Читать книгу The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening, Division 1; A to Car - Various - Страница 14
ОглавлениеACACIA LEPROSA (LEMON). A. LINEATA (ORANGE).
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A. Salmiana (Prince Salm-Dyck's).* fl. greenish yellow, 4in. long; panicle thyrsoid, 6ft. to 8ft. long, with erecto-patent branches and flowers in dense clusters; scape, exclusive of the panicle, 20ft. high. l. twelve to thirty in a dense rosette, which is often 5ft. to 6ft. broad, oblanceolate-spathulate, 2ft. to 4ft. long, 4in. to 6in. broad above the middle, a dull, slightly glaucous green; face more or less concave; terminal spine 1½in. to 2in. long, hard and pungent; side prickles ¼in. long, chestnut brown, hooked up or down. Mexico, 1860. SYNS. A. atrovirens, A. Jacobiana, A. tehuacensis.
A. S. latissima (very broad). l. 2ft. to 3ft. long, by 8in. to 9in. broad above the middle.
A. Sartorii (Sartor's). fl. greenish, 1½in. long; pedicels very short, in a dense spike about 3ft. long, 5in. to 6in. broad when expanded; scape 3ft. to 4ft. long, the green linear ascending bracts 2in. to 4in. long. l. thirty to forty spaced out in a loose rosette, ensiform, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 3in. broad at the middle, bright green, with a pale band down the middle; face flat; terminal spine small, not pungent; side prickles minute, crowded, spreading, tipped with red-brown. Caudex 1ft. to 2ft. long, sometimes forked. SYNS. A. cæspitosa, A. Noackii, A. pendula.
A. schidigera (spine-bearing).* fl. almost identical with A. filifera. l. fifty to eighty in a dense sessile rosette, stiff, ensiform, 12in. to 15in. long, ¾in. to 1in. broad at the middle, similar in colour and texture to those of A. filifera, but the grey marginal border, and splitting off into flat shavings, not mere threads.
A. Schnittspahni (Schnittspahn's). Referred to A. Scolymus.
A. Scolymus (Scolymus). fl. greenish yellow, 2½in. to 3in. long; branches few, with the flowers at the end in very dense clusters; scape 14ft. to 16ft. high, including the thyrsoid panicle, which is 4ft. long and 2ft. broad, furnished with green bracts. l. twenty to thirty in a dense rosette 1½ft. to 3ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 9in. to 18in. long, 3in. to 6in. broad above the middle, very glaucous, abruptly terminating in a pungent spine, 1in. or more long; side prickles chestnut brown, about ¼in. long; edge wavy between them; those on the lower half smaller and directed downwards. Mexico, 1830. Other so-called species referred to this are A. amœna, A. crenata, A. cucullata, A. Schnittspahni, and A. Verschaffeltii.
A. S. Saundersii (Saunders'). fl. about 1ft. long; teeth very large.
A. Seemanni (Seemann's).* fl. unknown. l. twenty in a sessile rosette, 1ft. to 1½ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 6in. to 9in. long, 3in. to 3½in. broad at the middle, narrowed to 2in. above the dilated base, slightly glaucous; face flat, except close to the top; terminal spine pungent, dark brown, ½in. long; side prickles large, moderately close, slightly curved upwards or downwards. Guatemala, 1868. There are two or three garden forms of this species.
A. Shawii (Shaw's).* fl. greenish yellow, 3in. to 3½in. long; panicle thyrsoid, about 2ft. long and broad; clusters dense, composed of thirty to forty flowers, surrounded by large foliaceous fleshy bracts. l. fifty to sixty, or more, forming a dense globose sessile rosette 2ft. in diameter, oblong-spathulate, 8in. to 10in. long, 3½in. to 4½in. broad at the middle, deep green; terminal spine brown, 1in. long, the upper third or quarter entire, the rest furnished with crowded upcurved lanceolate prickles, ¼in. to ½in. long. California, 1877. This species is very rare at present, but is a most distinct and handsome plant.
A. sobolifera (soboliferous). fl. greenish yellow, 2in. to 2½in. long, in a deltoid panicle, of which the lower panicles are 9in. to 12in. long, and bear a hundred flowers each; pedicels ¼in. to 1in. long; scape 8ft. to 10ft. high, 2½in. thick at the base. l. twenty to forty in a shortly caulescent rosette, oblanceolate-oblong-spathulate, 2ft. to 3ft. long, 3in. to 5in. broad at the middle, very bright green; face deeply channelled, the border much raised and tip often recurved; terminal spine sub-pungent, chestnut brown, ½in. long; side prickles distant, brown, hooked, ¹/₁₂in. to ⅛in. long. West Indies, 1678.
