CHAP. XLI.

LEGUMINA CEÆ. VIRGILIA.

France, and is strikingly exemplified in the remains of the garden at Marboeuf, near the Barrière de Chaillot, in Paris, where some very large sophoras and robinias are growing together. The pendulous variety is well deserving of culture as an object of singularity and beauty; and, where it is desired to cover a surface with intense green foliage during summer, for example, a dry hillock, a plant of this variety, placed on the centre, will accomplish the purpose effectually.

Soil, Propagation, &c. Any free soil will suit this tree; but, in cold climates, it ought to be placed in one rather poor and dry, that it may be compelled to make shorter shoots; which, of course, being less succulent, are more easily ripened. Where it is desired to have trees that will soon come into flower, seedling plants should be grafted with scions. The tree will grow by cuttings, more especially of the roots, and also by layers from a flowering tree.

Statistics. The largest tree in the neighbourhood of London is at Syon, where it is 57 ft. high; the diameter of the trunk is 3ft., and of the head 80 ft. It flowers beautifully in most years. The oldest tree near London is at Purser's Cross, where it flowered, for the first time in England, in August 1807, as noticed p. 72. In Kensington Gardens, in the north-west corner, is an old tree, about 30 ft. high, which flowers occasionally. At Kew, there is a tree 50 ft. high. In the Mile End Nursery, there is a tree 35 ft. high, the trunk 2 ft. in diameter, and the diameter of the head 30 ft. At Hamp stead, at Mount Grove, there is a tree 38 ft. high; and at Kenwood, one, 38 years planted, 32 ft. high. In Buckinghamshire, at Temple House, a tree, 40 years planted, is 18 ft. high. In Cambridgeshire, in the Cambridge Botanic Garden, there are two handsome trees, both 50 ft. high, which have flowered occasionally. In Cheshire, at Eaton Hall, 13 years planted, and 6 ft. high. In Hertfordshire, at Cheshunt, 6 years planted, and 10 ft. high. In Oxfordshire, in the Oxford Botanic Garden, 20 years planted, and 35 ft. high. In Worcestershire, at Croome, 70 years planted, and 35 ft. high, the dia In Perthshire, at Kinfauns Castle, 8 years planted, meter of the trunk 2ft. 4 in., and of the head 40 ft.: the soil a dark sandy loam. In Scotland, in Haddingtonshire, at Tyningham, 42 ft. high.

and 6 ft. high. In Ireland, near Dublin, at Castletown, 35 ft. high; at Terenure, 15 years planted,
and 10 ft. high. In Louth, at Oriel Temple, 50 years planted, and $5 ft. high. In Munster, at Castle
Freke, 13 ft. high. In France, at Paris, in the Jardin des Plantes, 100 years planted, and 64 ft. high,
the diameter of the head 40 ft.: in the Rue des Vignes, a tree, which stood in what was formerly
the garden of Marboeuf, was 60 ft. high, and flowered and ripened seeds almost every year; but it has
lately been cut down, with several others in the same garden, the ground being about to be built on.
In Saxony, at Wörlitz, 20 years planted,
In the Botanic Garden at Toulon, a tree, 50 years planted, is 60 ft. high. At Nantes, in the nursery of M.
Nerrières, a tree, 30 years planted, is 25 ft. high

and 25 ft. high. In Austria, at Laxenburg, 16 years planted, and 18 ft. high; at Brück on the
Leytha, 45 years planted, and 50 ft. high. In Prussia, in the Botanic Garden; at Berlin, 30 years
planted, and 25 ft. high; at Sans Souci, 20 years planted, and 20 ft. high. In Bavaria, at Munich,
in the Botanic Garden, 20 years planted, and 25 ft. high.

Commercial Statistics. Price, in London, of 2 years' seedlings, 50s. per 100, of grafted plants 2s. 6d., and of the pendulous variety 5s.; at Bollwyller, of the species 1 franc and 50 cents each, and the variegated variety 3 francs; at New York, the species, and the pendulous variety, I dollar each.

GENUS II.

