Читать книгу The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening, Division 1; A to Car - Various - Страница 13

FIG. 36. ÆSCHYNANTHUS BOSCHIANUS.

Æ. longiflorus (long-flowered).* fl. scarlet, erect, fascicled; corolla with a long clavate curved tube, and oblique constructed bilobed mouth; upper lobe bifid. Summer. l. broad-lanceolate, acuminate, entire. Java, 1845. Plant pendulous.

Æ. miniatus (vermilion).* fl. rich vermilion; corolla tomentose; upper lip bilobed, lower one tripartite; peduncles axillary, three-flowered. June. l. oval acute, entire. h. 1½ft. Java, 1845. SYN. Æ. radicans.

Æ. pulcher (fair).* fl. bright scarlet; corolla three times larger than the calyx; corymbs terminal, bracteate. June. l. ovate, obscurely toothed. Java, 1845. Scandent.

Æ. radicans (stem-fibred). Synonymous with Æ. miniatus.

Æ. speciosus (showy).* fl. rich orange-coloured; corolla with long clavate curved tube, and obliquely four-lobed limb; upper lobe bifid, terminal, numerous, downy. Summer. l. upper ones always verticillate, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, slightly serrate. h. 2ft. Java, 1845. SYN. Æ. Aucklandi.

Æ. splendidus (splendid).* fl. bright scarlet, spotted with black on the margins; corolla clavate, 3in. long, in terminal fascicles. Summer, lasting in perfection for a considerable time. l. elliptic lanceolate, acuminated, entire, rather undulated. h. 1ft. Hybrid.

Æ. tricolor (three-coloured).* fl. deep blood red, usually twin; throat and base of the lobes bright orange, the three upper lobes being striped with black. July. l. cordate, dark green above, paler on the under side; edges, under surface, and stem, slightly hairy. h. 1ft. Borneo, 1857.

Æ. zebrinus (zebra-marked). fl. green, brown. Autumn. Java, 1846.

ÆSCHYNOMENE (from aischuno, to be ashamed; in reference to the leaves of some of the species falling on the slightest touch, like those of the Sensitive plant). ORD. Leguminosæ. Stove herbs and shrubs, with impari-pinnate leaves, having many pairs of leaflets, and axillary racemes of usually yellow flowers. They thrive well in a good rich loam. Propagated by cuttings, placed in sand under a bell glass, in a brisk heat. Seeds of the herbaceous species require a good heat to start them into growth. The annuals are not worth growing. There are about forty other species known besides those mentioned, some of which may prove worthy of cultivation when introduced.

Æ. aristata (awned). A synonym of Pictatia aristata.

Æ. aspera (rough-stemmed). fl. yellow; racemes compound; peduncles, bracteas, calyces, and corollas, hispid. June. l. with thirty to forty pairs of linear leaflets, which (as well as the legumes) are smooth. Stem herbaceous, erect. h. 6ft. to 8ft. East Indies, 1759. Perennial.

Æ. sensitiva (sensitive).* fl. white; legumes and racemes glabrous; peduncles branched, few-flowered. June. l. with sixteen to twenty pairs of linear leaflets. Stem smooth. h. 3ft. to 6ft. Jamaica, 1733. This shrub requires a sandy soil.

ÆSCULUS (a name given by Pliny to a kind of oak having an edible fruit; derived from esca, nourishment). The Horse Chestnut. ORD. Sapindaceæ. A genus of hardy showy trees, well adapted for lawns or parks, having a beautiful appearance when in flower. They will do well in any soil, but the more loamy the better. Increased by layers, put down in the spring, or by grafting or budding on the common horse chestnut. Seeds, where procurable, should be sown singly in rows in spring, where they may remain until they are of sufficient size to be permanently planted out. This genus is distinguished from Pavia, in having its capsules echinated, i.e., covered with prickles, like a hedgehog; but this character is not always consistent.

Æ. carnea (flesh-coloured). Synonymous with Æ. rubicunda.

Æ. glabra (smooth-leaved).* fl. greenish yellow; corolla of four spreading petals, with their claws about the length of the calyx; stamens longer than the corolla. June. l. with five leaflets, very smooth; foliage larger than the common species. h. 20ft. North America, 1821. SYNS. A. ohioensis, A. pallida.

Æ. Hippocastanum (Common Horse-Chestnut). fl. white, tinged with red, on very handsome terminal racemes, which are produced in great profusion; petals five. April and May. l. with seven obovately-cuneated, acute, toothed leaflets. Asia, 1629. This, the common horse chestnut, is well known by the beautiful parabolic form in which it grows, and during the period of its flowering no tree possesses greater beauty. It has two or three unimportant varieties, differing in the variation of their leaves, and one also with double flowers. These are increased by grafting only.

Æ. ohioensis (Ohio). A synonym of A. glabra.

Æ. pallida (pale-flowered). A synonym of A. glabra.

Æ. rubicunda (red-flowered).* fl. scarlet, in very fine terminal racemes; petals four, having the claws shorter than the calyx; stamens eight. June. l. with five to seven obovately-cuneated, acute, unequally serrated leaflets. h. 20ft. North America, 1820. This is a very distinct and beautiful tree when in flower, and does not attain so large a size as Æ. Hippocastanum. SYN. Æ. carnea.

ÆSTIVATION. The manner of the folding of the calyx and corolla in the flower bud.

ÆTHIONEMA (from aitho, to scorch, and nema, a filament; apparently in allusion to some tawny or burnt appearance in the stamens). ORD. Cruciferæ. A genus of elegant little plants, distinguished from allied genera in having the four larger stamens winged, and with a tooth. Herbs or sub-shrubs, perennial or annual, branched from the base, diffuse or erect. Flowers in crowded terminal racemes. Leaves fleshy, sessile. They are well worth cultivating in sunny situations, where they form a freer flowering habit than when growing in a wild state. Some of the more hardy species may be planted on rock work, which, by their dwarf growth, they are well adapted for. The annual and biennial species may either be sown on rockwork or in the front of the flower-border. A light dry soil suits them best. The shrubby kinds of this genus should be kept in pots, which should be well drained with potsherds, and treated like other alpine plants. Propagated by seeds, sown in May; or by cuttings, planted in summer.