A. striata (striated-leaved).* fl. brownish green outside, yellow inside, 1in. to 1½in. long; pedicels very short; spike dense, 2ft. to 3ft. long; bracts linear, shorter than the flowers; scape 6ft. to 8ft. high, including the spike, furnished with numerous spreading subulate bracts, which are 2in. to 3in. long. l. 150 to 200 in a dense rosette, linear-ensiform, 2ft. to 2½ft. long, ¼in. to ⅜in. broad above the deltoid dilated base, where they are ¼in. thick and 1in. broad, narrowed gradually from the top of the base to the point, rigid in texture, glaucous green; face rather keeled, and the back more so; point brown, pungent, ½in. long; edges minutely serrulate. Mexico, 1856.
A. s. echinoides (Echinus-like). l. about 6in. long, ⅓in. broad at the middle; face flat. Mexico, 1869. Dwarfer and stiffer in habit than the variety stricta.
A. s. recurva (recurved-leaved). l. longer than in the type, 3ft. to 4ft., more or less falcate, narrower, and decidedly convex on both surfaces.
A. s. stricta (upright). l. about 1ft. long, very stiff, ¼in. broad at the middle, both faces convex. A. Richardsii comes near to this variety.
A. tehuacensis (Tehuan). Synonymous with A. Salmiana.
A. uncinata (hooked). Synonymous with A. polyacantha.
A. univittata (one-striped).* fl. green, 1½in. long (or less); spike 10ft. to 12ft. long, 6in. to 7in. thick; pedicels ¼in. long; scape 4ft. long, exclusive of the spike, its bracts dense and squarrose. l. fifty to eighty in a stemless rosette, rigid, ensiform, 2ft. to 2½ft. long, 2in. to 3in. broad at the middle, narrowed slightly downwards, and very gradually upwards, dull green, with a broad pale band down the face, faintly lineate on the back; margin bordered by a narrow, continuous grey horny line, furnished with hooked lanceolate prickles, ⅛in. long, from ½in. to 1in. apart; terminal spine brown, pungent, 1in. long. Mexico, 1830.
A. utahensis (Utahan).* fl. yellowish, about 1in. long; peduncles ultimately ¼in. long; scapes, 5ft. to 7ft. high, including the 1ft. to 2ft. spike. l. stemless, ensiform, 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to nearly 2in. broad, thick, glaucous; terminal spine channelled, pungent, about 1in. long; marginal prickles, ⅛in. to ½in. long, white, with a darker base. Southern Utah, 1881. This is a true alpine species, perfectly hardy, and of very easy culture.
A. Vanderdonckii (Vanderdonck's). Synonymous with A. xylacantha.
A. variegata (variegated).* fl. greenish, about 1½in. long; spike about 1ft. long, fifteen to twenty flowered; bracts minute, deltoid; scape 2ft. long, exclusive of the spike, bearing about twelve lanceolate bract leaves. l. fifteen to eighteen in a sessile rosette, spreading, ligulate-lanceolate, finally 12in. to 15in. long, 1in. to 2in. broad below the middle, narrowed slightly downwards, and gradually to the point, deeply channelled down the face, and copiously spotted with brown on a green ground; edge hard and tough, very obscurely serrulate. Texas, 1865. This very desirable variegated species is extremely rare in cultivation.
A. Verschaffeltii (Verschaffelt's). Referred to A. Scolymus.
A. Victoriæ Regina (Queen Victoria).* l. forty to fifty in a sessile rosette, stiff, rigid, lanceolate, 6in. long, 1½in. to nearly 2in. broad above the dilated base, narrowed gradually to a rather obtuse point, dead green, margined with a continuous white border, like that of A. filifera, not splitting up into threads, but leaving distinct white vertical bands where it is pressed against the neighbouring leaves; terminal spine ½in. long, black, pungent, with usually one or two small spines on each side of it. Mexico, 1875. This is also much too rare a plant. SYN. A. Consideranti.
A. virginica (Virginian).* fl. greenish yellow, 1in. to 1¼in. long; spike very loose, 1ft. to 1½ft. long; lower flowers with very short pedicels and lanceolate bracts, about ¼in. long; scape 2ft. to 3ft. high, exclusive of the spike, with only a few distant small bract leaves. l. ten to fifteen in a sessile rosette, spreading, lanceolate, 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 1½in. broad below the middle, narrowed gradually to the point and a little downwards; face channelled, undulated, pale green, or mottled with brown spots, the narrow hard and tough margin very obscurely serrulate. North America, 1765. A. conduplicata is said to be allied to this species.