VIRGILIA L. THE VIRGILIA. Lin. Syst. Decandria Monogynia.

Identification. Lam. Ill., t. 346.; Pers. Ench., 1. p. 453.; R. Brown in Hort. Kew., ed. 2. vol. 3. p. 4.;
Dec. Prod., 2. p. 98.; Don's Mill., 2. p. 111.

Derivation. Named by Lamarck in honour of the poet Virgil, whose Georgics entitle him to botanic

commemoration.

Description, &c. There is only one hardy species, a deciduous low tree.

1. V. LU`TEA Michx. The yellow-wooded Virgilia, or Yellow Wood. Identification. Michx. Fil. Arb. Amer., 3. p. 266. t. 3.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 98.; Don's Mill., 2. p. 112. Engravings. Delaun. Herb Amat., t. 197.; Michx. Fil. Arb. Amer., 3. p. 226. t. 3.; and the plate of this tree in our Second Volume.

Spec. Char., &c. Leaves pinnate; leaflets 9-11; alternate, ovate, pointed, smooth. A tree, in its native country rarely exceeding 40 ft. in height, with a trunk 1 ft. in diameter, covered with a greenish bark, having a smooth surface. The leaves, on young trees, are from 1 ft. to 14 ft. in length, and on old trees not above half that size. The flowers form white pendulous racemes, a little larger than those of the Robínia Pseùd-Acàcia, but not so odoriferous. The seeds are like those of the robinia, and, in America, ripe QQ4

about the middle of August. In Britain, the tree is seldom seen in flower, there being but few old specimens.

Geography, History, &c. Virgília lùtea is found chiefly in the western part of Tennessee, on gentle declivities, on a loose, deep, and fertile soil; where it is usually associated with Morus rubra, Gymnócladus canadénsis, Gleditschia, Juglans, and other trees which delight in good soil. It was discovered by the younger Michaux; and plants of it were first brought to England by Mr. Lyon, in 1812; and seeds having been since frequently sent over, the plant is now to be met with in most collections. The wood is fine-grained and soft; and remarkable for its deep yellow colour. This colour is given out freely to water, but cannot be fixed by alum, like most other vegetable colours. Very little use is made of the tree in America; and, in Europe, it is planted solely for purposes of ornament and botanical interest. It is rather later in coming into leaf than most of the other pinnate-leaved Leguminàceæ, and its leaves drop very early in autumn, previously becoming of a fine yellow.

Soil, Situation, &c. An open airy situation is desirable, in order that the tree may ripen its wood; and, to facilitate the same purpose where the climate is cold, the soil ought to be dry rather than rich. In the London nurseries, it is propagated chiefly by seeds.

Statistics. In the neighbourhood of London, the highest plants are at the Duke of Devonshire's villa at Chiswick; but, as they are crowded among other shrubs, they are not handsome; in the Chelsea Botanic Garden, there is a tree 20 ft. high, which flowers annually; in the London Horticultural Society's Garden, there is one 10 years planted, which, in 1834, was 13 ft. high; in the Mile End Nursery, there is a tree 18 ft. high. In Surrey, at Claremont, there is one 20 ft. high. In Sussex, at West Dean, one, 9 years planted, is 18 ft. high. In Berkshire, at White Knights, one, 25 years planted, is 23 ft. high: the diameter of the trunk is 5 in., and of the head 20 ft. In Essex, at Hylands, 10 years planted, and 17 ft. high. In Pembrokeshire, at Golden Grove, 35 years planted, and 17 ft. high. In Suffolk, at Ampton Hall, 12 years planted, and 11 ft. high. In Ireland, near Dublin, in the Cullenswood Nursery, 17 years planted, and 25 ft. high.

Commercial Statistics. Plants, in London, are 5s. each; at Bollwyller 1 franc and 50 cents; and in New York, 50 cents.

GENUS III.

PIPTA'NTHUS Swt. THE PIPTANTHUS. Lin. Syst. Decandria
Monogynia.

Identification. Swt. Fl.-Gard., 264.; Don's Mill., 2. p. 112.