Æ. Buxbaumii (Bauxbaum's). fl. pale red; racemes crowded, aggregate. June. l. oblong-spathulate, glaucous. h. 6in. Thrace, 1823. A pretty annual, with erect branched stems. SYN. Thlaspi arabicum.

FIG. 37. ÆTHIONEMA CORIDIFOLIUM, showing Habit and Flowers.

Æ. coridifolium (Coris-leaved).* fl. rosy lilac, small, in terminal dense rounded racemes. June. l. linear, glaucous, crowded. Asia Minor, 1871. A pretty perennial, shrubby below, with erect stems 6in. to 8in. high. See Fig. 37.

Æ. gracile (slender). fl. purplish; racemes crowded, terminal; when in fruit, loose. June. l. lanceolate, pointed. h. 8in. Branches and branchlets slender, elongated. Sandy hills in Carniola, 1820. Shrubby perennial.

FIG. 38. ÆTHIONEMA GRANDIFLORUM, showing Habit and Flowers.

Æ. grandiflorum (large-flowered).* fl. of a warm shaded rose; racemes crowded, terminal, numerous. May to August. l. ovate-oblong, glaucous. Mount Lebanon, 1879. This perennial species forms a spreading bush about 1½ft. high, and is perhaps the handsomest of the genus. It succeeds well in the ordinary border, but is far better suited for the rockery. See Fig. 38.

Æ. membranaceum (membranous-podded). fl. purplish, in terminal racemes. June. l. linear, distant, somewhat fleshy, strictly appressed. h. 3in. to 6in. Persia, 1828. A small shrub, with filiform branches.

Æ. monospermum (one-seeded). fl. purple, largish, in terminal racemes. July. l. oval or obovate, blunt, coriaceous; pods one-celled, one-seeded. h. 3in. to 6in. Spain, 1778. A pretty little biennial, with hardish branches.

Æ. pulchellum (pretty).* This is said to be a new species, but it much resembles Æ. coridifolium. It is scarcely in full cultivation yet, but it proves one of the hardiest as well as one of the most handsome kinds.

Æ. saxatilis (rock).* fl. purplish; racemes loose, terminal. May and June. l. lanceolate, acutish. h. 8in. Spain, 1820. A pretty annual.

AFRICAN ALMOND. See Brabejum.

AFRICAN BLADDER NUT. See Royena lucida.

AFRICAN FLEABANE. See Tarchonanthus.

AFRICAN HAREBELL. See Roella ciliata.

AFRICAN LILY. See Agapanthus.

AFRICAN LOTUS. See Zizyphus.

AFRICAN MARIGOLD. See Tagetes erecta.

AFRICAN OAK OR TEAK. See Vitex Doniana.

AFRICAN SATIN-BUSH. See Podalyria sericea.

AFZELIA (named after Adam Afzelius, M.D., Professor of Botany in the University of Upsal, and for many years resident at Sierra Leone). ORD. Leguminosæ. A pretty stove evergreen tree. For culture, see Ægiphila.

A. africana (African).* fl. crimson, disposed in racemes; petals four (furnished with claws), upper one largest. June. Legume ligneus, many-celled; seeds black, with scarlet aril. l. abruptly pinnate. h. 30ft. Sierra Leone, 1821.

AGALMYLA (from agalma, an ornament; and hule, a wood; the species are great ornaments to the woods in which they grow wild). ORD. Gesneraceæ. A small but very handsome genus of climbing or radicant herbs, with simple alternate leaves and axillary fascicles of flowers, something like the blooms of a Gesnera. Corolla limb oblique, five-lobed, scarcely two-lipped. A. staminea, the most generally cultivated species, is best grown in a basket, planted in a compost of rough peat, a little leaf soil, fresh sphagnum moss, and nodules of charcoal. Give an abundance of moisture when growing, which should be lessened after flowering, and allow the plant to rest during winter. It may be planted out on rockwork in the stove. Half-ripened cuttings will root freely in heat under a glass. The temperature in summer should not be less than 75deg. by day, and 65deg. by night.

A. longistyla (long-styled). fl. crimson. Java, 1873.

A. staminea (long-stamened).* fl. scarlet, disposed in axillary fascicles; corolla tubular, incurved, with a dilated throat. Summer. l. alternate, oblong, acuminated, denticulated, nearly equal at the base, downy beneath, and on the edges. Stem and petioles hairy. h. 2ft. Java, 1846. Stove species.

AGANISIA (from aganos, desirable; in reference to the beauty of these neat little plants). ORD. Orchidaceæ. A small genus of epiphytal orchids, requiring to be grown upon a block of wood suspended from the rafters of the stove. A damp atmosphere, syringing the roots and leaves freely when in a growing state, and shade during very bright sunshine, are primary points to be observed in their cultivation. Increased by dividing the pseudo-bulbs just previous to starting into new growth.

A. cœrulea (dark blue).* fl. peduncles axillary, few flowered. "The colour is the well known one of Vanda cœrulea. There are, however, darker blue blotches quasi-tesselated over the flower. The lip is veiled, and has two very small basilar teeth, and then a veiled middle lacinia, that is sacciform, bordered with most remarkable long bristles, and with a deep violet blotch on its middle part beneath. The white column has two cartilaginous quadrate arms close to the stigmatic hollow." l. cuneate, oblong, acuminate. Pseudo-bulbs distichous, depresso-ovoid. Brazil, 1876.

