324 



THE GAKDENEE'S ASSISTANT. 



T. platyphyttos and T. vulgaris are two species formerly 

 united under the name of T. europcea. The former 

 flowers before T. vulgaris, and is further distinguished 

 by the under-surface of the leaves (and sometimes the 

 upper) being downy. 



T. vulgaris, the Lime, has leaves quite smooth above, 

 and downy only underneath in the axils of the veins. 

 Both it and the last named are wild in Britain, although 

 probably not true natives. 



Trachycakpus excelsus {Chamcerops Fortunei) (fig. 400). 

 — This Palm is quite hardy in the southern half of Eng- 

 land, but should, if possible, be planted where protection 

 from winds (especially north and east) is afforded. Being 

 very slow growing it is usual to plant out old specimens 

 that have been grown indoors. Leaves palmate. China 

 and Japan, 1844. 



Ulex europaius, Furze, Gorse, or Whin. — The double- 

 flowered variety as well as the single are both valuable 

 for shelter, and for planting close to the sea. They 

 transplant badly, unless prepared or grown in pots; but 

 the type can be readily established by sowing the seeds 

 where j^lants are desired. 



U. nanus, Cat Whin, and U. Gallii are useful in being 

 dwarfer than the common Furze. They flower in autumn. 

 Britain. 



Ulmus. — In addition to the numerous species of Elm 

 in cultivation, there are also many varieties, diverse in 

 size, habit, and foliage, and some have corky-barked 

 branches. 



U. alata, Winged Elm. — A smaller tree than either 

 of the following, and remarkable for its corky-winged 

 branches. North America, 1820. 



V. campcstris, Elm. — The common typical form has 

 small leaves, does not form a spreading head, and very 

 rarely ripens seed. Desirable varieties are Berardi, 

 slender habit and very small foliage; viminalis, still 

 more slender ; fastigiata, of upright growth ; and virens, 

 a sub-evergreen. There are also variegated varieties 

 Doth of the small and large leaved forms, and a golden- 

 leaved one called Louis van Houtte. The Cornish Elm 

 is another form of it. Though common in Britain, the 

 Elm is supposed to have been introduced from the Con- 

 tinent of Europe. 



U. montana, Wych Elm. — Perhaps the tallest of native 

 trees. It has large, spreading branches, and is prolific 

 in varieties. Plumosa is very vigorous, with large dis- 

 tichous leaves; filici folia has dissected foliage; pendula 

 is a weeping form. 



Umbellularia (Oreodaphne) californica. — An evergreen 

 tree from North-Western America, introduced by Douglas. 

 It has the aspect of a Sweet Bay, and attains a height of 

 30 to 100 feet in its native country. Except in the south- 

 west it requires a wall. 



Vaccinium. — Erect or prostrate, evergreen or deciduous 

 shrubs, with small and rather inconspicuous flowers, suc- 

 ceeded by more showy black, red, or purple berries, 

 usually covered with a glaucous powder or bloom. The 

 species are numerous, but n6ne of them are commonly 

 cultivated. V, Myrtittus, the Whortleberry or Bilberry, 

 is a dwarf spreading bush with angular stems, ovate 

 deciduous leaves, small pink-white axillary flowers, and 

 bluish -black berries. V. Vitis-ida'a, Cowberry, is an 

 evergreen native species, with racemose flowers and red 

 berries. V. corymbosum, V, pennsylvanicum, and V. 

 stamineum are amongst the most useful in the genus, 

 their leaves assuming in autumn a bright-red colour. 

 They are all North American. 



V. overturn (fig. 401). — An erect, dense-growing shrub, 



with closely-set, ovate, dark evergreen leaves. The flowers 

 are rosy-white and produced in short axillary clusters. 

 Fruit at first red, then black. It grows 3 feet to 5 feet 



high, but is only 

 hardy in the south. 

 Western North 

 America, 1826. 

 Veronica. — 

 Some of the New 

 Zealand shrubby 

 species are suffi- 

 ciently hardy for 

 the south and west 

 coasts, and even in 

 Scotland near the 

 sea, and are exceedingly 

 ornamental in winter and 

 early spring. V. speciosa, 

 with glossy oblong coria- 

 ceous leaves, and V. salici- 

 folia and V. inacrocarpa, 

 with linear - lanceolate 



leaves, are the parents of 

 the beautiful hybrids with white, 

 blue, purple, red, or crimson 

 flowers, such as Andersoni, ver- 

 sicolor, Lindleyana, hermesina, 

 &c. 



V. pinguifolia (fig. 402). — A 

 dwarf compact sub-erect shrub, 

 with short gray-green foliage and 

 crowded axillary spikes of white flowers. New Zealand. 

 V. Traversii ( V. decussata).—A shrub 3 to 4 feet high; 



Fig. 4oi— Vaccinium 

 ovatum. (£.) 



Fig. 402.— Veronica pinguifolia. 



one of the hardiest and most useful for growing outside, 

 and is a charming evergreen, although killed in very hard 

 winters. Leaves short, sessile, narrowly oblong, deep- 