Derivation. From pipto, to fall, and anthos, a flower; from the flowers falling off very soon. Description, &c. There is only one species described or introduced, which is a sub-evergreen bush or low tree.

P. NEPALE'NSIS Swt. The Nepal Piptanthus.

Identification. Swt. Fl..Gard., 264.; Dec. Prod.; Don's Mill., 2. p. 112.

Synonymes. Thermopsis laburnifolia D. Don Prod. Fl. Nep., p. 239.; Anagyris indica Wall. MSS.; Baptisia nepalénsis Hook. Exot. Fl., t. 131.

Engravings. Hook. Exot. Fl., t. 181.; Swt. Fl.-Gard., t. 264. ; and our fig. 237. to a scale of 2 in. to a foot, and fig. 258. representing a flower of the natural size.

British gardens, in warm sheltered situations. It may be considered as rather tender, and not of many years' duration : nevertheless, in fine seasons, it ripens abundance of seeds. It was introduced in 1821, and flowers in May and June. It may be propagated by cuttings of the roots, and of the shoots, as well as by seeds or layers. In most of the counties north of London, the safest situation for it will be against a wall; and it well deserves a place there, on account of its luxuriant deep green foliage, and large bright yellow flowers. Price, in the London nurseries, 2s. 6d. each; and at Bollwyller, where it is a green-house plant, 3 francs.

App. i. Half-hardy Species of Sophòreæ.

Sophora velutina Lindl. (Bot. Reg., t. 1185.) is a Nepal shrub, introduced in 1820, which grows to the height of from 4 ft. to 6 ft. The flowers are pale purple, in long racemose spikes. Mr. G. Don suggests the idea of grafting it on the S. japónica, by which means, he says, it would be rendered so hardy as to stand our winters in open shrubberies.

S. tomentosa Hook., the S. occidentalis of Lindl. (Bot. Reg., t. 3390.), is an evergreen Brazilian shrub, growing to the height of 5 ft. There is a variety of this species not yet introduced, the leaves of which are dark green and shining; and the flowers are in spike-like panicles, in form and colour much like those of the Spanish broom, but rather paler. (See Gard. Mag., xl. p. 191.)

sery, Dorchester, it has ripened seeds as a standard in the open border. There is a variety in the Chelsea Botanic Garden, with very narrow leaves, which, in 3 years, has attained the height of 6 ft. E. myriophylla Wand. (Don's Mill., 2. p. 111.), E. mínima Lodd. Cat., is a New Zealand shrub, introduced in 1818, and is, doubtless, as hardy as the other species of the genus.

E. chrysophylla Salisb. (Don's Mill., 2. p. 111., Bot Reg., t. 738.) is a native of the Sandwich Islands, where it grows to the height of 8 ft. or 10 ft., producing flowers rather smaller than those of E. myrio phylla. It seems as hardy as any other species; for a plant of it has stood in the front of the stove in the Botanic Garden at Kew since it was first introduced in 1822.

Cyclopia genistöldes R. Br; Bot. Mag., t 1259., the Gompholòbium maculatum of Bot. Rep,ARY

is a handsome frame shrub from the Cape of Good Hope, growing to the height of 8 ft., and producing its yellow flowers in July and August. There are several green-house species of Cyclòpia, which might also be kept in a frame, or against a conservative wall.

Podalýria sericea R. Br. Bot. Mag., t. 1293., the Sophora sericea of Bot. Rep., t.440., and our fig. 242., is a Cape shrub, with pale purple flowers; and there are other species of the same genus, also with purple flowers (as will be seen by our Hortus Britannicus), all of which are suitable for a conservative wall.

Chorózema Henchmánnii R. Br. (Bot. Reg., t. 986, and our fig. 243.) is a beautiful little New Holland shrub, with hoary leaves and bright scarlet and buff flowers, which, with other species of the genus, well deserves culture in the open air, in fine warm situations, even if they should require to be taken up, and kept in a pot during winter.

