30. C. CAROLINIA NA Michx. The Carolina Bird Cherry Tree. Identification. Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 285.; Lois. in N. Du Ham., 5. p 5.; Don's Mill., 2. p. 516, Synonymes. Prunus caroliniana Ait. Hort. Kew., 2. p. 163. ; P. sempervirens Willd. Enum.; Pàdus caroliniana Mill. Dict., No. 6.; Wild Orange, Amer. Engravings. Michx. Arb. d'Amér., 3. t. 7.; and our fig. 423. Spec. Char., &c. Evergreen. Leaves, with the petiole short; and the disk lanceolate-oblong, mucronate, even, rather coriaceous, mostly entire. Flowers densely disposed in axillary racemes, that are shorter than the leaves. Fruit nearly globose, mucronate. (Dec. Prod., ii. p. 540.) An evergreen tree, of the middle size, a native of North America, from Carolina to Florida; introduced in 1759, and forming rather a tender evergreen shrub in British gardens. Description, &c. In its native country, this tree, according to Michaux, grows to the height of 20 ft. or 30 ft., and ramifies at a short distance from the ground, forming a tufted head. The bark of the trunk is of a dun colour, and is commonly without cracks. The leaves are smooth, shining on their upper surfaces, and about 3 in. long. The flowers, which open in May, are white and numerous, being arranged in little bunches 1 in. or 1 in. long, which spring from the axil of the leaf. The fruit is small, oval, and nearly black: it consists of a soft stone, surrounded by a small quantity of green pulpy substance, which is not eatable. The fruit hangs on during the greater part of the following year, so that the tree is at the same time laden with fruit and flowers. These flowers, Michaux remarks, are, of all others which he has observed in Carolina and Georgia, the most sought after by bees. The tree, he adds, may be considered as one of the most beautiful vegetable productions of the south 423 ern parts of the United States; and it is generally selected by the inhabitants to plant near their houses, not only on this account, but because it grows with rapidity, and affords an impenetrable shade. Pursh describes it as a handsome evergreen shrub, resembling C. lusitánica; but he says nothing of the flowers, which, from the figure in Michaux, from which ours was copied, appear to be almost without petals. Geography, History, &c. This tree is found in the Bahama Islands; and in North America it appears to be confined to the islands which are on the coast of the two Carolinas, Georgia, and the two Floridas. On the mainland it is seldom found growing wild, even at 8 or 10 miles' distance from the sea. It was first made known to Europeans by Catesby; and the seeds were sent to Miller in 1759, under the name of bastard mahogany. Seeds of it are frequently imported from America, and abundance of young plants reared; but, as they are rather tender, and, north of London, would require the protection of a wall, they are very seldom seen in British gardens. The largest plant which we know of is in Hampshire, at Swallowfield, where, in 1833, it formed a bush 10 ft. high, with a head about 12 ft. in diameter, flowering and fruiting occasionally. Properties and Uses. The wood is rose-coloured, and of a very fine grain; but, even in America, it is too scarce to be applied to useful purposes; the tree being there, as here, considered entirely as one of ornament. The bark of the roots smells strongly of prussic acid; and from it, Michaux observes, a fragrant spirituous liquor may be obtained. Soil, Situation, &c. A deep, free, dry soil, and a sheltered situation, are essential to this species; which, north of London, as already observed, will be safest placed against a wall, or, probably, grafted on the Portugal laurel. In the London nurseries, it is propagated from seeds; and plants, of which there are now (1836) abundance in the Fulham, Epsom, and Milford Nurseries, are 1s. 6d. each. App. i. Other Species of Cérasus. In De Candolle's Prodromus, and in Don's