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T A M A R IX gallica,
French Tamarisk.
PENTANDRIA Trigynia,
G en. Char. Cal. inferior, in 5 segments. Petals 5.
Caps, of 1 cell, with 3 valves. Seeds feathery.
S pec. Char. Stamina five.
Syn. Tamarix gallica. Linn. Sp. PI. 3 8 6 . Sm. FI.
B rit. 338. With. 3 1 8 . Sym, 77. Hull. 66, T r.
o f Linn. Soc. v. 3. 3 3 3 .
Tamariscns flarbonensis. Ger. era. 1378,
G A TH E R E D by Mr. Menzies at Hastings, Though not
mentioned by the botanists of Ray’ s time, it seems entitled to
a place in our Flora, being- plentiful about the coasts of Cornwall,
Hampshire and Sussex, growing on rocks and banks, exactly
as in Italy and France, where it is undoubtedly wild. We
are not deterred from admitting it by vague reports of its having
been brought from France in the 17th century. It might
nevertheless have been always growing wild in England, as
seems to have been the case with Hops; nor was there any
occasion to bring from France what had certainly long been
common in our own gardens.
It is an elegant, drooping, slender-branched shrub, with red
shining twigs. Leaves minute, imbricated, deciduous, rather
fleshy, acute, smooth, spurred at the base. The flowers appear
about July in long cylindrical clusters, with little awlshaped
bractese. Calyx small, can. panulate, smooth. Petals white or
reddish. Stamina 5, smooth, equal. Germen ovate, with 3
Styles, and blunt stigmas. Capsule pyramidal. Seeds numerous,
with feathery wings.
Sheep are excessively fond of this shrub, perhaps on account
of its saltish flavour, and devour it with avidity.