A. vivipara (viviparous).* fl. greenish yellow, 1½in. to 2in. long, often changed into bulbillæ, which bear lanceolate leaves 6in. long before they fall and take root; inflorescence reaching a height of 20ft. or more, the deltoid panicle about a quarter of the length of the scape; corymbs on stout peduncles, pedicels short. l. twenty to fifty in a dense, shortly caulescent rosette, ensiform, 2ft. to 3ft. long, 1½in. to 2in. broad at the middle, whence it gradually narrows to the point, dull green when mature, thin but firm in texture, flat or channelled down the face; terminal spine firm, brown, ½in. long; side teeth brown, hooked, ¹/₁₂in. or less long. A very widely spread species throughout tropics of the Old World, 1731. SYNS. A. cantula, A. bulbifera.
A. Warelliana (Warell's).* l. about thirty in a rosette, oblong-spathulate, 9in. to. 10in. long, 3in. broad above the middle, narrowed to 2in. above the dilated base; face nearly flat, green, scarcely at all glaucous, tipped with a strong brown channelled spine 1in. long; border margined with close, very short teeth, dark purple when mature. Mexico. A rare but very handsome species.
A. Wislizeni (Wislizenius's). fl. 2½in. long; panicle thyrsoid, its branches 3in. to 6in. long; pedicels very short; scape 12ft. high. l. about thirty in a dense, rigid, sessile rosette, which is under 2ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 3in. to 3½in. broad above the middle, very glaucous, concave in the upper part; terminal spine hard, pungent, dark brown, 1in. long, and decurrent down the border a little; side prickles ⅛in. long, dark purple, moderately close, those below the middle of the leaf smaller and curved downward. Mexico, 1847.
A. xalapensis. Synonymous with A. polyacantha.
A. xylacantha (woody-spined).* fl. green, 1½in. long; spike dense, rather shorter than the scape, its bracts linear-subulate; scape 5ft. to 6ft. long, its bracts subulate, all ascending, the lower ones 6in. to 8in. long. l. not more than twenty in a stemless rosette, ensiform, diverging irregularly and often curving, 1½ft. to 3ft. long, 2in. to 3in. (rarely 4in.) broad at the middle, narrowed gradually upwards, a slightly glaucous dead green, marked with a few darker green lines on the back, furnished with a broad continuous horny border and a few very large irregular hooked teeth, often united or collected in pairs, ½in. to ¾in. long, and ⅜in. to ½in. broad; terminal spine brown, pungent, 1in. long. Mexico. A long-known, widely-spread, and distinct species. SYNS. A. amurensis and A. Vanderdonckii.
A. x. hybrida is a striking dwarf variety with vittate leaves, and smaller, more crowded deltoid-cuspidate prickles than in the type. It is also commonly known as A. x. vittata and A. perbella.
FIG. 48. AGAVE YUCCÆFOLIA.
A. yuccæfolia (Yucca-leaved).* fl. greenish yellow, 1¼in. to 1½in. long, in a dense spike 6in. to 15in. long, about 14in. in diameter, sessile, solitary, or in pairs; scape 12ft. to 20ft. high. l. twenty to forty in a dense, shortly-stemmed rosette, linear, much recurved, 1½ft. to 2½ft. long, ¾in. to 1in. broad at the middle; face deeply channelled, dull, rather glaucous green, with a pale band down the centre, the tip not at all pungent, the back broadly rounded, edge entire, or obscurely serrulate. Mexico, 1816. A most distinct species. See Fig. 48.
AGERATUM (from a, not, and geras, old; in reference to the flowers being always clear). SYN. Cœlestina. ORD. Compositæ. This genus includes several American species, for the most part half-hardy annuals and biennials; or, if the seed is not allowed to ripen, they become perennials. Involucre cup-shaped, of many imbricated linear bracts; receptacle naked. Leaves opposite. A light rich soil is most suitable. Very easily increased by cuttings or seeds; if required true, the former is the only sure method of propagation. To grow large plants for greenhouse decoration, sow the seeds in January, in heat, in sandy soil, barely covering them. As soon as the young plants are large enough, prick them off into thumb pots, and keep in heat till they grow freely, then place them into a cooler house. Transfer into larger pots as soon as the others are full of roots, until they are finally shifted into 10in. or 12in. pots. When these are full of roots, the plants should be watered with liquid manure twice a week, and they soon flower well, making fine specimens. During hot weather especially, they should be well syringed with clear water daily, to keep down red spider. The plants required for bedding (for which purpose the dwarf garden varieties are mostly used) should be raised about the same time, kept in small pots, gradually hardened off, and planted out in the middle or end of June. Cuttings of all the varieties strike readily in heat, treated like most soft-wooded plants, and, when rooted, may be managed as recommended for the seedlings.
