by
William Smith
The study of shrubs has greatly increased during recent years, and this has no doubt been brought about by the increasing knowledge of nature study now commonly included in the curriculum of schools and other establishments, and while shrubs have not as yet received the same attention as trees yet they offer quite as interesting a field, while the beauty of certain of the species arrests the attention of even the most casual observer.
The term “shrub” means a low, woody-stemmed perennial, but many of the species attain the dimensions of a fair-sized tree.
The Holly-leaved Barberry or Mahonia ([frontispiece]), a North American shrub, is commonly met with either planted as an undergrowth to deciduous trees or as a covert plant in woodlands. It is easily recognised from the leaflets being in two or three pairs, with an odd one at top, in colour of a glossy dark-green, and the leaves of a leathery nature. The flowers are borne in much-crowded, erect racemes which open in early spring, followed later by clusters of purple berries.
Darwin’s Barberry ([page 6]) is a densely-branched, spreading evergreen bush about 8 feet high, with numerous racemose flowers which open in May, succeeded by purple berries throughout the summer. Leaves are about one inch long, oval-shaped, with five spiny teeth. A near ally to the preceding is the Narrow-leaved Barberry ([page 7]). It forms a shrub of rare beauty; with slender arching shoots which in early spring are densely covered with golden blossoms. May be known by the narrow sharp-pointed leaves.
A British shrub, the Common Barberry ([page 8]) usually inhabits dry stony soils, and forms a tall shrub about 10 feet high. In early spring the plant is profusely covered with pendulous racemes of yellow flowers, and later by the scarlet berries which are sometimes used for preserves. Distinguished by the egg-shaped leaves and three-parted spines at the axils of the leaves. A photograph shewing the flowers on a larger scale will be found on page 11 of Wild Flowers at Home, Fourth Series (“Nature Book,” No. 16).
The Laurel-leaved Cistus ([page 9]) is a native of the South of Europe, and grows over four feet high. The flowers, resembling in appearance those of the dog-rose, are borne on terminal flower-stalks four and five together, but are very ephemeral in character. The ovate spear-shaped leaves are generally covered with a gummy substance. Flowers during July and August.
Pallas’s Tamarisk ([page 10]) is one of the shrubs which thrive in bleak exposed places and in dry sandy soils. The leaves are of a minute scale-like character, and from May onwards the long, terminal spikes of rosy-pink flowers are an attractive feature.