RECENTLY INTRODUCED TREES &c, FROM CENTRAL CHINA. 63 



spinous toothed margin. The inflorescence is a remarkahle one, consisting 

 of a simple raceme, 9-12 in. in length, densely covered with small white- 

 flowers, solitary at the termination of the branches. Seedling plants 

 have stood the past winter uninjured, and appear to be perfectly hardy in 

 this country. (Fig. 22.) 



Another genus of ligneous plants belonging to Saxifragacece which is 

 worthy of note is Bibcs, of which several species are in cultivation. The 

 most remarkable is Bibes longeracemosum, so named on account of the 

 great length of its raceme, often from 8-12 in. The leaves resemble 

 those of our ordinary Red Currant, and the fruit is black and edible. Of 

 little value as an ornamental shrub it may be of service in hybridising 

 with our cultivated Currants. 



The Viburnums of China are numerous and handsome. Strikingly 

 conspicuous among them all is Viburnum rhytidopJiyllum, a shrub 

 attaining the height of ten feet, the leaves of which are unlike any other- 

 member of the genus. They measure 8-8^ in. in length, and 2-2J in. in 

 width, are broadly lanceolate in outline, with a prominent nervation on 

 the upper surface, intensified beneath by the presence of a dense woolly 

 tomentum. The branches are terminated by a large corymb, 7-8 in. 

 across, of yellowish- white flowers, small individually but conspicuous in a 

 mass. (Fig. 23.) 



Two other species, Viburnum Veitchii and Viburnum buddleifolium,. 

 somewhat resemble the above named, but are smaller in all their parts.. 

 The former has ovate-lanceolate leaves 4 in. long by X\ in. broad, and an 

 inflorescence 5 in. in diameter ; the latter has ovate-acuminate leaves with 

 a dentate margin, 5 in. long by 3} in. broad, and densely tomentose on, 

 the under surface. Both are new to science and but recently named by 

 Mr. C. H. Wright of Kew. 



Many of the Chinese Loniceras, or Honeysuckles, are extremely inter- 

 esting to the botanist, but of little use as ornamental plants, though an< 

 exception in this respect is Lonicera tragophylla, which is by far the best 

 from a gardener's point of view. This is a twining shrub with opposite- 

 and decussate entire leaves, 4 in. long by 1J in. broad ; the two pairs 

 subtending the inflorescence become connate, forming an almost circular 

 perfoliate bract, with two projecting points which indicate the apices of 

 the connate leaves. The flowers are borne in an umbel terminating the 

 branches, and consist of ten or twelve tubular flowers, Z\ in. in length,, 

 bright golden-yellow when first expanded, becoming reddish as they 

 mature. In describing it in " Index Florae Sinensis " Mr. Hemsley states :. 

 " Closely related to Lonicera Caprifolnim, Linn., differing in the longer 

 narrower leaves, fewer larger flowers, and other small details. So far as 

 we know there is no allied species nearer than the Caucasus, the American 

 species of this group being less like the present plant." It is perfectly 

 hardy, is growing freely in Surrey, and is promising. (Fig. 24.) 



Besides Senecio clivorum, which has already flowered, there are- 

 several other members of the Composites which promise well. These 

 are Senecio Ligularia var. speciosa and Inula racemosa, the former 

 producing an inflorescence, 1 ft. 6 in. in length, composed of bright yellow 

 flowers subtended by a tuft of bold cordate leaves. Inula racemosa (also- 

 found in the Himalayas) has yellow flowers, 2|-3 in. in diameter, and 



