flower-heads. 



Myrica. — Small aromatic shrubs, usually covered with 

 resinous glands. Flowers inconspicuous. They inhabit 

 wet peaty places. 



M. cerifera, Wax-Myrtle. — Very near the Sweet-Gale, 

 but it is evergreen. North America, 1699. The variety 

 latifolia is described as being hardier than the type. 



M. Gale, Sweet -Gale. — This fragrant -leaved shrub 

 deserves planting in boggy places, and on the margins of 

 lakes. 



Myrtds. — The Myrtle, M. communis, can only be 

 grown in the open in the south-west; in all other parts 

 it requires the shelter of a wall, and during severe 

 weather additional protection. But it well merits the 

 little care necessary to preserve it. Europe, 1597. 



Nbillia. — This genus is nearly allied to Spircea, a name 

 by which some of the following species are known in 

 gardens. 



V. (imurctisis. — A shrub 6 or 7 feet high, with three- 

 to five-lobed leaves, the panicles of white flowers being 

 produced in summer. Amurland. 



JV. opulifolia. — The strongest growing of the Neillias, 

 attaining a height of 10 feet. The flowers are white and 

 borne in umbels. The leaves are like those of the Guelder 

 Rose. Var. aurea has leaves of a bright -yellow in the 

 early part of the year. North America, 1690. Besides 

 the above, N. Torreyi. California, and JV". thyrsijlora, 

 Himalaya, are in cultivation. 



NevTDSIA al aba mens is is a small shrub with alternate 

 glabrous leaves 2 to 3 inches long. The flowers are very 

 numerous, about 1 inch across, the chief feature being the 

 large cluster of white stamens. Requires a sunny position. 

 Alabama, 1882. 



Notaspartium Carmichaeliee. — A singular plant with 

 rounded or flattened branches canying a few small leaves. 

 The flowers are pea-like, small but very abundant, and 

 pink. Hardy only in the south. New Zealand, 1883. 



Nuttallia cej'asiformis. — One of the earliest of spring- 

 flowering shrubs. Flowers dull white, in drooping racemes 

 like a Currant. A spreading bush 5 feet high. California, 

 1848. 



Nyssa. — A North American genus of handsome trees 

 belonging to the Dogwood family, with small flowers in 

 dense heads, and simple alternate leaves. V. sylvatica 



and N. aquatica are occasionally seen in this country. In 

 North America they bear the names of Tupelo, Pepperidge, 

 Sour Gum Tree, &c. 1824. 



Olearia. — A genus of shrubby evergreen composites, 

 of which one species — 0. Haastii — is hardy as far north 

 as the midland counties of England. The rest are rather 

 tender, and are only suited for the south and west. 



0. dentata, Gunniana, and others require protection 

 except in the districts mentioned above. 



0. Haastii (fig. 379). — A compact, slow-growing shrub 



Fig. 379.— Olearia Haastii. (*.) 



rarely more than 5 feet high, with small elliptical leaves 

 about 1 inch long, dull-green above, white beneath. The 

 small, numerous flowers appear in August and are white. 

 A very free-blooming, useful shrub. New Zealand. 



Ononis arragonensis. — A dwarf shrub suitable for a 

 rockery, being from 1 to 2 feet high. The leaves are 

 trifoliolate, the flowers yellow, in short racemes produced 

 in great profusion in May and June. Spain, 1816. 



Osmaxthus Aquifolium. — In foliage this resembles the 

 Holly, but the leaves are smaller and opposite. The 

 flowers are small, fragrant, and greenish-white. There 

 are varieties with white and yellow variegation, one with 

 purplish foliage which is the hardiest, a dwarf one called 

 rotund if olius, and one with Myrtle-like leaves, myrtifolius. 

 Japan. 



Ostrya vidgaris, Hop - Hornbeam. — Very near the 

 common Hornbeam in foliage, but of more pendulous 

 habit. It is very ornamental when laden with its droop- 

 ing Hop-like, female catkins. Italy, 1720. 0. virginica 

 closely resembles this, except that its female catkins are 

 erect. North America, 1692. 



Oxycoccus pedustris, Cranberry. — This native evergreen 

 trailer is attractive when in flower, and only inferior to 

 the North American species, 0. macrocarpus, in size. The 

 petals are pink and reflexed, the filaments purple, and the 

 anthers yellow, thus forming a very pretty combination 

 of colours. 



Oxydendron arboreuni {Andromeda arborea). — A hand- 

 some deciduous tree, bearing large terminal panicles of 

 white flowers in August: these look like branched spikes 

 of Lily-of-the-Valley bells. This ornamental tree is very 

 rare in British gardens, although there are specimens 



