Chionanthus
(from chion, snow, and anthos, a flower; referring to the snow-white flowers). Fringe-tree. ORD. Oleaceoe. Hardy low trees or shrubs, having the branchlets compressed at the top. Flowers in gracefully droping panicles, from lateral buds. Leaves opposite, simple, entire. This genus differs from Olea principally in the segments of the corolla being barely united at the base. C. virginica is a fine large ornamental hardy shrub; it requires to be grown in moist soil, either sandy peat or sandy loam, in a sheltered situation. Propagation may be effected by seeds or by layers. Seeds are easily procurable from America, and raised in a cold frame; and, as the plant does not root very readily, this is the best way to increase it. By grafting or budding it on the common Ash, it succeeds very well. C. retusus (retuse-leaved). fl. white, sweet-scented. May. l. long-stalked, obovate, retuse, hairy beneath. China, 1850. A low shrub. (L. & P. F. G. iii. 85.) C. Virginica (Virginian).* fl. white, pedicellate; racemes terminal. May. l. oval, oblong, or obovate-lanceolate, glabrous. h. 10ft. to 30ft. North America, 1796. Hardy. The scented flowers come out in May, hanging in long bunches, and, from the corolla being cut into narrow segments, they give it the name of Fringe-tree. There are two or three forms of this species.