175 
DAPHNE JAPONICA. 
(japan daphne.) 
class. order, 
OCTANDRTA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
THYMELACE^. 
Generic Character. — Calyx none. Corolla monopetalous, funnel-shaped, four-cleft, deciduous. 
Drupe one-seeded. 
Specific Character. — Plant shrubby, evergreen, two feet high and upwards. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, 
acute, wavy, margined with yellow. Corolla purplish red without, pale pink within. 
From the number of Japanese plants made known to European cultivators by 
Dr. Siebold, it might be expected that some definitive opinion should by this 
time have been gained as to their hardihood, and the probability of the commoner 
natives of that country thriving unprotected (or with a very little winter shelter) 
in our climate. And so far as experience has yet taught us, we incline to the 
belief that at least the shrubby forms of vegetation in Japan may be grown in the 
open air in most parts of Britain with complete impunity, provided they be care- 
fully tended for the first year or two after their transplantation. 
Should such be the case with the pleasing species of Daphne now under remark, 
it will add a peculiarly interesting feature to our shrubberies. It is one of the 
many plants collected by Dr. Siebold in his journeyings through Japan, and sent 
to Continental gardens, from whence it has been received by Messrs. Young, of 
Epsom, with the character of hardiness, and it flowered with these gentlemen in 
February and March of the present year. 
It is particularly noticeable for the broad yellow margin of its fine evergreen 
foliage, and for the delicious scent of its pretty flowers, which is only comparable 
to a sort of refined essence of that of the leaves of Aloysia citriodora. The species 
to which it makes the nearest approach is D. odora, from which it may be popularly 