A. fimbriata (fringed).* fl. white; lip blue. Demerara, 1874. This species has also a sacciform, fimbriate lip, but, when compared with the foregoing, its flowers, leaves, and bulbs are much smaller, and the lip is not slit up to the apex, but the sac is round.

A. graminea (grass-leaved). A weedy looking species, of no garden value. Guiana, 1836.

A. ionoptera (violet-winged). The flowers, not very much larger than those of the lily of the valley, are white, with violet petals, and violet tips and streaks on the sepals. Peru, 1871.

A. pulchella (pretty).* fl. white, with a blotch of yellow in the centre of the lip; the spike is produced from the bottom of the bulb. h. 8in. Demerara, 1838. It blossoms at different times of the year, and lasts two or three weeks in perfection. This species is very rare and pretty, and is best grown in a pot, with peat, and good drainage; requires a liberal supply of water at the roots, and the hottest house.

AGANOSMA (from aganos, mild, and osme, a smell; scent of flowers). ORD. Apocynaceæ. A genus of showy stove or warm greenhouse shrubs, with opposite leaves and terminal corymbs of large funnel-shaped flowers, the coronet of which is cup-shaped or cylindrical, "having its parts so united that they appear only as lobes around the mouth of the cup." All the species mentioned are well worth cultivating. They thrive best in a mixture of loam, sand, and peat, in equal proportions. Propagated by cuttings in sand, under glass, and with bottom heat.

A. acuminata (pointed-leaved).* fl. large, white, fragrant; petals linear, falcate, curled; panicles axillary, longer than the leaves, scattered. l. from oblong to broad-lanceolate, acuminated, glabrous. Sylhet. Shrubby climber.

A. caryophyllata (clove scented).* fl. pale yellow, tinged with red, deliciously clove scented; corymbs terminal. October. l. oval, acutish at both ends, tomentose beneath as well as the branches. India, 1812. Shrubby twiner.

A. cymosa (cymose-flowered).* fl. small, whitish, fragrant; calyx and corolla hoary outside; cymes terminal, shorter than the leaves. l. elliptic, acuminated. Sylhet. Shrub.

A. elegans (elegant).* fl. small, purple; corolla downy outside, as well as the calyces, bracteas, and pedicels; sepals longer than the tube of the corolla; corymbs terminal, crowded. l. elliptic, short-acuminated, glabrous. India. Shrubby twiner.

A. marginata (bordered).* fl. numerous, large, white, fragrant; petals linear, falcate; panicles terminal, loose, corymbose, glabrous. l. lanceolate, smooth. Sylhet. Shrubby climber.

A. Roxburghii (Roxburgh's).* fl. pure white, large, fragrant; calyx and corolla hoary outside; petals triangular; corymbs terminal. October. l. ovate-cordate, acuminated; petioles and veins red, glabrous, pale beneath, and shining above. India, 1812. Shrubby twiner.

A. Wallichii (Wallich's).* fl. white, fragrant; calyx and corolla downy outside; corymbs terminal. l. elliptic-acuminated, shining above and pale beneath, glabrous. India. This species differs from the last in the veins of the leaves being parallel, not longitudinal, from the base to the apex. Shrubby twiner.

AGAPANTHUS (from agape, love, and anthos, a flower). ORD. Liliaceæ. African Lily. A genus, with numerous varieties, of very handsome greenhouse or conservatory herbaceous plants. Flowers large, scapose; perianth tubular, tube short; stamens six, having the filaments somewhat declinate. Leaves linear or lorate, arching, radical. They are of easy culture, and thrive best in strong turfy loam, leaf mould, decomposed manure, and river sand. They may be grown in large pots or tubs outside, to be removed in autumn, and placed under the stage in the greenhouse, or where they will be protected from frost, and kept moderately dry. If planted and left outside, the crowns should be well covered with cocoa-nut fibre in winter. During the summer, and especially in dry weather, the plants can hardly be over watered. They thrive admirably on the margins of lakes or running streams, and few plants, alike in flower and foliage, are more effective. Clear manure water may be given previous to or when the plants are in flower, and, after flowering, gradually lessen the quantity of water, until they are stowed away for the winter. They increase very rapidly, by offsets, and, if necessary, the old plants may be divided in early spring, to any extent required. In the more southern parts of this country they are quite hardy.

FIG. 39. AGAPANTHUS UMBELLATUS.

A. umbellatus (umbelled).* fl. bright blue; perianth funnel-shaped, regular, deeply six-parted; tube short; scape tall, naked, bearing a many-flowered umbel. Summer and autumn. l. numerous, radical, linear, somewhat fleshy. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1692. See Fig. 39.

A. u. albidus (whitish).* fl. pure white, on large full-sized umbels, smaller than those of the species, but very showy. Cape of Good Hope. This requires carefully drying off during the winter.

A. u. aureus (golden). A variety in which the leaves are marked longitudinally with yellow. 1882.

A. u. flore-pleno (double-flowered).* Identical in all respects with the species, except that it has double flowers, which are therefore, much more lasting than the single ones. A very handsome variety.

A. u. Leichtlinii (Leichtlin's).* fl., perianth deep bright hyacinthine blue, 1¼in. long; scape about 1½ft. long, with a more compact umbel than any other known form. June. l. similar in size to the species. Cape of Good Hope, 1878.

A. u. maximus (larger).* fl. bright blue, in immense umbels. This is larger in all its parts than the type, and when well grown is truly a noble plant. There is also a white-flowered form of this variety, which is most desirable, being equally as large.

A. u. minor (smaller).* This is smaller in all its parts, with narrow leaves, and slender scapes of deep blue flowers. A very elegant variety.

A. u. Mooreanus (Moore's).* fl. dark blue. h. 1½ft. 1879. A new variety, with shorter, narrower, and more upright leaves than the species; it has a dwarf habit. Perfectly hardy.