A. Lasseauxii (Lasseaux's). fl.-heads rose-coloured, small, disposed in corymbose heads. Summer. l. lanceolate-elliptic. h. 1½ft. to 2ft. Monte Video, 1870. A much-branched plant, requiring greenhouse protection in winter, and suitable for planting out in summer.
A. latifolium (broad-leaved). A synonym of Piqueria latifolia.
A. mexicanum (Mexican).* The commonest and most useful species, with a profusion of lilac-blue flowers. h. 2ft. Mexico, 1822. When used for bedding purposes it may be pegged down like the Verbena, or be allowed to grow its full height. Several very dwarf varieties of it have originated under cultivation, which supersede the species for bedding, the best of which are:—CUPID,* rich blue, very dwarf and floriferous; IMPERIAL DWARF, about 9in. high, with porcelain blue flowers; LADY JANE, of the same colour, very free; QUEEN,* silvery grey, about 9in. high; SNOWFLAKE,* white, very free and showy; SWANLEY BLUE,* very deep blue, 6in. to 8in. high. There is also a white-flowered variety of Mexicanum, which is very showy; and a variegated form, sometimes grown for the sake of its pretty foliage.
AGGLOMERATE, AGGLOMERATED. Collected into a heap or head.
AGGLUTINATED. Glued together.
AGGREGATE, AGGREGATED. Gathered together; usually applied to the inflorescence.
AGLAIA. (mythological: from Aglaia, the name of one of the Graces, and given to this genus on account of its beauty and the sweet scent of the flowers). ORD. Meliaceæ. Stove evergreen trees or shrubs having very small flowers, disposed in branched axillary panicles. Leaves alternate, trifoliate, or impari-pinnate. There are several species, but the undermentioned is the only one worth growing yet introduced. It thrives well in a mixture of turfy loam and peat. Young cuttings ripened at the base, and taken off at a joint, will root in sand under a hand glass, in heat.
A. odorata (sweet-scented). fl. yellow, small, in axillary racemes, very sweet-scented, said to be used by the Chinese to scent their teas. February to May. l. pinnate, with five or seven glossy leaflets. h. 8ft. to 10ft. China, 1810.
AGLAOMORPHA. See Polypodium.
AGLAONEMA (from aglaos, bright, and nema, a thread; supposed to refer to the shining stamens). ORD. Aroideæ. Stove perennials, allied to Arum, and requiring similar treatment to the stove species of that genus.
A. commutatum (changed).* fl. white. l. greyish-blotched. h. 1ft. Philippines, 1863. SYN. A. marantæfolium maculatum.
A. Mannii (Mann's).* fl., spathe 2in. long, whitish, with a spadix one-third shorter, bearing white anthers and scarlet ovaries. l. elliptic-oblong, dark green. Stems thickish, erect. h. 1½ft. Victoria Mountains, 1868.
A. marantæfolium maculatum (Maranta-leaved, spotted). A synonym of A. commutatum.
A. pictum (painted).* fl., spathe pale creamy yellow, folded round so as to appear globular-oblong, opening at top; spadix projecting, white. August. l. elliptic-acuminate, light green, blotched irregularly with broadish angulate patches of grey. Stems slender, erect. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Borneo.
AGNOSTUS. See Stenocarpus.
AGRAPHIS. Included under Scilla (which see).
AGRIMONIA (from argos, white; the cataract of the eye being white. Once reputed to contain medicinal qualities). Agrimony. ORD. Rosaceæ. A genus of hardy herbaceous perennials, with interruptedly pinnate leaves, each accompanied by a pair of stipules united to the petioles. Flowers small, numerous, spiked; calyx turbinate, involucrated by bristles; petals five. They are all of the easiest culture, growing in ordinary soil. Readily increased by root-division. The most showy species in cultivation are described below.
A. Eupatoria (Eupatoria). fl. yellow, on an elongated spike. l. with elliptic-oblong, coarsely serrated leaflets, odd one stalked. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Britain.
A. nepalensis (Nepaul). fl. yellow, on erect, slender racemes. l. with ovate, serrated leaflets, odd one stalked, villous. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Nepaul, 1820.
A. odorata (sweet-scented).* fl. yellow; spikes several. l. with oblong lanceolate, deeply crenate-toothed leaflets, hairy. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Italy, 1640.
AGRIMONY. See Agrimonia.
AGRIOTES. See Wireworm.
