SWEET-SMELLING PLANTS 



17 



Bramble. See Rubus. _ 

 Broom. See Cytisus. 



Brugmansia suaveolens. — A grand shrubby tree from the East, pro- 

 fuse in radiant liliaceous trumpet-flowers, protruding with their 

 delicate whiteness from a rich and downy foliage. Towards evening 

 especially, when the shades of night obscure these beauties from 

 the eye, their delicious fragrance diffuses through the surrounding- 

 atmosphere a perfume of unequalled sweetness. We cultivate it 

 in warm greenhouses in this country ; in the tropics it covers 

 a large area, and is a splendid sight as an ornamental tree out of 

 doors, and its striking beauty, when bearing hundreds of these 

 gigantic tubular flowers, cannot be described. 



Brunsfelsia. — Shrubs or small trees from Central America, with hand- 

 some fragrant flowers, both blue and white. B. americana bears 

 salver-shaped blossoms, with a yellow tube fading to white, very 

 odoi'ous when freshly gathered. 



Brunsvigia coranica. — A bulbous plant of the Amaryllis tribe, popu- 

 larly' known as the Candelabra flower, on account of the symmetry 

 of its heads of bloom : powerfully orange-scented. 



Bubon galbanum. — A South African shrub. Its general distribution 

 must have extended in ancient times beyond this region, as it was 

 well known to the early Eastern nations as one of the ingredients 

 used in the preparation of incense. The substance incorporated is 

 a gum taken from the stem of the plant, which very much resembles 

 \Yild Parsley in growth. 



Buddlea globosa. — A hardy herbaceous shrub, with pretty heads of 

 bloom resembling golden balls ; they are peculiarly scented, and 

 altogether this showy plant is worth more extended cultiva- 

 tion. 



Bulbine suavis. — A species of half-hardy herbaceous perennial plants 

 from South Africa. The flowers are yellow, and arranged on a 

 long raceme ; they are likewise highly fragrant, resembling the 

 delightful perfimie of Mignonette. 



Burkea Africana.— A Central African shrub or tree, with small white 

 fragrant flowers. 



Burlingtonia. See Orchids. 



Buxus sempervirens. — The common garden Box. an edging plant 

 found in all old-fashioned gardens, included in our list chiefly on 

 account of the balsamic odour its leaves emit when handled. 

 Daintily described in the following paragraph : — 



^So they walked over the crackling leaves in the garden, between the 

 lines of box, breathing its fragrance of eternity ; for this is one of the 

 odours which caiTy us out of time into the abysses of the unbeginning 



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