A. u. variegatus (variegated).* Where variegated-leaved plants are desired, few could be more useful than this; its leaves are almost entirely white, with a few green bands, but they are neither so broad nor so long as in the type. It is an excellent subject for the domestic garden.

AGAPETES (from agapetos, beloved; in reference to the showy character of the plants). ORD. Vacciniaceæ. A genus containing about eighteen species of warm greenhouse or stove evergreen shrubs. Flowers corymbose and racemose; corolla tubular. Leaves alternate, coriaceous. They are all worthy of cultivation, but only two or three species are grown in England. Peat, turfy loam, and sand, in equal parts, is the best compost for them; and young hardened cuttings will strike in sandy soil, under a hand glass, in stove temperature.

A. buxifolia (box-leaved).* fl. bright red, about 1in. long, tubular, wax-like, disposed in corymbs. April. l. small, oval oblong, bright green, leathery; branches spreading, twiggy. h. 5ft. Bootan.

A. setigera (bristly). fl. red, about 1in. long, tubular, numerous, in lateral and corymbose racemes, furnished with bristly hairs. l. scattered, lanceolate, acuminated, on very short robust petioles. Pundua Mountains, 1837.

A. variegata (variegated). fl. scarlet, about 1in. long, tubular, lateral, corymbose. l. on short petioles, lanceolate, acuminated, denticulated, attenuated at the base, veiny. Khasia, 1837.

AGARICUS (derived from Agaria, the name of a town in Sarmentosa). Mushroom. ORD. Fungi. The most extensive genus known. It, however, contains but one or two species of cultural value. The most important ones are the common field mushroom, A. campestris (Fig. 44), the Fairy Ring mushroom, A. pratensis, and A. vaginatus. Familiar species are the Parasol mushroom, A. procerus (Fig. 43); St. George's mushroom, A. gambosus (Fig. 42); and the deadly Fly Agaric, A. muscarius (Fig. 41). For practical purposes the majority of this genus are poisonous, and many virulently so. Great care must be exercised in experimenting with unknown species, even by experienced fungologists. See Mushroom.

AGASTACHYS (from agastos, admirable, and stachys, a spike). ORD. Proteaceæ. A greenhouse evergreen shrub, with four sepalled apetalous flowers, which are disposed in numerous spikes. It thrives in a compost of equal parts loam, sand, and peat. Cuttings of ripened wood will strike in sandy soil under a glass, in a cool house.

A. odorata (fragrant).* fl. pale yellow, sweet scented, crowded; spikes 4in. to 5in. long. April. l. bluntly lanceolate, sub-sessile, thickish, about 2in. long. h. about 3ft. New Holland, 1826.

AGATHÆA (from agathos, excellent; in reference to the beauty of the flowers). ORD. Compositæ. Allied to Cineraria, and requiring the same greenhouse treatment. It makes a very pretty object for summer decoration in the flower garden. Young cuttings root freely, in a gentle heat, at all times; and the plant may be had in bloom all the year round.

A. cœlestis (sky-blue).* fl.-heads blue; peduncle one-headed. June. l. opposite, ovate, naked. h. 1½ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1753. Herbaceous perennial. See Fig. 40.

FIG. 40. AGATHÆA CŒLESTIS.

AGATHA ROSE. See Rosa gallica Agatha.

AGATHIS. See Dammara.

AGATHOPHYLLUM (from agathos, pleasant, and phyllon, a leaf; referring to the pleasant clove-like smell of the leaf). Madagascar Nutmeg. ORD. Lauraceæ. A stove evergreen tree, of economic value only, having the fruit enclosed by the persistent calyx; thriving in peat and light rich loam. Of easy propagation by cuttings in sand, with a moderate bottom heat.

A. aromaticum (aromatic). fl. white. l. stalked, alternate, obovate, obtuse, leathery, entire, smooth. h. 30ft. Madagascar, 1823.

AGATHOSMA (from agathos, pleasant, and osme, smell; the plants contained in this genus have a pleasant smell). SYNS. Bucco, Dichosma. ORD. Rutaceæ. Beautiful small heath-like greenhouse shrubs, from the Cape of Good Hope. Flowers in terminal heads, or umbels; petals five, divided, with long claws, and scattered, short, narrow leaves, usually with revolute edges. They are of easy culture, thriving best in a mixture of sand and peat, with the addition of a little turfy loam. Young cuttings will strike root freely in a pot of sand, under a bell glass, in a cool house. They require to be shaded somewhat in the summer. Winter temperature, 40deg. to 45deg. About forty-six species are known.

A. acuminata (taper-pointed leaved).* fl. violet; calyces smooth, glandular, on terminal subcapitate heads. April. l. ovate, somewhat cordate, long acuminated, fringed, at length spreading. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1812.

A. bruniades (Brunia-like).* fl. lilac or white, on terminal sub-umbellate heads; peduncles fastigiate, elongated. April. l. scattered, linear-trigonal, awl-shaped, dotted, and a little fringed; branches hairy. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1820.

A. cerefolia (chervil-leaved). fl. white, small; pedicels and calyces beset with glandular hairs; heads terminal sub-umbellate. April. l. crowded, lanceolate, acute, spreading, keeled, fringed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1794.

A. ciliata (ciliated).* fl. white; pedicels smoothish; heads terminal sub-umbellate. April. l. scattered, lanceolate, acute, with toothletted-fringed, revolute edges, dotted beneath, and bearing hairs on the middle nerve, becoming at length reflexed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1774.

A. erecta (upright).* fl. pale violet, terminal, sub-umbellate; peduncles short, villous. April. l. imbricate, trigonal, blunt, dotted beneath, a little fringed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1818.