AGROSTEMMA (from agros, a field, and stemma, a crown; alluding to the beauty of the flowers, which were formerly made into crowns or garlands). Rose Campion. ORD. Caryophyllaceæ. Hardy evergreen perennials and annuals, with broadish leaves, and one-flowered peduncles. Of easy culture, and well adapted for borders. They will all grow freely in common garden soil. Increased by division of the roots, and seed. A. cœli-rosa, and A. flos-Jovis are, perhaps, species of Lychnis, but the generic name which we have adopted is the most common one. All the species of this genus are exceedingly pretty free-flowering plants, and both annuals and perennials are well worth growing.
A. cœli-rosa (rose of Heaven).* fl. delicate rose, white, or bright purple, solitary, terminal. Summer. Levant, &c., 1713. An annual species about 1ft. high, not tomentose; should be grown in patches. Sow the seed in April.
FIG. 49. AGROSTEMMA CŒLI-ROSA FIMBRIATA.
A. c.-r. fimbriata (fimbriate). A form having fimbriated petals. Known also as nana. h. 9in. See Fig. 49.
A. c.-r. purpurea (purple).* A very pretty form, having dark purple flowers, and compact habit. See Fig. 50.
A. coronaria (crowned).* fl. white, with the middle red; petals emarginate, crowned, serrated; peduncles elongated, one-flowered. July. l. lanceolate, very broad, leathery; plant woolly throughout. h. 1ft. to 2ft. South Europe, 1596. This species is admirably adapted for naturalising on dry hill sides, and in the wild garden. There are several varieties seen in gardens with a great diversity of colour, including dark crimson, white, and sometimes double flowers. See Fig. 51.
FIG. 50. AGROSTEMMA CŒLI-ROSA PURPUREA.
FIG. 51. AGROSTEMMA CORONARIA, showing Habit and Flower.
A. flos-Jovis.* Flower of Jove. fl. purple or scarlet, in umbellate heads; peduncles short, rather branched. July. l. lanceolate, stem-clasping, silky, tomentose. h. 1½ft. Switzerland, 1726. Plant white from tomentum. See Fig. 52.
FIG. 52. AGROSTEMMA FLOS-JOVIS, showing Habit and Flower.
AGROSTIS (from agros, a field; the Greek name for a kind of grass). Bent Grass. ORD. Gramineæ. Annual or perennial grasses. Panicle loose; spikelets compressed. Several of the species are very effective, and well worth growing; and the spikes are pretty objects, when dried, for window vases, &c. They are of easy culture, in ordinary garden soil. Sow seeds during spring in the open border, in tufts, among ferns, &c., or in pots for decorative purposes.
A. elegans (elegant). h. 1ft. Russia, 1834.
FIG. 53. AGROSTIS NEBULOSA.
A. nebulosa (cloud).* Cloud Grass. fl. panicles resemble, when developed, a cloud resting over the ground. h. 1½ft. Very light and elegant. Annual. See Fig. 53.
A. pulchella (pretty).* Dwarfer, and with a more rigid habit than A. nebulosa. It is, nevertheless, a most graceful plant, and valuable for bouquet making, and for winter decorative purposes. h. 6in. to 12in. Russia. Annual.
A. spica-venti (windward-spiked). fl. panicle large, silky looking, loosely spreading. England. Annual.
AGROTIS. See Pot-herb Moths and Turnip Moth.
AILANTUS (from ailanto, referring to its lofty growth). Tree of Heaven. ORD. Xanthoxylaceæ. Tall deciduous trees. The stove species will grow freely in a mixture of loam and peat; and the best way to increase these is by pieces of the roots, planted in a pot with their points above the ground, and placed in a hotbed, where they will soon make fine plants.
A. excelsa (tall). fl. whitish green, disposed similar to the following. l. abruptly pinnate, 3ft. long, with ten to fourteen pairs of leaflets coarsely toothed at the base, without glands. h. 66ft. India, 1800. A stove tree.
A. glandulosa (glandulous).* fl. whitish green, disposed in large branched, terminal, fascicled panicles, exhaling a disagreeable smell. August. l. impari-pinnate; leaflets coarsely toothed at the base with glands. (The leaves on vigorous young trees are sometimes 6ft. in length.) h. 60ft. China, 1751. This tree grows with great rapidity for the first ten or twelve years, in favourable situations, afterwards its growth is much slower. It is quite hardy, and thrives in almost any soil, though one that is light and somewhat humid, and a sheltered situation, suits it best. It is a very desirable tree for plantations, or to stand singly on lawns, and is easily increased by slips of the roots.
AINSLÆA (in honour of Dr. Whitelaw Ainslie, author of a work on Indian drugs). ORD. Compositæ. Herbaceous perennials, of recent introduction. Although, no doubt, both species will prove tolerably hardy, they should have slight protection during winter. They thrive in light rich soil. Propagated by divisions of the root.