Miller, two West Indian, and four South American, species are described; but only two of these (C. sphærocarpa Lois., P. sphærocárpa Swartz, Don's Mill., ii. p. 516.; and C. occidentalis Lois., and Don's Mill,, ii. p. 516., P. occidentalis Swartz) have been introduced into Britain. They are both considered hot-house plants, but might, probably, be acclimatised. Rafinesque, under the article Prùnus, in his Medical Flora, vol. ii. p. 453., says that he has prepared a monograph of 40 wild American species of Prùnus; under which genus, with Lin. næus, he includes both plums and cherries; only 25 of which, he says, are described by authors: but we are not aware that any work of this description has been published. Sect. II. SPIREE E. GENUS VI. PU'RSHIA Dec. THE PURSHIA. Lin. Syst. Icosándria Monogynia. Identification. Dec. in Trans. of Lin. Soc., 12. p. 157.; Prod., 2. p. 541.; Lindl. in Bot. Reg., t. 1446.; Don's Mill., 2. p. 517. Synonyme. Tigàrea Ph. Fl. Amer. Sept., 1. p. 33., not of Aublet. Derivation. Frederick Pursh first characterised the only known species in his Flora America Sep. tentrionalis, and named it Tigàrea tridentata. The generic name, however, having been preoccu. pied by Aublet, De Candolle has named the present genus after Pursh himself. 1. P. TRIDENTATA Dec. The 3-toothed-leaved Purshia. Prod., 2. p. 541. Identification. Dec. in Lin. Trans., 12. p. 157.; Description, &c. A spreading subdecumbent shrub, scarcely exceeding 2 ft. in height, with numerous branches, small whitish leaves, and rather many 424 small yellow flowers, which begin to 425 amplified from observation.) A native of North America, in pastures by the river Columbia. It was almost the only shrub to be seen through an immense tract of barren sandy soil, from the head source of the Missouri, to the Falls on the Columbia, and from 38° to 48° N. lat. (Douglas, in Hook. Bor. Amer.) It was introduced in 1826. There are plants of this species, in the garden of the London Horticultural Society, about 2 ft. or 3 ft. high, which flower freely every year. They require a dry light soil; and cuttings of the young wood will root in sand under a handglass. Plants, in the London nurseries, not being much asked for, are 2s. 6d. each. GENUS VII. KE'RRIA Dec. THE KERRIA. Lin. Syst. Icosándria Polygynia. Identification. Dec. in Trans. of Lin. Soc., 12. p. 156.; Prod., 2. p. 541.; Don's Mill., 2. p. 517. Synonymes. Rùbus L., Córchorus Thunb., Spiræ'a Camb. Derivation. Named in honour of W. Ker, a collector of plants for the Kew Gardens. 1. K. JAPONICA Dec. The Japan Kerria. Identification. Dec. in Trans. of Lin. Soc., 12. p. 156.; Prod. 2. p. 541. Synonymes. Rùbus japonicus Lin. Mant., 245.; Corchorus japonicus Thunb. Fl. Jap., 227., Bot. Description, &c. A shrub, a native of Japan, introduced in 1700, and for a long time treated as a stove, and afterwards as a green-house, plant; but it has been ultimately found quite hardy. It has soft, and not very persistent, wood, clothed with a smooth greenish bark; twig-like branches; leaves that are ovate-lanceolate, and serrated with large and unequal teeth, feather-veined, and concave on the upper surface; stipules that are linearsubulate; and yellow flowers. The single-flowered state of this species has only lately been introduced; and 426 it flowered, for the first time in England, in the Chelsea Botanic Garden, in April, 1836. The double-flowered variety has become so common as to be found in the gardens even of labourers' cottages. It is a most ornamental and beautiful shrub, from its very numerous, large, golden, sub-globular blossoms, which begin to appear in February or March, and, in tolerably moist soil, and a warm situation, continue to be produced for several months. It is generally planted against a wall, more especially north of London. It is easily and rapidly propagated by its sprouting suckers. Plants, in the London nurseries, are 50s. per 100; at Bollwyller, it is 10 francs per 100; and at New York, 50 cents each. GENUS VIII. SPIRE A L. THE SPIREA. Lin. Syst. Icosándria Di-Pentagýnia. Identification. Lin. Gen., No. 630.; Gærtn. Fruct., 1. p. 387. t. 69.