HARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS. 



317 



British gardens it attains a height of 8, 10, or even 20 

 feet in some situations; and fine old specimens, often 

 spreading as much as twice their height, form very strik- 

 ing objects in the pleasure-ground. Asia Minor, 1763. 



R. prcecox. — A hybrid between R. ciliatum and R. 

 dduricum, very early flowering, and consequently often 

 cut by frost. Flowers pale -purple. 



Fig. 388.— Rhododendron racemosum. 



R. racemosum (fig. 388) is a new and charming species 

 which rarely grows more than a foot high, and is suitable 

 for a rockery. The flowers are rosy-white and produced 

 from the leaf-axils towards the end of the shoots. China, 

 1889. 



R. Thomsoni. — This occasionally flowers as far north 

 as the Midlands. Leaves rounded oblong, semi-glaucous 

 beneath; flowers in loose trusses, dark blood-red. Sikkim, 

 1851. 



R. yunnanense. — A new Western Chinese species grow- 

 ing 4 feet or so high. It has narrow, lanceolate, lustrous 

 leaves, and flowers of a delicate lilac. 1889. 



Rhodora canadensis. — A deciduous shrub 3 feet high, 

 with clusters of purple sweet-scented flowers appearing 

 before the leaves in spring at a season when few other 

 plants are in flower in the American garden. North 

 America, 1767. 



Rhodothamnus Chamcecistus. — A pretty dwarf almost 

 prostrate evergreen shrub, with small oblong leaves, 

 toothed and fringed on the margin, and solitary pale- 

 purple flowers, produced in May or June. It grows on 

 limestone rocks. Alps of Europe, 1786. 



Rhodotypus kerrioides. — A Japanese shrub, remark- 

 ably like Kerria in appearance, but it has solitary white 

 Rose-like terminal flowers. Introduced about 1866. 



Rhus. — Shrubs or low trees, with elegant simple or 

 pinnate leaves, and small flowers, becoming more orna- 

 mental when in fruit. Several species are remarkable for 

 their brilliant tints in autumn. 



R. cotinoides (fig. 389). — One of the most beautiful of 

 all shrubs for autumn colour, the leaves dying off in 

 crimson and orange shades. It is similar and nearly 



allied to R. Cotinus, but the leaves are larger and the 

 flowers less densely arranged. North America. 



R. Cotinus, Smoke-Tree, or Venetian Sumach. — A 

 desirable hardy shrub 5 to 8 feet high, with simple 

 roundish leaves on long slender stalks, and loosely pani- 

 culate flowers. Some of the pedicels or flower-stalks are 

 transformed into white awns, giving the inflorescence a 

 peculiar feathery appearance. Southern Europe, 1656. 



R. glabra. — A handsome shrub, with long, pinnate, 

 nearly smooth leaves. The flowers are borne in large 

 terminal panicles, and are succeeded by bright -red 

 berries. North America, 1726. Var. laciniata is a hand- 

 some cut-leaved variety. 



R. Osbeclcii. — A handsome shrub in a young state. 

 Leaves pinnate. 2 feet long, with about a score leaflets. 

 The midrib is winged at each side. Also known as R. 

 semicdata Osbeckii. Japan, 1867. 



R. typhina, Stag's-horn Sumach. — A small tree 10 to 

 20 feet high, with thick woolly shoots, and long pinnate 

 leaves. Fine autumn effects may be obtained by growing 

 it in masses, cutting the shoots back annually nearly to 

 the ground. The foliage assumes a rich red colour in 

 autumn. North America, 1629. 



There are several other species in cultivation, some of 

 which, like R. Toxicodendron and R. venenata, North 

 American species, are poisonous, though their ternate 

 and pinnate foliage is very ornamental. R. succedanea 

 and R. vernicifera are Japanese species, with pinnate 

 leaves ; the former is rather tender. 



Ribes. — Ornamental, sometimes spiny shrubs, with 

 small simple leaves, and pendent racemes of white, yel- 

 low, or red flowers appearing in early spring. To this 

 genus belong the Gooseberry and the Currants. 



R. alpinum. — A close, compact shrub, with small three- 

 to five-lobed leaves and red berries. There are several 

 variegated forms. Britain. 



R. aureum. — Leaves glabrous shining, flowers yellow, 

 the small petals being bordered with red. Varieties prce- 



* MN VN \f"'^y'f~ : ^ i ^i '^f^- 



Fig. 389.— Rhus cotinoides. 



cox (fragrans) flowers early, and serotinum flowers late, 

 aurantiacum minus is of dwarfer habit and the flowers 

 are of a deeper yellow; it is the best form. North- Western 

 America, 1812. 