A. aptera (wingless). fl.-head purple, disposed in an elongated spike-like panicle. l. deeply cordate, sinuately toothed; petioles wingless, whence the name. Sikkim Himalayas, 1882.
A. Walkeræ (Mrs. Walker's).* fl.-heads slender, distant, shortly stalked, borne in erect or somewhat nodding racemes; the white corolla-lobes and the red purple anthers make a pretty contrast. h. about 1ft. Hong Kong, 1875. A very rare and graceful species.
AIR. Pure atmospheric air is composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and a very small quantity of carbonic acid gas, all of which are essential to the growth of plants. Air-giving is a term used by gardeners to lessen the temperature of a greenhouse, or to equalise it with that outside. See Ventilation.
AIRA (from aira, applied by the Greeks to Lolium temulentum). Hair Grass. ORD. Gramineæ. Chiefly hardy grasses, of agricultural value. Panicle loose; spikelet compressed, with two perfect flowers, and sometimes a neuter. Of easy culture, in ordinary garden soil. Sow seeds in spring.
A. flexuosa (waved).* The Waved Hair Grass. fl. shining brown; panicle erect, spreading, with waved angular branches and flower-stalks. l. short. Stem upwards of 1ft. high, erect, smooth. England. A very pretty and graceful perennial.
FIG. 54. AIRA PULCHELLA.
A. pulchella (pretty).* fl. panicles loose, very delicate and graceful. l. very short. h. 6in. to 8in. South Europe. An elegant plant, with tufted filiform stems. One of the best of dwarf-growing ornamental grasses. See Fig. 54.
AIR-PLANT. See Aerides, also Epiphytes.
AITONIA (in honour of W. Aiton, once Head Gardener at Kew). ORD. Meliaceæ. A small and rather interesting greenhouse evergreen shrub from the Cape of Good Hope, and thriving well in an equal mixture of sandy loam and peat. Young cuttings will root in sand, under a bell glass, with bottom heat. The cuttings must not be put in very close together, and the glass should be wiped frequently, as they are apt to damp off.
A. capensis (Cape). fl. pink; petals four, shorter than the projecting stamens. July. h. 2ft. 1777.
AIZOON (from aei, always, and zoos, alive; tenacious of life). ORD. Portulacaceæ. Greenhouse annuals, biennials, or evergreen shrubs. Flowers apetalous; calyx five-cleft, coloured on the inner surface. The undermentioned species is the only one worth growing. It requires no shade, a dry atmosphere, and light sandy soil. Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
A. sarmentosum (sarmentose). fl. greenish, sessile. Summer. l. opposite, linear-filiform, rather connate, glabrous; branches rather villous, three-flowered at the apex, the two lateral flowers are bracteated, and spring from the sides of the middle one. Sub-shrub, erect, diffuse, glabrous, branched. South Africa, 1862.
AJAVA SEED. See Ptychotis.
AJAX MAXIMUS. See Narcissus.
AJOWAN. See Ptychotis.
AJUGA (from a, not, and zugon, a yoke; in reference to the calyx being equal, not bilabiate). Bugle. ORD. Labiatæ. Hardy annual or perennial herbaceous plants, usually procumbent or ascending, sometimes stoloniferous. Whorls two or many flowered, dense, sometimes all axillary, when the floral leaves conform to those of the stem; sometimes the superior whorls are approximate into spikes, then the floral leaves are small, and of a different form from the stem ones. All the species are of easy cultivation in ordinary garden soil. Perennials increased by divisions, or by seeds sown in the open border, during spring or autumn. The seeds of annual kinds may be sown in the open border in spring, where they are intended to remain.
A. alpina (alpine). Synonymous with A. genevensis.
A. australis (southern). fl. blue; whorls six or more flowered; lower whorls remote, upper ones sub-spicate, floral leaves similar to the stem ones, exceeding the flowers. May to July. l. narrow-oblong, narrowed at the base, quite entire or sinuated, thickish, rather villous. Stem ascending, or erect. h. 6in. New Holland, 1822. Perennial.
A. Chamæpitys (ground-pine). fl. yellow, dotted with red, pubescent outside; whorls two-flowered; floral leaves similar to the others, exceeding the flowers. April. l. deeply trifid, with linear, quite entire, or trifid lobes. Stem procumbent at the base, much branched, beset with long hairs, like the leaves. h. about 6in. England (rare). Annual.