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 541.; Don's Mill., 2. p. 517. Synonymes. Spiræ a sp. Cambessedes Mon. Spir. in Ann. Sci. Nat., 1. p. 227. ; Spirée, Fr.; Spierstaude, Ger. Derivation. From speira, a cord, in reference to the supposed flexibility of the branches of some of the species; or, according to some, from speirao, to wreath; in allusion to the fitness of the flowers to be twisted into garlands. Spireon is Pliny's name for a plant the blossoms of which were used, in his time, for making garlands; but that plant is thought by some to have been the Viburnum Lantàna. Description, &c. Low deciduous shrubs, with conspicuous flowers of considerable elegance and beauty. They are all readily propagated by suckers, which, in general, they produce in abundance. They will grow in any common soil; and the price of most of the sorts, in the London nurseries, is from ls. to 1s. 6d. each, or from 50s. to 75s. per hundred; at Bollwyller, from 50 cents to 1 franc each; and at New York, from 25 cents to 50 cents each. Seeds of one or two of the species may be procured, in London, at 6d. per packet. i. Physocarpos Camb. Derivation. From phusa, a bladder, and karpos, a fruit; in reference to the bladdery carpels. Sect. Char. Ovaries connected at the base. Torus lining the calycine tube. Carpels bladdery, rather membranous. Ovula 2-3, fixed to the seminiferous margin of the carpel, ovoid, at first horizontal, but at length suspended. Flowers hermaphrodite, disposed in umbels. Pedicels 1-flowered. Leaves toothed, or somewhat lobed, usually stipulate. (Don's Mill., ii. p. 517.) 1. S. OPULIFOLIA L. The Guelder-Rose-leaved Spiræa, or Virginian Guelder Rose. Identification. Lin. Sp., 702.; Camb. Mon.; Lois. in N. Du Ham., 6. p. 61. Dec. Prod., 2. 542. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 517. Synonyme. Nine Bark, Amer. Engravings. N. Du Ham., 6. t. 14.; and our figs. 427, 428. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves lobed, or 3-lobed, and partaking of an ovate figure, doubly serrated, petioled, and many of them stipuled. Flowers white, nume- tal, at length the one pendulous, the rest ascending. Carpels bladdery, rather membranaceous, large and diverging. Seeds obovate, glossy, and yellow. (Dec. Prod., ii. p. 542.) A shrub, a native of North America, from Canada to Carolina; found on the banks of rivers, particularly among the mountains, where it is generally known by the name of Nine Bark. It was introduced by Bishop Compton, in 1690; and, in British gardens, grows to the height of 8 ft. or 10 ft., flowering in June and July. It is hardy, and very ornamental, from its abundance of white flowers, which are produced in corymbs, and resemble those of the Guelder rose; and from the numerous inflated reddish capsules which succeed the flowers. The leaves, which are lobed and veined, die off of a purplish red mixed with yellow. In British nurseries, the plant is generally propagated by division of the root; but sometimes by layers, or by cuttings of the young wood put, in autumn, in a shady border, in a sandy soil. Variety. S. o. 2 tomentélla Ser. has the peduncles and calyx tomentose. (Dec. Prod., ii. p. 542.) It is found at the Grand Rapids of the Columbia river. 2. S. CAPITATA Ph. The capitate-corymbed Spiræa. Identification. Ph. Fl. Amer. Sept., 1. p. 342.; Camb. Monog.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 542.; Don's Mill., ii. p. 518. Synonyme. S. opulifolia var. Hook. Spec. Char., &e. Leaves ovate, doubly toothed, almost lobed; beneath reticulate and tomentose. Flowers disposed in terminal subcapitate corymbs placed on very long peduncles. Calyx tomentose. Spontaneous in North America, on its eastern coast, and by the river Columbia. (Dec. Prod., ii. p. 542.) According to Sweet's Hortus Britannicus, ed. 1830, p. 194., this was introduced into Britain in 1827. It has white flowers, and has produced them here in June and July. We have not seen the plant. 