Callistachys ovata Sims (Bot. Mag., t. 1925., and our fig. 248.) is a New Holland shrub, producing fine large spikes of yellow flowers from June to August, and growing to the height of 6 ft.

Brachysema latifolium R. Br. (Bot. Reg., t. 118.; Bot. Mag., t. 2008.; and our fig. 247.) is a handSome New Holland climbing shrub, producing large scarlet flowers from April to July, which no conservative wall ought to be without.

Gompholobium grandiflorum Smith (Bot. Reg., t. 484.) is a New Holland shrub,with fine large yel. low flowers, which are produced from March to September. It grows to the height of 3 ft.; and there are several other species from the same part of the world. Burtonia R. Br. is a genus that includes a few New Holland species; but they do not exceed 1 ft. in height.

251

Jacksonia (named by Mr. Brown in honour of George Jackson, an acute Scotch botanist, once librarian to A. B. Lambert, Esq., and a particular friend of ours) Scopària R. Br. (Bot. Cab., t. 427.) is a handsome shrub from New South Wales, with the habit, nearly, of Genísta monosperma. It grows to the height of 6 ft., and flowers in July and August. There are several other species.

Viminària denudata Smith (Ex. Bot., t. 27.; Bot. Mag, t. 1190.; and our fig. 249. to scale of 2 in. to a foot, and fig. 250. of the natural size) is an elegant New Holland shrub, growing to the height of 4 ft., and flowering from June to September.

Sphærolobium vimineum Smith (Bot. Mag., 969.; and our fig. 251. to a scale of 2 in. to a foot, and fig. 252. of the natural size) is a diminutive Australian shrub, producing yellow flowers from May to August; and

8. médium is another species of the same genus, producing red flowers.

252

Abtus ericoides Don's Mill., 2. p. 120. (Bot. Mag., t. 949.; and our fig. 253., in which the branch of the natural size is marked (as in all similar cases) with a +) is a very neat little heath-like low 253

shrub, producing its fine yellow flowers from April to June. There are other species, all with narrow heath-like, or rosemary-like leaves.

255

256

Dillwynia glaberrima Smith (Bot. Mag., t. 944.; Bot. Cab., t. 582.; and our fig. 256. to a scale of 2 in. to a foot, and fig. 255. of the natural size) is a handsome New Hol land shrub, producing its fine yellow flowers from March to July, and growing to the height of 4 ft. There are several other species, all deserving of culture.

Eutária myrtifolia R. Br. (Bot. Mag., t. 1274.; and our fig 254. the flower of the natural size being marked with a+.), and E. pungens Sweet (Fl. Aus., t. 28.), are elegant evergreen New Holland shrubs, which Mr. Sweet has shown might easily be kept in pits, or against conservative walls in the neighbourhood of London; or grown, without any kind of protection, in the open air, in Devonshire.

Sclerothamnus microphyllus R. Br. is an elegant New Holland shrub, growing to the height of 2ft. The leaves are stiff, and the whole plant rigid, as the generic name implies. The flowers are yellow, and are produced from May to July.

Gastrolobium bilobum Ker (Bot. Reg., t. 411.; Bot. Cab., t. 70.) is a pretty little New Holland shrub, producing its fine yellow flowers from March to May.

Euchilus obcordatus R. Br. (Bot. Reg., t. 403.; Bot. Cab., t. 60.; our fig. 258. to a scale of 2 in. to a foot, and fig. 257. of the natural size), is an elegant plant, producing yellow flowers, which have a purple keel, from March to

June.

Pultena a is a genus of 41 species, which are described in Don's Miller; and many of them are in cultivation in our green-houses, pits, or cold-frames.-P. stricta Bot. Mag., t. 1388.; (Bot. Cab., t. 274.; and our fig. 259.) will give an idea of these plants. P. stricta is a native of Van Diemen's Land.

Daviesia latifolia R. Br. (Bot. Mag., t. 1757.; and our fig. 261. representing one branch (a) to the scale of 2 in. to the foot, and part of a branch (marked with a +) of the natural size) is a Van