A. genevensis (Geneva).* fl. varying from blue to rose colour and white; upper whorls spicate, lower ones distant, six or more flowered. May. l. stem ones oblong-elliptic or obovate, narrowed at the base; lower ones petiolate; floral ones ovate or cuneated; superior ones scarcely equalling the flowers or shorter, all usually coarsely toothed, membranaceous, green on both surfaces, and beset with scattered hairs. Stem erect, pilose. h. 6in. to 1ft. Europe. A very variable species, admirably adapted as an alpine plant, and succeeds best in bog soil, where its roots will have plenty of room; it increases rapidly. Perennial. SYNS. A. alpina, A. rugosa.
A. orientalis (oriental).* fl. blue; whorls six or more flowered, distant, or the upper ones are approximate. May. l. lower ones large, petiolate; ovate, coarsely and sinuately toothed, narrowed at the base; floral ones sessile, broad ovate, deeply lobed or toothed, exceeding the flowers. Stem ascending, pilosely woolly. h. 1ft. to 1½ft. Eastern Europe, 1732. This species should be grown in a dry, sunny spot.
A. pyramidalis (pyramidal).* fl. blue or purple; whorls many-flowered, upper ones or all spicate. May and June. l. stem ones approximate, scarcely petiolate, obovate; floral ones broad-ovate, clasping the flowers, tetragonally pyramidate; the upper ones often coloured, all quite entire or obscurely sinuated. Stem erect. h. 6in. Scotland. Perennial. Of this there are several handsome garden varieties.
FIG. 55. FLOWER OF AJUGA REPTANS.
A. reptans (creeping).* fl. varying from blue to rose-colour; lower whorls remote; upper ones spicate, six to twenty flowered. May. l. ovate or obovate, quite entire or sinuated, and are, as well as the stem, nearly glabrous; radical one petiolate, stem ones nearly sessile. Stem creeping. The variegated and darkest leaved forms of this are superior to the type for horticultural purposes. Britain. Perennial. See Fig. 55.
A. rugosa (wrinkled). Synonymous with A. genevensis.
AKEBIA (its Japanese name). SYN. Rajania. ORD. Lardizabalaceæ. A pretty twining shrub, succeeding well in the south-western counties of England, or in Scotland, trained to a trellis, or rambling over other shrubs in the open; but, when so grown, it requires the protection of a mat in winter. It makes an excellent twiner for the cool greenhouse. Sandy loam, leaf soil, and peat are most suitable for its culture. Increased by root divisions and cuttings.
A. quinata (five-leafletted).* fl. purplish brown, small, in axillary racemes, very fragrant. March. l. on very slender petioles, and palmately divided into usually five distinct petiolulate oval or oblong emarginate leaflets, the bottom pair smallest. h. 10ft. Chusan, 1845.
AKEE-TREE. See Blighia sapida.
ALA. A lateral petal of a papilionaceous flower.
ALANGIACEÆ. A very small order of trees or shrubs, usually with inconspicuous flowers, in axillary fascicles. Fruit succulent, eatable. The two genera best known in this country are Alangium and Nyssa.
ALANGIUM (from Alangi, the Malabar name of the first species). ORD. Alangiaceæ. Very showy stove evergreen trees, with alternate, exstipulate, entire leaves. Flowers few, sessile, in axillary fascicles; calyx campanulate; petals linear, spreadingly reflexed. They thrive well in a mixture of loam and peat, or any light rich soil. Cuttings root readily if planted in a pot of sand, with a hand glass placed over them, in heat.
A. decapetalum (ten-petaled).* fl. pale purple, with a grateful scent, solitary, or two to three together in the axils of the leaves; petals ten or twelve. June. l. alternate, oblong-lanceolate, quite entire; branches glabrous, spinescent. h. 30ft. Malabar, 1779.
A. hexapetalum (six-petaled). fl. purple, six-petaled. l. ovate-lanceolate, acuminated, velvety beneath. h. 30ft. Malabar, 1823.
ALATUS. Furnished with a membranous or thin wing or expansion.
ALBESCENT. Growing white.
ALBICANT. Growing whitish.
ALBINISM. A pale condition due to the absence of chlorophyl.
ALBIZZIA (named after an Italian). ORD. Leguminosæ. Ornamental greenhouse or hardy trees or shrubs. For culture, see Acacia, to which they are often referred.
A. Julibrissin (Julibrissin). fl. white; heads pedunculate, forming a terminal somewhat corymbose panicle. August. l. with eight to twelve pairs of pinnæ, each pinna bearing about thirty pairs of dimidiate-oblong, acute, rather ciliated leaflets. h. 30ft. to 40ft. Hardy. Levant, 1745. SYN. A. Nemu.
A. lophantha (crest-flowered).* fl. yellow; racemes ovate-oblong, axillary, twin. May. l. with eight to ten pairs of pinnæ, each pinna bearing twenty-five to thirty pairs of linear, bluntish leaflets; petioles and calyces clothed with velvety down. h. 6ft. to 10ft. New Holland, 1803. A very distinct unarmed greenhouse species, and one of the best for window gardening.
