Caragana
(Caragan is the name of C. arborescens among the Monguls). Siberian Pea-tree. ORD. Leguminosae. Very ornamental hardy deciduous trees or shrubs. Flowers usually yellow, axillary, either solitary or crowded, but always single on thin stalks. Leaves abruptly pinnate, the midrib ending in a bristle or spine; leaflets mucronate. They are well adapted for shrub-beries, and are of the easiest culture in sandy soil. Propagated by cuttings, made of the roots, or by seeds; the low-growing shrubs by seeds and layers. Caraganas are generally increased by grafting on C. arborescens, which is easily raised from seed, sown when ripe or in spring.
C. Altagana (Altagana). fl. yellow; pedicels solitary. April to July. l. with six to eight pairs of glabrous, obovate-roundish, retuse leaflets; petiole unarmed. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Dahuria, 1789. Shrub.
C. arborescens (tree-like).* fl. pale or bright yellow; pedicels in fascicles. April, May. l. with four to six pairs of oval-oblong villous leaflets; petiole unarmed. Stipules spinescent. h. 15ft. to 20ft. Siberia, 1752. Tree. (B. M. 1886.)
C. Chamlagu (Chamlagu). fl. yellow, at length becoming reddish, large, pendulous; pedicels solitary. May. l. with two pairs of distant, oval, or obovate glabrous leaflets; stipules spreading, and, as well as the petioles, spinose. h. 2ft. to 4ft. China, 1773. Shrub.
C. frutescens (woody).* fl. yellow, resupinate; pedicels solitary. April. l. with two pairs of leaflets, approximating the top of the petiole, obovate-cuneated; stipules membranous; petiole furnished with a short spine at the apex. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Siberia, 1752. Shrub. (S. B. F. G. 3, 227.) There are one or two varieties of this species.
C. jubata (bearded).* fl. white, suffused with red, few; pedicels solitary, very short. April. l. with four or five pairs of oblong. lanceolate, lanuginously-ciliated leaflets; stipules setaceous; petioles somewhat spinose. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Siberia, 1796. Shrub. SYN. Robinia jubata. (L. B. C. 522.) C. pygmaea (pigmy). fl. yellow; pedicels solitary. April. l. with two pairs linear, glabrous leaflets, approximating at the top of the very short petiole; stipules and petioles spinescent. h. 1ft. to 3ft. Siberia, 1751. Shrub. (B. R. 1021.)
C. spinosa (spiny).* fl. yellow, solitary, almost sessile. April, May. l. with two to four pairs of cuneate-linear, glabrous leaflets; stipules small, spinose; adult petioles permanent, strong, and spinose. h. 4ft. to 6ft. Siberia, 1775. An excellent shrub for forming impenetrable hedges, on account of its long branches and strong thorns.