A. hirta (hairy). fl. purple, densely capitate; petals bearded at the claws. April. l. somewhat imbricate, linear, awl-shaped, channelled, hairy on the back, decurrent. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1794.

FIG. 41. AGARICUS MUSCARIUS (FLY AGARIC).

FIG. 43. AGARICUS PROCERUS (PARASOL MUSHROOM).

FIG. 42. AGARICUS GAMBOSUS (ST. GEORGE'S MUSHROOM).

FIG. 44. AGARICUS CAMPESTRIS (COMMON MUSHROOM).

A. hispida (rough-haired). fl. violet, on terminal sub-umbellate heads; pedicels and sepals pubescent; petals quite smooth. May. l. crowded, linear, trigonal, blunt, spreading, hispid, keeled, and two-furrowed beneath. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1786.

A. imbricata (imbricated). fl. pale purple, in terminal sub-capitate heads; petals with a roundish limb; sepals smoothish; pedicels pubescent. April. l. imbricate, crowded, ovate, acuminated, dotted, fringed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1774.

A. orbicularis (round-leaved). fl. white, on terminal sub-umbellate heads; stamens twice as long as the corolla; pedicels pubescent. April. l. scattered, spreading, orbicular, ovate, or reniform, smooth, reflexed, small, thickish, without any dots beneath; branches villous. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1790.

A. prolifera (proliferous). fl. white, on terminal sub-umbellate heads; sepals smooth; pedicels somewhat fastigiate, pubescent. April. l. spreading, lanceolate, cuspidate; keel and edges fringed, dotted; branches whorled, proliferous. h. 1ft. to 3ft. 1790.

A. pubescens (downy). fl. white; umbels terminal; peduncles and sepals villous. April. l. lanceolate, trigonal, pointless, with margins and rib ciliated. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1798.

A. rugosa (coarsely-wrinkled). fl. white, on terminal sub-umbellate heads; sepals pubescent; pedicels capillary, clothed with glandular hairs. April. l. spreading, oblong or ovate, blunt, keeled, wrinkled, villous beneath, reflexed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1790.

A. vestita (clothed). fl. lilac, on terminal sub-capitate heads; pedicels quite smooth. May. l. closely imbricated, ovate, acuminated, keeled, fringed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1824.

AGATHYRSUS. See Mulgedium.

AGATI (its Sanscrit name). ORD. Leguminosæ. Ornamental stove trees from India, with lanceolate stipulas, abruptly-pinnate leaves, having many pairs of leaflets. Flowers large, few, racemose. Legumes 1½ft. long. A mixture of loam, peat, and sand is most suitable. Young cuttings will root in a pot of sand, with a hand glass over them, placed in heat.

A. coccinea (scarlet).* fl. red, rather smaller than the next species. Legumes rather terete. l. leaflets powdery. July. h. 20ft. to 30ft. 1768.

A. grandiflora (large-flowered). fl. rosy red. July. Legumes evidently compressed. l. leaflets glabrous. h. 14ft. to 26ft. 1768.

A. g. flore-albo (white flowered). fl. white, double. N. Australia, 1869.

AGAVE (from agauos, admirable; referring to the stately form in which some of them flower). ORD. Amaryllidaceæ. Flower-scape tall, proceeding from the centre of the rosette of leaves; perianth funnel-shaped, six-parted. Leaves large, fleshy, tufted. Mr. B. S. Williams describes them as follows: "They are noble, massive-growing plants, and form magnificent ornaments in the greenhouse or conservatory; whilst, from their slow growth, they do not rapidly get too large, even for a small greenhouse. Indeed, some of the real gems of this genus are neat, compact-growing plants, seldom exceeding 2ft. in height. Besides being fine ornamental plants for indoor decoration, the larger growing kinds are unquestionably the finest objects for the embellishment of terrace-walks, or surmounting flights of steps in the open air during the summer season, and also for plunging in rockwork, or about any rustic nooks in the pleasure-grounds, as, in such situations, they are quite in keeping, and thrive admirably. As is well known, they attain maturity very slowly; but when this condition is reached, the plant sends up a flower spike, and, after perfecting this, dies." A. Sartorii, and a few others are, however, exceptional, and go on flowering year after year. It is certainly fallacious to suppose it takes them a hundred years to flower. Agaves succeed well potted in good loam and river sand, to which may be added a little peat and leaf mould for some of the smaller-growing kinds. The drainage should be good, as they enjoy a liberal supply of water during the summer season, but during winter considerably less will be required. They can be increased by suckers when these are to be obtained, and also by seeds, to secure the production of which, in the species that do not yield suckers, the flowers should be carefully impregnated. In the following descriptive list of species, only those of horticultural value are mentioned, some of which are still rare; and in describing them we have availed ourselves of Mr. J. G. Baker's excellent monograph, which appeared in the columns of the Gardener's Chronicle. Many are omitted, not from any deficiency in horticultural beauty, but because, in several instances, only one plant of a species is known to exist in cultivation, and such cannot, therefore, hope to become in general cultivation for many years hence.

A. albicans (whitened). Probably a variety of A. micrantha.

FIG. 45. AGAVE AMERICANA.

A. americana (American).* fl. yellowish green, 2in. to 3½in. long; in very dense globose clusters, on pedicels ¼in. to ½in. long; scape, including the thyrsoid panicle, 24ft. to 36ft. August. l. usually thirty to forty, sometimes more, in a rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, 3ft. to 6ft. long, 6in. to 9in. broad above the middle, glaucous green, more or less concave all down the face, the outer leaves recurved, the dark brown pungent point 1in. to 2in. long; prickles brown tipped, 1/6in. to ¼in. long. S. America, 1640. See Fig. 45.

A. a. mexicana (Mexican). A variety much shorter in the leaves than the species, of which it may be regarded as one of the many small forms.