3. S. MONO GYNA Torrey. The monogynous Spiræa. A shrub growing to the height of 3 ft. or 4 ft. on the Rocky Mountains. (Don's Mill., ii. p. 518.) No yet introduced. § ii. Chamaedryon Ser. Derivation. From Chama'drys, the name of the germander; from a similarity in the form of the leaves. Sect. Char. Ovaries distinct. Torus with its base connate with the tube of the calyx, but with its tip separate. Carpels not inflated. Flowers each upon a distinct pedicel, and disposed in umbels or corymbs. Leaves entire, or toothed, without stipules. (Dec. Prod., ii. p. 542.) 4. S. CHAMEDRIFOLIA L. The Germander-leaved Spiræa. Identification. Lin. Sp., 701.; Camb. Monog.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 542.; Don's Mill., 2. p. 518. Synonyme. S. cantoniénsis Lour. Engravings. Pall. Fl. Ross., t. 15.; and our fig. 429. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves ovate, cut at the tip in a serrated manner, glabrous. Flowers upon long slender pedicels, in hemispherical corymbs. Sepals veiny, reflexed. (Dec. Prod., ii. p. 542.) Varieties. Seringe enumerates the first four of the following forms of this species; to which, we think, might be added S. ulmifòlia, S. flexuòsa, S. cratægifòlia, S. betulæfòlia, and, perhaps, some others. S. c. 1 vulgaris Camb. Monog. Leaves with the disks broad and glabrous; the petioles ciliated. S. c. 2 media Ph. Fl. Amer. Sept., i. p. 342., Camb. Monog. Leaves smaller, slightly villose upon both surfaces. Flowers smaller. Wild in Canada, and upon the rocks of Dahuria. S. c. 3 oblongifolia Camb. Monog.; S. oblongifolia Waldst. et Kit. Pl. Hung., iii. p. 261. t. 235., and in Hort. Brit. - Leaves narrower, and less serrated. 1 S. c. 4 subracemòsa Ser. Flowers distantly disposed along a lengthened rachis. S. c. 5 incisa Hort. (? S. incìsa Thunb.) has been raised from seeds received from Germany through Mr. Hunneman; and it appears to be only a variety of this species. 429 Description, &c. A shrub, varying in height from 2 ft. to 6 ft., or more; a native of Siberia, Kamtschatka, Dahuria, the north-west coast of America, and also of China and Japan. It is common throughout the whole of Siberia, Dahuria, and Kamtschatka; and, in the latter country, the leaves are used as a substitute for tea; and the shoots, when straight, are bored for tobacco-pipes. It was introduced into England in 1789, under different names; and its numerous varieties have, we believe, given rise to several supposed species. In its wild state, it varies exceedingly in the magnitude of the entire plant, in the largeness or smallness of its leaves, and in their being more or less cut or serrated, and more or less smooth, or pubescent. In British gardens, it is a very ornamental hardy shrub, producing its corymbs of white flowers, which are tolerably large, in June and July; and they are succeeded by capsules, the seeds enclosed in which are grey and small, resembling sawdust. In Martyn's Miller it is stated, that this shrub makes beautiful garden hedges, being entirely covered with its white flowers in June. Though the seeds ripen in England, plants can seldom be raised from them; and, as this species does not produce suckers freely, it is generally raised by layers or cuttings. 5. S. (c.) ULMIFO`LIA Scop. The Elm-leaved Spiræa. Identification. Scop. Fl. Carn., ed. 2. v. 1. p. 349.; Camb. Monog.; Lois. in N. Du Ham., 6. p. 4.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 542.; Don's Mill., 2. 518. Synonymes. S. chamadrifolia Jacq. Hort. Vindob., t. 140., Lindl. in Bot. Reg., t. 829. Engravings. Scop. Fl. Carn., ed. 2. v. 1. t. 22.; N. Du Ham., 6. t. 13.; Jacq. Hort. Vindob., t. 140., as S. chamædrifòlia; Bot. Rcg., t. 1222.; Bot. Cab., 1042.; and our fig. 430. |