44 
tree, Hemiptelea is of much botanical interest as the representative 
of one of the monotypic genera of trees which are such a conspicuous 
feature in the flora of China. 
Eucommia ulmoides. This, the so-called “Hardy Rubber-tree,” 
which has been of more interest to the energetic newspaper reporter 
than it can ever be to the manufacturer of rubber goods, is also mono- 
typic. It is a small tree with inconspicuous flowers, and fruits which 
have some resemblance in shape to those of an Elm-tree. The leaves 
are thick, dark green, very lustrous, and five or six inches long, and 
give ornamental value to the tree. Eucommia is a native of central 
and western China where it is cultivated in the neighborhood of houses 
for the bark which yields a drug valued by the Chinese. The leaves 
and bark contain an elastic gum but in such small quantities that it 
can have no commercial significance. Eucommia is perfectly hardy 
and is now well established in the Arboretum. Plants can be seen on 
the upper side of Azalea Path. 
Magnolia macrophylla. This, the last of the Arboretum Magnolias 
to bloom, is now opening its flower-buds. It is a handsome small tree 
of good habit, and particularly interesting from the fact that of all 
the trees which grow beyond the tropics it has the largest leaves and 
the largest flowers. The leaves' are from twenty to thirty inches long 
and from eight to nine inches wide, and are silvery white on the lower 
surface. The cup-shaped creamy white, fragrant flowers are often a 
foot in diameter. This southern tree is perfectly hardy in the north- 
ern states, but it should be planted in sheltered positions that the 
delicate leaves may be protected from the wind which tears and dis- 
figures them. 
Tripterygium Regelii. This is a near relative of the Bitter Sweet 
(Celastrus), a native of northern Japan and Korea, and one of the plants 
brought to the Arboretum by Mr. Jack from Korea; it is still rare in 
gardens. It is a half-climbing shrub with stems sometimes thirty 
feet long on its native hill sides, long-pointed dark green leaves often 
six inches long, small white flowers in terminal clusters often ten 
inches in length, and three-lobed and three-winged fruits rather more 
than half an inch long. This plant is perfectly hardy here in the Ar- 
boretum and began to flower when not more than three feet high. On 
such small plants the stems are nearly erect and almost self-support- 
ing, but larger plants will need the support of rocks or bushes over 
which to stray. Specimens of Tripterygium can now be seen in flower 
on Hickory Path near Centre Street and in the Shrub Collection. 
Lonicera Henryi is a native of western China and valuable and in- 
teresting for, with the exception of Evonymus radicans and Vinca 
minor, it is the only vine with evergreen leaves which is hardy in 
this climate. It has long, dark green, pointed leaves and axillary clus- 
ters of flowers which are rose color when they first open but soon be- 
come orange-red; they are without odor. On the slopes of its native 
mountains this plant scrambles over rocks and bushes and, like other 
climbing Honeysuckles, it will do best when allowed to grow naturally 
in this way, for none of these Honeysuckles are really happy when 
they are fastened to a trellis. There is a good specimen of this plant 
now covered with flowers in the bed of Chinese shrubs on the southern 
slope of Bussey Hill. 