A. a. picta (painted).* l. 2ft. to 3ft. long, about 4in. wide, lower ones recurved, upper ones erect, moderately thick, rich golden yellow on both sides, bordered with dark green. A very splendid variety. SYN. A. ornata.

A. a. variegata (variegated). l. 6ft. or more in length, 6in. or 8in. wide, dark green in the centre, broadly margined with rich yellow. A very desirable variety.

A. amœna (pleasing). Referred to A. Scolymus.

A. amurensis (Amur River). Synonymous with A. xylacantha.

A. applanata (plano-convex-leaved). fl. unknown. l. twenty to forty in a dense sessile rosette, reaching a couple of feet in diameter, oblong-spathulate, 8in. to 12in. long, 2in. to 3½in. broad, the lower half of the face flat, the upper half concave, suddenly terminating in a pungent brown spine above 1in. long, blue-green bordered with brown; prickles ¼in. to ⅓in. long, bright brown. Mexico, 1869.

A. atrovirens (dark-green). Synonymous with A. Salmiana.

A. attenuata (attenuated).* fl. greenish-yellow, 2in. long; pedicels about ¼in. long, on a dense spike, 6ft. to 8ft. long, and 6in. in diameter; bracts overtopping the perianth. l. ten to twenty, in a dense rosette at the top of the stem, oblong-spathulate, 2ft. to 2½ft. long, 8in. to 9in. broad two-thirds of the way up, narrowed to 2½in. to 3in. above the base, persistently glaucous, one of the most fleshy of all in texture; face rather concave when young; tip not pungent, edge quite entire. Stem 4ft. to 7ft. high, 3in. to 4in. thick. Mexico, 1834. A most distinct species.

A. Beaucarnei (Beaucarne's). Synonymous with A. Kerchovei.

A. Botterii (Botteri's).* fl. greenish-yellow, about 1in. long, on a dense spike, longer than the leaves; primary bracts lanceolate, with a long point, the lower ones as long as the flowers; scape covered with adpressed lanceolate bracts. l. about fifty in a rosette, oblong-spathulate, about 2ft. long, 6in. broad above the middle, narrowed to 4½in. above the base; pale green, concave in the centre; spine hard, pungent, about ½in. long; marginal teeth crowded, ⅛in., upcurved at the tip. Stemless. Mexico, about 1865.

A. bulbifera (bulb-bearing). Synonymous with A. vivipara.

A. cæspitosa (tufted). Synonymous with A. Sartorii.

A. cantula. Synonymous with A. vivipara.

FIG. 46. AGAVE CELSIANA.

A. Celsiana (Cels's).* fl. tinged purplish-brown, 2in. long, in a dense spike, 1ft. or more long, and 6in. to 8in. in diameter when expanded; scape 4ft. long, the lower bract leaves lanceolate, the upper ones subulate. l. twenty to thirty in a rosette, oblong-spathulate, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 5in. broad at the middle, narrowed to 2½in. to 3in. above the base, persistently glaucous, the point hardly at all pungent; spines very unequal in size and shape, green, largest brown and horny at the top. Mexico, 1839. This is a beautiful species, the stem of which scarcely rises off the surface of the ground. See Fig. 46.

A. coccinea (scarlet). fl. unknown. l. twenty to thirty in a dense rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 6in. broad two-thirds of the way up, narrowed to 3in. above the dilated base, where it is 1in. to 1¼in. thick, deep heavy green; terminal spine 1½in. or more in length, red; side prickles irregular, deltoid, unequal, nearly straight, 1/6in. to ¼in. long, red. Mexico, 1859.

A. cochlearis (cochleate). fl. yellowish green, above 4in. long, in dense clusters. l. forming a sessile rosette 10ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 5ft. to 6ft. long, above 1ft. broad, 5in. thick at the base, opaque green, with a deeply excavated face; terminal spine very stout, pungent; side prickles curved variously, middle sized, deltoid. Stems 26ft. high. Mexico, previous to 1867.

A. Consideranti (Considerant's). Synonymous with A. Victoriæ Regina.

A. Corderoyi (Corderoy's).* fl. unknown. l. forty to fifty in a dense rosette, rigidly erecto-patent, ensiform, 1½ft. long, ¾in. to 1in. broad, bright green; terminal spine hard, brown, 1in. long; side prickles moderately close, erecto-patent, dark brown, 1/6in. long. Mexico, 1868. A very distinct and pretty species.

A. crenata (crenated). Referred to A. Scolymus.

A. cucullata (hooded). Referred to A. Scolymus.

A. dasylirioides (Dasylirion-like).* fl. yellow, about 1½in. long; spike as long as the scape, often decurved; lower bracts much longer than the flowers; pedicels obsolete; scape 6ft. long, densely clothed with spreading subulate bract leaves, the lower ones 1ft. long. l. eighty to a hundred in a dense rosette, linear-ensiform, 1½ft. to 3ft. long, about 1in. broad, narrowing gradually from the middle to a short brown pungent point, pale glaucous green, rigidly leathery; edge minutely denticulate. Mexico, 1846.

A. d. dealbata (whitened). A variety of preceding, but with more glaucous foliage.

FIG. 47. AGAVE DENSIFLORA.

A. densiflora (close-flowered).* fl. yellowish-red, 1½in. to 2in. long, on a dense spike, 2ft. long; pedicels very short; scape, including the spike, 6ft. long, the lower bracts ascending, the upper ones spreading. l. thirty to forty in a stemless rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, 2ft. to 3ft. long, and 2½in. to 5in. broad, bright green when mature; terminal spine ½in. long, thick, pungent, slightly decurrent; side spines crowded, short, bright chestnut brown. Mexico (previous to) 1857. See Fig. 47.

