RUDBECKIA. 



256 



RU TA. 



Rubia. — Rubiacece. — The Madder. 

 The perennial species, which are not 

 remarkable for their beauty, are quite 

 hardy, and will grow in any soil. 

 There are also some half-hardy 

 shrubs, which are worth cultivating 

 in a greenhouse for their flowers, 

 which are generally yellow. A red 

 dye is derived from the roots of all 

 the species, but principally from those 

 of R. ii?ictorium, which is cultivated 

 as a field-plant in the south of Europe. 



Rubus. — Rosacea. — The Bramble. 

 There are but few ornamental species 

 of this very extensive genus. R. 

 odoratus, the flowering Raspberry, 

 with reddish flowers, and R. Noot- 

 kanus, the Nootka Sound Bramble, 

 with large white flowers, both kinds 

 being sweet-scented, are the most 

 ornamental. To these may be added 

 the double-flowered common Bramble 

 (R.fruticbsus\CLr.pompbnius)a.ndR. 

 spectabilis, the Californian Bramble, 

 with fragraut dark purple flowers, and 

 dark yellow fruit. All the brambles 

 are very hardy, but very short-lived ; 

 their stems dying down every second 

 year, like those of the common Rasp- 

 berry (Rubus idceus). They all 

 send up numerous suckers, by which 

 they are propagated ; and they all 

 delight in a moist soil and shaded 

 situation ; though they will not thrive 

 exactly under the drip of trees. 



Rudbeckia. — Composites. — "Very 

 showy perennial, biennial, and annual 

 plants, which should be grown in 

 light rich soil. They attain a very 

 large size, and are therefore only 

 suitable to large gardens. They are 

 all hardy and of the easiest culture of 

 their respective kinds. 



Rue. — See Ruta. 



Ruellia. — Acanthacece. — Herba- 

 ceous plants with pretty tube-shaped 

 blue flowers. Some of the species 

 require a stove, and others a green- 

 house ; but they should all be grown 

 in light rich soil, and are propagated 

 by cuttings. 



Ru'mex. — Polygoneee. — The 

 Dock. Most of the species are Bri- 

 tish weeds, but some few are grown 

 for their flowers. They like a very 

 deep and rich soil. 



Ruscus. — SmilacinecB. — The 

 Butcher's Broom. Very curious 

 evergreen shrubs, most of which bear 

 their flowers and fruit on their leaves. 

 All the species prefer shady situations 

 under the drip of trees, where but 

 few other plants will grow ; and they 

 are all readily increased by suckers 

 from their roots, which they throw 

 up in abundance. One of the kinds 

 is sometimes called the Alexandrian 

 Laurel. 



Russelia. — Scrophularinece. — 

 R. juncea is a very elegant stove- 

 plant, with slender rush-like branches, 

 and scarlet tube-like flowers. It 

 should be grown in light rich soil, 

 and abundantly supplied with water 

 while in a growing state. It is pro- 

 pagated by cuttings, struck in heat. 



Ru'ta. — Rutacece. — The Rue. 

 R. graveolens is a well - known 

 glaucous leaved plant, having a very 

 unpleasant smell, and a bitter taste. 

 The leaves are nearly blue, and from 

 their peculiar colour sometimes pro- 

 duce a good effect in a shrubbery. 

 The flowers are yellowish. The plant 

 will grow in any soil or situation. 



