LAURUSTINUS. 



VIBURNUM TINUS. 



■CAPRIFOLIE.E. PEXTANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 



Viburnum, from viere, to bind ; some of the shrubs of this 

 genus affording twigs fit for bands. French, laurier-thym ; 

 Italian, lauro tino; English, laurustinuSj laurustine ; which names 

 signify little laurel ; so called by old authors, who considered it as 

 a smaller species of the bay- tree. Gerarde and Parkinson call it 

 the Wild Bay-tree. 



Theee are several varieties of the Laiirustinus ; the 

 Common, the Hairv, the Upright, and the Shining-leaved : 

 the latter is by far the most ornamental ; it grows higher 

 and stronger ; the bark is smoother, the leaves larger, of 

 a thicker consistence, and of a finer green than the othe±' 

 varieties. The flowers also are larger, and in larger 

 clusters ; but tliis is considered the least hardy. It is a 

 native of Portugal and Spain, ^Nlount Atlas, and Algiers. 



The Hairy Laiu-ustinus is a native of Spain, Portugal, 

 and Nice : this is the most hardy of all. 



The leaves of the Upright Laurustinus are hairy un- 

 derneath, and those of the common sort ai'e hairy at the 

 edges : this last variety is an Italian. It was cultivated 

 here in 1596. 



" We scarcely recollect a plant/' says Mr. Curtis, 

 " whose blossoms are so hardy as those of the Laurus- 

 tinus ; they brave the inclemency of our winters, and 

 are not destroyed but in very severe seasons. The smoke 

 of London is highly detrimental to its growth : it thrives 

 best in a dry soil, and sheltered situation.'' 



