Xanthoceras


XANTHOCERAS SORBIFOLIA.--China, 1870. An extremely pretty flowered and

handsome leaved shrub, but owing to its late introduction is not yet

well known. So far it has proved itself perfectly hardy in this country,

there being specimens at wide distances apart that have stood uninjured

through our past severe winters.



The leaves are pale green, and pinnate, somewhat resembling those of the

Rowan Tree. Flowe
s five petalled, creamy white, sometimes very slightly

tinged with flesh colour, with a coppery red or violet-purple centre,

and disposed in racemes. When fully expanded they are an inch across,

and somewhat reflexed. It flowers early in April, with the appearance of

the leaves, the blooms being produced in great abundance, in spike-like

clusters fully seven inches long, and succeeded by a small green

Pear-like fruit. This is one of the most distinct and handsome of

recently introduced shrubs, and will, when more widely disseminated, be

largely planted for purely ornamental purposes. It grows from 10 feet to

about 15 feet high.



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