Ligustrum
(the old Latin name used by Pliny, probably from ligare, to tie; referring to the use made of the flexible shoots). Privet. SYN. Visiania. ORD. Oleaceae. A genus comprising about twenty-five species of ornamental, hardy, evergreen or deciduous, glabrous shrubs or small trees, natives of Europe, temperate and tropical Asia, and Australia. Flowers often white, disposed in trichotomous or thyrsoid terminal panicles. Berry scarcely drupaceous. Leaves opposite, entire. The species and varieties are of easy culture in almost any soil and situation, such as the neighbourhood of large towns, where a smoky atmosphere prevails, in the shade, or under the drip of trees. The common Privet grows best in a moist and strong loamy soil, and attains the largest size in an open situation. Propagated by cuttings of the young shoots, or by seeds, in the same manner as advised for the Hawthorn (see Crataegus). The former method of propagation should be employed with varieties.
L. amurense (Amur). A synonym of L. Ibota.
L. angustifolium (narrow-leaved). A garden synonym of L. Massalongianum.
L. californicum robustum variegatum (Californian, robust, variegated). A synonym of L. ovalifolium variegatum.
L. compactum (compact). fl. white, in compound pyramidal panicles. Summer. l. elliptic-lanceolate, glabrous. Himalayas, 1874. SYNS. L. lancifolium, L. longifolium, and L. Simonii.
L. glabrum (glabrous). A synonym of L. japonicum.
L. Ibota (Ibota).* fl. white, salver-shaped; inflorescence spiciform. Summer. Berry round, shining, black. l. ovate or elliptic, obtuse, rarely lanceolate; principal nerve hairy beneath. Japan, &c. A pretty shrub, with slender terete twigs. (R. H. 1861, 352, under name of L. amurense.)
L. I. villosum (villous). A synonym of L. sinense.
L. japonicum (Japanese).* fl. white, slightly fragrant. June. l. oblong-ovate, somewhat acuminated. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Japan, 1845. A robust-growing evergreen shrub, with large coriaceous leaves. SYNS. L. glabrum, L. Kellermanni, L. sieboldii, L. syringoeflorum.
L. j. macrophyllum (large-leaved). A form with larger leaves than the type.
L. j. variegatum (variegated). l. margined and blotched with creamy-white.
L. Kellermanni (Kellermann's). A synonym of L. japonicum.
L. lancifolium (lance-leaved). A synonym of L. compactum.
L. longifolium (long-leaved). A synonym of L. compactum.
L. lucidum (shining).* fl. white, in much-spreading panicles. Autumn. l. oval, ovate-lanceolate, elliptical, or nearly rotundate. h. 8ft. to 12ft. China, 1794. A very pretty evergreen species. SYNS. L. magnolioefolium, L. strictum. (B. M. 2565.)
L. l. coriaceum (leathery). fl. greenish-white. Summer. l. dense, glossy, dark green, leathery, ovate-oblong, obtuse. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Japan, 1864. A pretty dwarf-growing evergreen, but not so hardy as the type.
L. magnoliaefolium (Magnolia-leaved). A synonym of L. lucidum.
L. Massalongianum (Massalongi's).* fl. white, numerously disposed in dense, terminal, much-branched panicles, and having a peculiar odour. Summer. l. glabrous, linear-lanceolate, mucronate, very shortly stalked. h. 6ft. Khasia Hills, 1877. A much-branched evergreen shrub, with ascending warted branches. Garden names of this species are: L. angustifolium, L. myrtifolium, L. rosmarinifolium, and L. spicatum. (G. C. n. s., xvi. 149.)
L. myrtifolium (Myrtle-leaved). A garden synonym of L. Massa-longianum. L. nepalense (Nepaul). A synonym of L. spicatum.
L. ovalifolium (oval-leaved).* fl. white; inflorescence thyrsiform. Summer. l. oval, oval-elliptic, or obovate, dark green above, lighter beneath, net-veined, shortly stalked. Japan. One of the hardiest and most floriferous of the Privets, more generally cultivated than L. vulgare on account of its larger, almost persistent, foliage.
L. o. variegatum (variegated).* Variegation a fine yellow in young leaves, passing into white as leaves get older. A vigorous, compact grower. SYN. L. californicum robustum variegatum. There are several other variegated forms of L. ovalifolium.
L. Quihoui (Quihou's). fl. white, in loose terminal panicles. Summer. l. dark green, oblong or oblong-ovate. Branches wiry, purplish, pubescent. China, 1868. (G. C. n. s., xviii. 277.)
L. rosmarinifolium (Rosemary-leaved). A garden synonym of L. Massalongianum.
L. Sieboldii (Siebold's). A synonym of L. japonicum.
L. Simonii (Simon's). A synonym of L. compactum.
L. sinense (Chinese). fl. white, small; racemes coarctate. Summer. l. ovate-lanceolate, shining above and hairy beneath. h. 18ft. China, 1874. An evergreen or quasi-evergreen shrub, with slender pubescent branches. SYNS. L. Ibota villosum and L. villosum.
L. spicatum (spiked). fl. white, crowded, almost sessile, spicate, disposed in a thyrse, having the axis very hairy. Summer. l. elliptic, acute, hairy beneath, as well as the branchlets. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Nepaul, 1823. A hardy, deciduous species. SYN. L. nepalense. (B. M. 2921.)
L. spicatum (spicate). A garden synonym of L. Massalongianum. L. strictum (upright). A synonym of L. lucidum.
L. syringaeflorum (Syringa-flowered). A synonym of L. japonicum.
L. villosum (villous). A synonym of L. sinense.
L. vulgare (common). Common Privet. fl. white at first, but changing to reddish-brown, sweet-scented; racemes compound, coarctate. Summer. l. elliptic-lanceolate, glabrous. h. 6ft. to 10ft. Europe (Britain), North Africa. (Sy. En. B. 904.) There are numerous varieties of this most useful shrub, of which the following is an excellent selection:
L. v. buxifolium (Box-leaved). A very distinct variety, differing from the type in its broader and more decidedly evergreen leaves.
L. v. fructu-luteum (yellow-fruited). Somewhat denser in its habit than the type, presenting a very pretty effect in autumn and winter when covered with its bright golden fruit. SYN. L. v. xanthocarpum.
L. v. pendulum (pendulous). This variety has long weeping branches, and, when grafted as a standard on a stem 4ft. or 5ft. high, forms an elegant specimen for a small lawn.
L. v. variegatum (variegated). A very pretty form, having the leaves prettily blotched with a bright golden colour.
L. v. xanthocarpum (yellow-fruited). A synonym of L. v. fructuluteum.