TIIE A~ERICAN ~GAZINE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY , INC. / JULY 1965 JULY/ 1965 FORMERLy THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE VOLUME 44 / NUMBER 3 Contents PLUMERIAS IN HAWAII. Donald P. Watson, J ames T. Chinn, Horace F. Clay and James L. Brew baker . 125 A COLD-HARDY GINGER LILY. Harold F. ' Minters and Edward G. Corbett . J 29 PEATMOSS. J ohn M. Patek. 132 DAVlDIA, THE DOVE TREE. Edwin A. Menninger. 142 A SEARCH FOR ORNAMENTAL MOUNTAIN ASH IN THE NORTHERN RO CK IES George E. Evans 150 THE AFRICAN VIOLET SPECIES. Toru Arisumi 154 A BOOK OR Two. 165 THE GARDENERS' POCKETBOOK Two AMARYLLIDS / THE SCARBOROUGH LILY AND THE GUERNSEY LILY Frederick W. Coe . 171 ALSTROEMERIA PULCHELLA . B. Y. Morrison. 173 SANDERSONIA AURANTIACA. B. Y. Morrison 171 LILIUM BROWNII. B. Y. lVlorrison . 175 THE NURSERIES OF BOSKOOP, NETHERLANDS. Frederick G. Meyer. 177 Two FORMS OF THE PEKING ' IVII .LOW, SALIX l\lIATSUDANA. John L. Creech. 181 A FURTHER NOTE ON PlSTACIA TEXANA. Lynn Lowrev . 182 The July cover illustration is a four color photo of a collection of Hawaiian Plumeria cultivars. This photo and the one on page 124 are by the University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service. Cop~right, © 1965 b ~ The American Hortiwltural Societ~, Inc, AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 1600 BLADENSBURG ROAD, NORTHEAST / WASHINGTON, D. c. 20002 For Un ited H mticuiture *** to accumulate, increase, and disseminate horticultural information Editorial Committee Directors JOH N L. CREECH, Ch airman Te"ms Expiring 1965 HAROLD EpSTEIN W . H . HODGE New York FRED C. GALLE FREDERIC P . LEE Georgia FRED J . NISBET CONRAD B. LI NK North Carolina J. FRANKLIN STYER CURTIS MAY Pennsylvania DONALD WYMAN FREDERICK G. MEYER M assac h use tts Terms Expiring 1966 WILBUR H. YOUNGMAN J. HAROLD CLARKE Washington Officers FREDERIC P. LEE Dist"ict of Columbia PRESIDENT CARLTON P. LEES Massachusetts R USSELL J. SEIBERT RUSSELL J. SEIBERT Kennett SquQ.1·e, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania DONALD 'NATSON FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Haw(1ii J OH N H . W ALKER Terms ExtJiring 1967 A lexandria, Virginia MRS. ROBERT L. EMERY, JR. Louisiana SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT A. C . HILDRETH MRS. JULIAN W . HILL Colorado Wilmington, Delaware DAVID LEACH Pennsylvania CHARLES G. MEYER ACTING SECRETARY-TREASURER New York GRACE P. 'NILSON MRS. STANLEY ROWE Bladensburg, Maryland Ohio The American Horticultural Magazine is the official publication of the American Horticultural Society and is issued four times a year during the quarters commencing with January, April, July and October. It is devoted to the dissemination of knowledge in the science and art of growing ornamental plants, fruits, vegetables, and related subjects. Original papers increasing the historical, varietal, and cultural knowledges of plant materials of economic and aesthetic importance are welcomed and will be published as early as possible. The Chairman of the Editorial Committee should be consulted for manuscript specifications. Reprints will be furnished in accordance with the following schedule of prices, plus post­ age, and should be ordered at the time the galley proof is returned by the author: One hundred copies-2 pp $7.20; 4pp $13 .20; 8 pp $27.60; 12 pp $39.60; Covers $13.20. Entered as second class matter in the post office at Baltimore, Maryland, in accordance with the Act of August 24, 1912 . Additional entry for Washington, D.C., was authorized July 15, 1955, in accordance with the pro­ visions of Section 132. 122. Postal Manual. The American H orticultural Magazine is included as a benefit of membership in the American Horticultural Society. In(lividual Membership dues being $6.00 a year. Plumerias in Hawaii By DONALD P. WATSON, JAMES T. CHINN, HORACE F. CLAY AND JAMES L. BREWBAKER The Plume1'ia, originally called Plum­ seven species of the genus, fragrant iera after Charles Plumier, and referred plumeria flowers are produced in termi­ to as Frangipani in some tropical areas, n al clusters on peduncled cymes with is affectionately called 'Pumeli' or 'Melia' petals that unfold in a spiral fashion. by Hawaiians. The Frangipani may Between 20 to 60 flower buds have been have originated from the similarity of counted. in each floral cluster. The low­ the plumeria flower fragrance to a per­ er petal parts are fused into a corolla fume extracted by an Italian named tube. A short style with a bi-lobed stig­ Frangipani during the Middle Ages. It ma and five closely surrounding anther may also have originated from the sacs are located at the base of this tube. French word "frangipanier" meaning Successful fertilization of the ovaries "coagulated milk," descriptive of the leads to the development of two leathery latex in the plant. follicles, ranging in length from 3 to 18 Although the native home of the inches, with as many as 30 winged seeds. Plwneria is uncertain, the plant is wide­ The diploid number of this genus is re­ ly distributed in tropical regions of the portedly 36. 