1924 Flowering Trees and
Shrubs
Wills' Cigarette Cards Series
|
|
No.39
of a series of 50
Plane.
Platanus orientalis.
Although a familiar feature of our
city streets, the Plane is probably not a native British tree; when
well grown reaches a height of 70 to 90- feet, with a circumference of
9 - 12 feet. Bark greyish, flaking off in vertical layers,
exposing the yellowish surface of the inner bark. Leaves three-
or five-lobed, 6" to 8" across, glossy. Stamen-bearing
and Pistil-bearing flowers arranged in greenish-yellow catkin
balls, one or more of which hang suspended on a stalk about 1˝"
long. Fruit small, one-seeded nuts arranged in balls or
buttons, about 1" in diameter.
|
|
|
No.40
of a series of 50
Lombardy
Poplar.
Populus fastigiata.
Introduced from Italy in 1758. Its
rapid growth and great height (100-150 feet when fully grown) make it
popular as an ornamental tree. Roots produce numerous suckers. Bark
rough and deeply furrowed; trunk sometimes twisted. Branches
almost vertical, producing the spire-like shape characteristic of the
tree. Leaves broadly heart-shaped, almost triangular; silky
beneath when young; dancing in the breeze on their slender
leaf-stalks. Stamen or pollen-bearing flowers only found in
this country, consequently no fruit is produced, the trees being
propagated by suckers or cuttings.
|
|
|
No.41
of a series of 50
Wild
Service Tree.
Pyrus Terminalis.
Grows in woods and hedgerows, chiefly
in the southern and midland counties of England; seldom reaches
considerable size. Bark smooth, greyish, scaly. Twigs
reddish-brown, polished, dotted with warts. Leaves cut into
tapering lobes, coarsely toothed, heart-shaped at base, downy beneath
when young. Flowers white, about ˝" in diameter, in loose
large flat clusters, appearing in April and May. Fruit oval,
about ⅓ across, greenish-brown in colour,
ripening in November; hard and dry at first, but when touched by frost
are edible, and are marketed in some parts of England.
|
|
|
No.42
of a series of 50
Spindle tree.
Euonymus europćus.
Usually seen as a hedge-bush, 10 to 12
feet high, but occasionally grows into a tree about 20 feet in height.
Bark smooth, grey. Twigs in pairs, four-angled, green,
smell most unpleasantly when bruised. Leaves smooth surface,
edges finely toothed, lance-shaped, in pairs, yellow and red in
autumn. Flowers small, greenish-white, about ˝" in
diameter, arranged in loose clusters. Fruit unusually handsome,
a four-chambered capsule, rose-pink, which splits open to show the
brilliant orange seeds within. These are eagerly eaten by thrushes and
blackbirds, but are poisonous to man.
|
|
|