A. Deserti (Desert's).* fl. yellow, under 2in. long, on a thyrsoid panicle, the branches very short, the lower horizontal, the upper ascending; pedicels short; scape 4ft. to 10ft. high, 1in. to 2in. thick at the base, furnished with distant lanceolate acuminate toothed bracts. l. few, in a rosette, oblanceolate, 6in. to 12in. long, 1½in. to 2in. broad above the middle, thick, fleshy, very glaucous; face deeply concave; terminal spine 1in. to 2in. long, slender; prickles crowded, strong, hooked, horny, nearly ¼in. long. California, 1877.

A. Desmetiana (De Smet's). Probably synonymous with A. miradorensis.

A. Elemeetiana (Elemeet's).* fl. yellowish-green, 1in. to 1½in. long, in a dense spike 8ft. to 9ft. long, 7in. to 8in. in diameter when expanded; pedicels ¼in. long; scape, including the spike, 12ft. to 13ft. high, stiffly erect, lower 3ft. to 4ft., barren, with squarrose lanceolate bracts. l. twenty to twenty-five in a rosette, lanceolate-oblong, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 3in. to 6in. wide, slightly glaucous; face flat above the middle terminal spine, not pungent, the margin pale and quite entire. Stemless. A very distinct species. Mexico, 1864.

A. Fenzliana (Fenzl's). Synonymous with A. Hookeri.

A. ferox (fierce). fl. unknown. l. about twenty in a rosette, oblong-spathulate, 4in. to 8in. broad; face nearly flat, except at the top, slightly glaucous green; terminal spine above 1in. long, hard, pungent; margin slightly wavy between the large dark brown teeth, which are about ¼in. long, and curved at the top. Mexico, 1861.

A. filifera (thread-bearing).* fl. greenish, about 2in. long; pedicels very short and stout, in a dense spike 2ft. to 3ft. long; scape 3ft. to 4ft. long, its bract-leaves subulate, the lower ones ascending, the upper squarrose. l. sixty to a hundred in a dense rosette, stiff, straight, ensiform, 6in. to 9in. long, 1in. broad at the middle, gradually narrowing to a grey pungent tip; face flat, the continuous grey edge splitting off copiously into irregular spreading grey wiry threads; outer leaves of the rosette not all recurved, but spreading stiffly. Mexico.

A. f. filamentosa (thready).* A form with larger leaves and scape; including the spike, 10ft. to 12ft. high. A well-known, handsome variety.

A. Galeotti (Galeotti's). fl. unknown. l. thirty to forty in a dense rosette, 2ft. to 3ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 1ft. to 1½ft. long, 2in. to 6in. broad; face rather flat or convex, green; terminal spine hard, pungent; prickles close, straight, or slightly hooked, purplish-black. Mexico, 1877.

A. Ghiesbreghtii (Ghiesbreght's). fl. unknown. l. thirty to forty in a dense rosette, rigid, lanceolate, 9in. to 12in. long, 2in. to 3in. broad, bright glossy green; terminal spine ½in. long, pungent; border narrow, red-brown till a late stage; side prickles numerous, irregular, two to three lines long. Mexico, 1862. Very handsome dwarf species. A. Rohanii and A. Leguayana are mere varieties.

A. heteracantha (various-spined).* fl. greenish, 1½in. long, on a dense spike 3ft. long; scape 3ft. to 4ft. long. l. fifty to eighty in a rosette, rigid, ensiform, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 2in. to 2½in. broad in the middle, dull green, with numerous darker green lines on the back; terminal point 1in. long; side spines numerous, strongly hooked, lanceolate. Stemless. Mexico.

A. Hookeri (Hooker's).* fl. large, yellow, very numerous, in stalked panicled cymes. l. thirty to forty in a sessile rosette, 8ft. or 9ft. in diameter, oblanceolate-spathulate, bright green on the face, rather glaucous on the back, 4ft. to 5ft. long, 5in. to 9in. broad, 2in. to 3in. thick; terminal spine 2in. long, and decurrent for nearly half a foot; face flattish or slightly concave; side prickles irregular, brown and horny, about ¼in. long, and curved in different directions. Mexico. SYN. A. Fenzliana. A rare and noble species, very massive.

A. horrida (horrid).* fl. unknown. l. thirty to forty in a dense rosette, rigid, lanceolate-spathulate, 8in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 2in. broad, bright green; terminal spine pungent, nearly 1in. long; margin furnished with a continuous broad grey border, with copious prickles ⅜in. to ½in. long.

A. h. Gilbeyi (Gilbey's).* l. about thirty, 3in. to 4in. long, 2in. broad, dark green with a pale stripe down the middle, three to four large spines on each side. Mexico, 1873.

A. h. lævior (smoother). l. somewhat narrower, longer, with marginal spines less strongly developed, and of a paler colour. Mexico, 1870.

A. h. macrodonta (long-toothed). l. fifty to sixty, 2½in. broad; spines larger than in the typical form. Mexico, 1876.

A. h. micrantha (small-toothed). Border of leaf narrower, and spines smaller, than in the typical form.

A. Jacobiana (Jacob's). Synonymous with A. Salmiana.

A. Kerchovei (Kerchove's).* fl. unknown. l. thirty to forty in a stemless rosette, stiff, rigid, typically ensiform, 6in. to 12in. long, 1½in. to 2in. broad, narrowing gradually to a pungent spine 1in. long, dull green, with a distinct pale central band, rounded on the back, without any stripes of dark green, the margin with a continuous moderately broad grey border; side prickles irregular, grey, lanceolate, curved, ⅙in. to ¼in. long. SYN. A. Beaucarnei.

There are several varieties of A. Kerchovei, of which the following are the most important:—

A. K. diplacantha (double-spined).* With very few distant, small teeth, often collected or united in pairs.

A. K. inermis (unarmed). Dwarf, with spines entirely obsolete.

A. K. macrodonta (long-toothed). l. 1½ft. long, without any distinct central band, and with copious irregular grey lanceolate prickles, about ⅓in. long.

