226 



PEACTICAL FOKESTRT. 



FOREIG^^ SPECIES AKD YARIETIES. 



Some of the European botanists make several species of the 

 different forms or varieties of the Tilia Europcea, while others 

 consider them as all belonging to one. For all practical pur- 

 poses they may be considered as one with many well marked and 

 interesting varieties. The most common European Linden has 

 large, deep green leaves, but distinguished from the American 

 species by the absence of the petal-like scales among the sta- 

 mens in the flowers. The tree grows to a very large size, and 

 many of them from fifty to a hundred years old, may be found 

 in and about our Eastern cities and villages. The wood is simi- 

 lar to that of the American Basswood, but the twigs are more 

 numerous and slender, and the tree is of a more compact habit 

 than that of the T. Americana, The following are some of the 

 most common and desirable varieties of the European species, 

 (T, Europcea). 



Var. alha or argentea, a very graceful, vigorous-growing tree, 

 with whitish leaves. — Yar. alba pendula, a weeping variety of 

 the last, with slender twigs and whitish leaves. — Var. alba pen- 

 clula variegata, sl weeping variety with variegated leaves. — 

 Var. aurea, the bark on the twigs of a bright golden color in 

 winter. — Var. aurea platipliylla, twigs yellow, but leaves long- 

 er than in the above. — ^Var. dasystyla, a variety or species 

 from Tauria, with large, heart-shaped dark-green leaves, and 

 yellow twigs. Some authorities consider this a distinct spe- 

 cies. — Var. laciniata, leaves finely divided, orcut and twisted. — 

 Var. laciniata rubra, leaves finely cut, and the bark on young 

 twigs red in winter. — ^Var. platiphylla, similar to the species, 

 but with somewhat larger leaves. — ^Var. pyramidalis, a tree of 

 rapid growth and pyramidal habit, and reddish bark on the 

 twigs. — Var. rubra, the common red-twigged European Lin- 

 den. — Var. vitifolia, leaves resembling those of the grape vine ; 

 bark on young twigs bright red. 



ULMUS, Linn. — Ehm 



A genus of less than twenty species, but an immense number 

 of wild and cultivated varieties, principally native of North 

 America and Europe. They are mostly lofty, deciduous trees 

 of rapid growth. Flowers usually perfect, yellowish or purp- 

 lish in lateral clusters ; in our species appearing in spring, 

 before the leaves. Fruit a one-celled and one-seeded membrane- 

 ous samara, winged all round. Propagated by seeds, layers, or 