'West Indies, Florida, Central America, The latex which exudes from cut Polynesia, Australia, East Indies, China branches, leaves and flowers is reported and India. to have poisonous qualities as well as Being widely grown throughout Ha­ medicinal value for fevers, itch, and waii as an ornamental tree and pot plant, swellings. Chemically, the latex contains it is also planted for a year-round sup­ 25.5 % cauoutouc (rubber), 21.9% resi­ ply of attractive flowers for leis (gar­ nous matter, 15.7% water and 36.9% un­ lands) and for the manufacture of per­ determined substances. Medicinal use fume. has been made of the bark, leaves, flower­ Characteristic of the approximately buds and seeds. Even the wood from the branches Plate 1. Pictured, about 1/3 their na- and trunk is utilized. The white, soft, tural size, are some of the common light-weight wood (37 pounds per cubic Plumeria cultivars in Hawaii: The top feet) is used for making drums in India. row, left to right: 'Common Yellow' or Since more mature trunks and branches 'Graveyard Yellow', 'Daisy Wilcox', and of the trees are harder, heavier, and more 'Gold'. Second row: 'Hilo Beauty', compact, they have been found suitable 'Kauka Wilder' and. 'Madame Poni'. for making bowls, cabinets and small Third row: 'Puu Kahea', 'Rainbow', and furniture by Caribbean craftsmen. In recent years interest has been gen­ 'Samoan. Fluff'. On bottom row are erated, especially by amateur plant 'Emma Bryant', 'Sherman', and 'Singa­ breeders, to select flowers with better pore'. For descriptions of the colors see quality within the great range in varia­ the chart on the next page. bility of flower size, from texture and 125 12fi THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Horticultural Colour Chart VoL 1 (1938) and VoL 2 (1941) Printed by Henry Stone and Son Ltd., Banbury, England 'Common Yellow' 'Daisy Wilcox' 'Gold' White petal with White petal with Canary yellow petal lemon yellow center. dawn pink marginal with white tips. band lemon yellow center. 'Hilo Beauty' 'Kauka 'Wilder' 'Madame Poni' Currant red petals. Crimson petals with White petals with lemon center lemon yellow bands radiating from center. Twisted petal shows crimson marginal band on back of petal. 'Puu Kahea' 'Rainbow' 'Samoan Fluff' Canary yellow white White petal with Whi te petal wi th petals with crimson canary yellow center and canary yellow center. marginal band. dawn pink margin 'Emma Bryant' 'Sherman' 'Singapore' Rose red petals White petal with empire White petal with with yellow tint. yellow center. lemon yellow center. color. Many seedlings have been grown white with a yellow center, very fra­ but not until recently has an organized grant, 3 to 3.5 inches across, the obovate breeding program been started. corolla lobes longer than the tube; This article summarizes an evaluation branches 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter; of the existing clones grown on the is­ follicles 8 inches long and I inch wide. land of Oahu, Hawaii. Cultivars: Common yellow or Grave­ Existing Species and yard yellow, Gold, Sherman, and Samoan Some Major Cultivars Fluff.-Plate 1. While the variation in size and color Plumeria alba. of the flowers on existing clones in Ha­ A tree to 35 feet in height; leaves waii is great, most of the clones resemble linear oblong to oblong-lanceolatae, to the following three species: Plumeria 6 inches long and 1Y2 inches wide, tips acuminata, Plumeria obtusa, and Plum­ revolute, without definite marginal vein; eria rubra. Occasional plants of Plumeria flowers white with yellow eye, slight alba and Plumeria bahamensis are grown fragrance, 1 to I Y2 inches across, the in Hawaii, but they are small-flowered obovate corolla lobes as long as or long­ and a little aesthetic quality. er than the tube; follicle to 6 inches long and Y2 inch wide. Plumel-ia acuminata (P. acutifolia) Cultiva.r: none. A tree to_ 35 feet in height; leaves ob­ long to 16 mches in leno-th and 3 inches Plumeria bahamensis wide, tapering at both ~nds, acuminate A small tree, about 9 to 10 feet high, at tip, glabrous in both sides; flowers the branches about Y2 inch in diameter; leaves lanceolate or linear-Ianceolate, glabrous, 8 to 11 inches long and 1 to • The authors are all ho,.ticultw·ists at the Uni­ 1 Y2 inches wide, acute at the apex, nar­ venity of Hawaii. Donald P. l'Jiatson was a visit­ rowed at the base, the midvein depressed ing .pmfesso·r at the Unive7"Sity's Agricultural Ex­ above, prominent beneath, the lateral penmental Station in 1963-61. He is noTV Head of the De1Jartment of Ho,.tic1Lltu·re. James T. veins numerous, straight ascending; ~hinn is a Department assistant. Homce F. Cia)' flowers white, about % inch broad, the lS the Pmgmm Direct01', Institute tor Technical slender tube about as long as the lobes; Inte,.change, East· West Center at the Univenity, follicles about 4 inches long and Y2 inch and James L.