Part 22 (1/2)

Tall shrubs, rarely tree-like, with alternate, straight-veined, 2-ranked, oval, wavy-margined leaves. Flowers conspicuous, yellow, 4-parted; blooming in the autumn while the leaves are dropping, and continuing in bloom through part of the winter. Fruit rounded capsules which do not ripen till the next summer.

[Ill.u.s.tration: H. Virginiana.]

=Hamamelis Virginiana=, L. (WITCH-HAZEL.) The only species; 10 to 30 ft.

high; rarely grows with a single trunk, but usually forms a slender, crooked-branched shrub. Flowers sessile, in small cl.u.s.ters of 3 to 4, in an involucre in the axils of the leaves.

GENUS =41. LIQUIDaMBAR.=

Trees with alternate, simple, palmately cleft leaves. Flowers inconspicuous; in spring. Fruit a large (1 in.), globular, long-stalked, dry, open, rough catkin, hanging on the tree through the winter.

[Ill.u.s.tration: L. Styraciflua.]

=Liquidambar Styraciflua=, L. (SWEET GUM. BILSTED.) Leaves rounded, deeply 5- to 7-cleft, star-shaped, dark green, smooth and s.h.i.+ning, glandular-serrate. Twigs often covered with corky ridges. A large, beautiful tree, 30 to 70 ft. high, with deeply furrowed bark.

Connecticut, west and south; abundant south of 40 N. Lat. Well worthy of more extensive cultivation than it has yet received.

ORDER =XX. LYTHRaCEae.=

(LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY.)

A small order of shrubs, herbs, or trees; mainly tropical.

GENUS =42. PuNICA.=

Leaves simple, usually opposite, deciduous; flowers scarlet, with 5 petals and numerous stamens; fruit a many-seeded berry.

[Ill.u.s.tration: P. granatum.]

=Punica granatum=, L. (POMEGRANATE-TREE.) Leaves opposite, lanceolate, smooth, entire; flowers large, both calyx and corolla scarlet and very ornamental; the fruit as large as an orange, fine-flavored. A tree-shaped plant, growing to the height of 20 ft. in the Southern States. If given some protection, it can be grown as far north as Was.h.i.+ngton. It has been cultivated from the earliest times, and is probably a native of western Asia.

GENUS =43. LAGERSTROEMIA.=

Flowers with 6 long-clawed petals inserted on the broadly spreading calyx; fruit 3- to 6-celled pods with many winged seeds.

[Ill.u.s.tration: L. indica.]

=Lagerstroemia indica=, L. (c.r.a.pE-MYRTLE.) Leaves roundish-ovate, thick, smooth, short-petiolate; branches winged; flowers in terminal cl.u.s.ters with large, delicately crisped, long-stemmed petals of pink, purple, and other colors. A beautiful small tree, or usually a shrub, from India; often cultivated in the North in conservatories; hardy as far north as Was.h.i.+ngton.

ORDER =XXI. ARALIaCEae.= (GINSENG FAMILY.)

A small order of herbs, shrubs, and trees, here represented by the following genus:

GENUS =44. ARaLIA.=

Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with pinnately or palmately compound leaves; here including Acanthopanax with palmately cleft leaves. Flowers whitish or greenish, in umbels, often forming large panicles. Fruit small, berry-like, several-celled, several-seeded.

* Leaves 2 to 3 times odd-pinnate (Aralia proper) 1, 2.