Aralia


ARALIA MANDSHURICA (_syn Dimorphanthus mandschuricus_).--Manchuria,

1866. There is not much beauty about this Chinese tree, for it is but

a big spiny stake, with no branches, and a tuft of palm-like foliage

at the top. The flowers, however, are both large and conspicuous, and

impart to the tree an interesting and novel appearance. They are

individually small, of a creamy-white colour, and produced in long,

umbellate ra
emes, and which when fully developed, from their weight

and terminal position, are tilted gracefully to one side. Usually the

stem is spiny, with Horse Chestnut-like bark, while the terminal bud,

from its large size, as if all the energy of the plant was

concentrated in the tip, imparts a curious and somewhat ungainly

appearance to the tree. From its curious tropical appearance this

species is well worthy of a place in the shrubbery. It is unmindful of

soil, if that is of at all fair quality, and may be said to be

perfectly hardy over the greater part of the country.



A. SPINOSA.--Angelica Tree. Virginia, 1688. Amongst autumn-flowering

shrubs this takes a high place, for in mild seasons it blooms well

into October. It grows about 12 feet high, with large tri-pinnate

leaves, composed of numerous serrulate leaflets. The individual

flowers are small and whitish, but being borne in large branched

panicles have a very imposing appearance. It is of free growth, and

produces suckers abundantly.



See also FATSIA.



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