1871.] 
PYRUS MALUS FLORIBUNDA.-THE OLD ROSE DE MEAUX. 
241 
PYRUS MALUS FLORIBUNDA. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
PROMINENT position in the very front ranks of hardy ornamental 
deciduous trees must be allotted to this remarkably floriferous plant, 
which forms a small tree, producing long slender branches, which burst 
out in early spring (about the end of April) into leafy garlands of 
brilliantly-coloured flowers. From each of the numerous buds proceeds a short 
spur-like shoot of about an inch in length, bearing several of the small lanceolate, 
acutely-serrated leaves, and terminating in a kind of corymb of seven or eight 
lovely blossoms on slender peduncles, which thus convert the shoots into very 
brilliant floral wreaths, measuring from 4 in. to 6 in. through. The flower-buds 
are ovate, about % in. long, and of rich crimson, looking like clusters of small 
elongated cherries. The calyx is narrow and acuminate, the segments woolly 
inside, and smooth.outside, while the small oblong ovary is pubescent. The blossoms 
are succeeded by small round fruits. When half-expanded the flowers appear 
striped with white and carmine, the petals being imbricated, the inner part 
remaining white, while the outer exposed half becomes coloured. Fully expanded 
the flowers are white, the five petals being white inside, spreading, oblong, 
rounded at the apex, and distinctly clawed; in the centre is a tuft of numerous 
erect stamens, and five styles somewhat exceeding them in length. The grada¬ 
tion of colour, and the varying form presented by the buds and flowers, are 
very pleasing. Their profusion renders the plant exceedingly gay and ornamental, 
and, indeed, in the earlier stages of development, owing to the abundant but grace¬ 
fully disposed trusses of highly-coloured buds, the appearance of the tree is truly 
gorgeous. Beautiful as are the Almond trees in the early spring, they are utterly 
eclipsed by this handsome Pyrus, which has not only a more elegant, but more 
brilliantly coloured inflorescence, with a setting of small green leaves. 
We cannot claim actual novelty for this plant, but it is comparatively new, 
and so little known, that we doubt not our readers generally will find in it a novel 
source of floral beauty. Our figure was derived from specimens furnished by 
Mr. Waterer, of Knap Hill, and we have received others equally beautiful from 
Mr. W. Paul, of Waltham Cross, Mr. Cripps, of Tunbridge Wells, and the garden 
of the Royal Horticultural Society. Some eulogistic remarks on this tree by 
Mr. Barron will be found in the Florist for 1870. It should be introduced 
everywhere, and planted freely.—T. M. 
THE OLD ROSE DE MEAUX. 
HOUGH this very beautiful old miniature Rose is still to be met with here 
and there in the form of a solitary plant, we seldom see it used as an 
edging, or planted in a mass, so as to form a conspicuous object, and yet 
it is very suitable for both purposes. Many cultivators labour under a 
3rd series.—IV. M 
