Shrubs

• Title

  Shrubs

• Authors

  Nathaniel Lord Britton

• Description

  SHRUBS Shrubs may be described, as woody, usually upright plants which are low in stature,and typically, have more than one stem arising from the same roots. Some of the kinds are quite small, with many slender stems and branches, the plant thus appearing vine-like; some of the larger kinds may sometimes develop only a single stem, and thus pass into the category of small trees. Many kinds of shrubs are planted in yards and gardens for ornament and interest; most of these are exotic species, but a few of the native kinds are thus used, and others are well worthy of much cultivation. A few of the native species bear edible fruit. We group shrubs in this work as follows: a. Coastal species. Mostly inhabitants of sands and rocks of the seashore, within saline influence. b. Species characteristic of dry districts. These are nearly all natives of the southern, southwestern and eastern parts of the island, thriving in average annual rainfall of about 45 inches, or less. c. Native species of moist, or wet districts. These are most abundant, or most luxuriant in average annual rainfall higher than 45 inches, many of them restricted to the higher mountains. d. Species of general, or casual distribution. Nearly all our shrubs of this category are naturalized, or introduced from other regions of the tropics.