A. K. pectinata (comb-like). l. 1ft. long, 2¼in. broad, without any central band.

A. lophantha (crest-flowered).* fl. greenish, arranged in a dense spike 4ft. to 5ft. long; scape 7ft. to 8ft. long, its leaves brown, the lower ones 6in. long. l. thirty to forty in a rosette, rigid, ensiform, 2ft. to 3ft. long, 1½in. broad at the middle, rather concave down the face, rounded on the back, not marked with any lines, dull green; terminal spine 1in. long; margins bordered by a very narrow continuous grey hoary line, furnished with distant linear falcate teeth, about ¹/₁₂in. long, sessile. Mexico.

A. l. cœrulescens (bluish).* l. with a decided glaucous bloom.

A. l. longifolia (long-leaved). A mere variety of above species.

A. macracantha (long-spined).* fl. greenish, 2in. long, ten to twelve in a loose raceme 6in. long, all solitary on ascending pedicels ¼in. to ½in. long; scape 2ft. to 3ft. long; bracts erect. l. thirty to fifty in a stiff rosette 1ft. to 2ft. broad, oblanceolate, 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 1½in. broad, very stiff and rigid, very glaucous; face rather thicker in the lower half; terminal spine nearly black, very pungent, ½in. long; side prickles purplish-black, sub-distant, ⅛in. long, with a large point straight or slightly hooked. With a short stem, or stemless. Mexico, 1830. It has many varieties, among which are A. Bessereriana and A. flavescens.

A. Maximiliana (Maximilian's).* fl. unknown. l. about twenty in a sessile rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 1¾in. to 3in. broad; face slightly glaucous green; terminal spine pungent, brown, 1in. broad; side prickles bright chestnut brown, larger and more irregular than in A. americana, more hooked, and furnished with longer and sharper points, reaching ¼in. long. Mexico. A very distinct species.

A. micracantha (small-spined). fl. yellowish, 1½in. long, in a dense spike 3ft. to 4ft. long, 6in. to 7in. broad when expanded. l. twenty to thirty in a shortly stalked rosette, oblanceolate oblong, 15in. to 18in. long, 3in. to 5in. broad above the middle, narrowed to 2in. to 3in. above the base, bright green; face flattish above the centre; terminal spine red brown, moderately firm; the copious close reddish-brown horny teeth about ¹/₁₂in. long, the upper ones ascending, the lower deflexed. Mexico, 1860.

A. miradorensis (Mirador).* fl. unknown. l. about thirty in a sessile rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 2in. to 2½in. broad above the middle, thin but firm in texture, very glaucous, with a firm red-brown terminal spine 1in. long; side prickles very minute, crowded, colourless, five or six to an inch in the centre of the leaf. Mexico, 1869. SYN. (probably) A. Desmetiana.

A. Noackii (Noack's). A synonym of A. Sartorii.

A. ornata (adorned). A synonym of A. americana picta.

A. Ortgiesiana (Ortgies'). A dwarf form of A. schidigera with a pale central band to the leaf. Mexico, 1861. A widely-distributed and desirable species.

A. pendula (pendulous). Synonymous with A. Sartorii.

A. polyacantha (many-spined).* fl. greenish-yellow, 1½in. to 2in. long; flowering-stem 8ft. to 12ft. high, including the dense spike, which is 3ft. to 4ft. long. l. about thirty in a sessile rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, rigid, 1ft. to 2ft. long, 2½in. to 5in. broad above the middle, bright green, slightly glaucous when young; terminal spine dark brown, pungent, ½in. to ¾in. long; side prickles crowded, deltoid, dark chestnut brown, irregular, ¹/₁₂in. or ⅛in. long, all sub-patent. Mexico, 1800. SYNS. A. uncinata, A. xalapensis.

A. Poselgerii (Poselger's). fl. purplish, rather more than 1in. long; scape, including the spike, 6ft. to 10ft. l. twenty to thirty in a dense rosette, rigid, ensiform, 1ft. to 1½ft. long; 1½in. to 2in. broad at the middle, dull green, with a broad pale band down to the face, rounded and marked with numerous distinct green lines down the back; margin furnished with a continuous straight, moderately broad edge; terminal spine 1in. long, brown, pungent; side prickles moderately close, lanceolate, hooked, 1/6in. long. Trunk, 4in. to 6in. long. Texas.

A. potatorum (drinkers'). fl. greenish yellow, 3in. long; scape 12ft. high, including the thyrsoid panicle, which is 4ft. to 5ft. long. l. about twenty in a dense sessile rosette, 4ft. to 5ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 2ft. to 2½ft. long, 7in. to 9in. broad above the middle, a dull glaucous green; face slightly concave; terminal spines hard, pungent, 1½in. to 2in. long; side prickles deltoid-cuspidate, about ¼in. long, with the edge slightly wavy between them. Mexico, 1830.

A. pruinosa (frosty).* fl. unknown. l. ten to twenty in a dense rosette, spreading, oblanceolate-oblong, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 5in. broad above the middle, soft and fleshy in texture, pale glaucous green; terminal spine very weak; edge furnished with minute irregular spreading deltoid serrations, not more than quarter line long. Mexico, 1863. A very distinct species.

A. Roezliana (Roezl's). fl. unknown. l. twenty to thirty in a sessile rosette, stiff, ensiform, 6in. to 7in. long, 1in. to 1½in. broad at the middle, bright glossy green, with a distinct pale band down the centre, broadly rounded on the back, without any darker green lines, margined with a continuous moderately broad border, red brown at first, fading into grey when old; terminal spines bright reddish brown, pungent, ½in. to ¾in. long; side prickles copious, spreading, lanceolate, curved, ¼in. long. Mexico, 1869.