248 
WEIGELA ROSEA. 
to our exhibitions, but a main stem or two chosen for leaders, which in their turn 
throw out branches from their sides, and then when the plant comes into bloom, the 
branches, which are loaded with beautiful flowers, hang down in graceful and 
natural festoons." 
Such is the account given of the introduction and subsequent treatment of this 
beautiful shrub in the " Journal of the Horticultural Society." As the plants which 
have already been distributed through our collections are too small at present to 
risk in the open borders, and are therefore chiefly cultivated in pots, some years 
must necessarily elapse before the true value, as a shrubbery plant, of this intro- 
duction can be fully estimated. Little doubt, however, need be entertained that if 
the plants are placed in situations where they will not be exposed to boisterous and 
very cutting winds, if the subsoil be perfectly dry, or rendered so by drainage, and 
the rays of the sun have free access to ripen the wood properly, they will endure our 
most severe winter without protection. 
The genus Weigela, which originated with the Swedish traveller Thunberg, has 
been referred by modern botanists to Diervilla, and several species of it inhabiting 
Japan have been published by Messrs. Siebold and Zuccarini under that name. But 
although in many technical characters it approaches that genus, yet it is very different 
in habit. Both are remarkable among Caprifoils for their one-celled ovary, cut into 
four false cells by the projection of a pair of double placenta?, which do not unite in 
their axis, and both have a double capitate stigma, and a remarkable epigynous 
gland. But while in Weigela that gland is free, in Diervilla it adheres to the 
corolla ; and in Diervilla the corolla is irregular and gibbous on one side at the base, 
while in Weigela it is regular and equal sided at the base.* 
The greater part of Caprifoliaceous plants are favourites in our gardens ; they 
consist of fifteen genera, all shrubby, with the exception of Karpaton hastatwn, two 
species of Triosteum, and three of Sambucus. The greater part are hardy ; a few 
require the shelter of a wall or other slight protection ; some need the temperature 
of a greenhouse, and two or three are stove plants. 
The genus Abelia consists of small weak-growing but pretty shrubs, bearing 
long tubular flowers, like those of the Honeysuckle (Caprifolium). Five or more 
species are known, and three— floribunda, rupestris, and triflora — are already 
introduced into Britain. The first-mentioned is by far the handsomest at present 
known. See pages 188 and 238. A. rupestris and triflora are both very fragrant; 
the first forms a small spreading bush, with deciduous, bright-green foliage ; the 
flowers are pure white, and come in pairs from the axils of the leaves belonging to the 
short lateral branches. It remains in flower a long time. A. triflora assumes more 
the form of a tree, its flowers are produced by threes, and form corymbs at the 
* Dr. Lindley in Journ. Hort. Soc, i., 66 and 190. 