A. Nemu. A synonym of A. Julibrissin.
ALBUCA (from albicans, or albus, white; the colour of the earlier species). ORD. Liliaceæ. A rather extensive genus of Cape of Good Hope bulbs, requiring ordinary greenhouse culture. Closely allied to Ornithogalum. Perianth six-cleft, three outer segments spreading; three inner ones closed over the stamens. They, however, succeed admirably when grown in a warm sunny position out of doors, if covered with a hand glass, or litter, during winter. A light loamy soil, with leaf mould and sand, suits them well. Propagated by offsets from the old bulb, or seeds. There are but few species worthy of cultivation.
A. angolensis (Angolan). fl. yellowish, large, in cylindrical racemes 1ft. to 1½ft. long. l. linear-lorate, sub-erect, fleshy, pale green, 1½ft. to 2ft. long. h. 3ft. Angola.
A. aurea (yellow).* fl. pale yellow, upright; peduncle very long, erect, spreading. June. l. linear-lanceolate, flat. h. 2ft. 1818.
A. fastigiata (peaked).* fl. white; peduncle very long, spreading. May. l. linear, flattish, longer than the scape. h. 1½ft. 1774.
A. flaccida (weak). fl. pale yellow, with a green keel, drooping, six to eight in a loose raceme; peduncles spreading at right angles. July. l. lanceolate-linear, obliquely bent. h. 2ft. 1791.
A. Nelsoni (Nelson's).* fl., perianth, 1½in. long, ascending, white, with a dull red stripe down the back of each segment; scape stout, 4ft. to 5ft. high. Summer. l. bright green, very concave at the basal part, nearly flat in the upper part, 3ft. to 3½ft. long, l¼in. to 2¼in. broad, at about one-third the way up, whence they are gradually narrowed to an acute point. Natal, 1880. This very handsome species is the best of the genus.
ALBUMEN. The substance under the inner coat of the testa of seeds, surrounding the embryo. It is sometimes absent.
ALBUMINOUS. Furnished with albumen.
ALBURNUM. The white wood of a tree; the younger wood, not choked up by sedimentary deposit, and therefore permeable to fluids.
ALCHEMILLA (from Alkemelyeh, the Arabic name of one of the species). Lady's Mantle. ORD. Rosaceæ. Hardy herbaceous perennials, with corymbose, apetalous flowers; calyx tubular, with the tube rather contracted at the apex. Leaves palmate or lobed. Of very easy culture, in common, but well drained soil. They are well adapted for rockwork and planting near the front of borders. Easily increased by divisions of the roots, and seeds. All here described are hardy, except A. sibbaldiæfolia.
A. alpina (alpine).* fl. greenish, small; corymbose. June. l. digitate; leaflets five to seven, lanceolate-cuneated, obtuse, serrated, clothed with white satiny down beneath. h. 6in. Britain.
A. pubescens (pubescent). fl. greenish; corymbs terminal, crowded, clothed with a coating of long weak hairs. June. l. roundish-reniform, seven-lobed, toothed, silky beneath. h. 6in. to 8in. Caucasus (Higher), 1813.
A. sericea (silky).* fl. greenish, corymbose. June. l. digitate; leaflets seven, lanceolate-obovate, obtuse, connected at the base, serrated at the apex, clothed with satiny down beneath. h. about 6in. Caucasus, 1813. Much larger in every part than A. alpina, to which it is closely allied.
A. Sibbaldiæfolia (Sibbaldia-leaved). fl. white, conglomerate; stem corymbosely many-flowered at the apex. July. l. deeply three-parted, clothed with adpressed pubescence beneath; segments deeply serrated, lateral ones bifid. h. 6in. Mexico, 1823. A greenhouse species, which should be grown in small well-drained pots, with a mixture of leaf soil and sandy loam.
ALDEA. A synonym of Phacelia (which see).
ALDER. See Alnus.
ALETRIS (from aletron, meal; referring to the powdery appearance of the whole plant). The American Star Grass. SYN. Tritonia. ORD. Hæmodoraceæ. Interesting hardy herbaceous perennials, closely allied to the Amaryllids. Perianth half-inferior, tubular; limb spreading or funnel-shaped; stamens inserted at base of perianth segments, filaments flat. They delight in a sunny but damp situation, with peat, leaf mould, and sand, and are slowly increased by division of the roots.
A. aurea (golden).* fl. yellow, bell-shaped. h. 1ft. to 2ft. North America, 1811. Similar in habit to A. farinosa.
A. capensis (Cape). See Veltheimia viridifolia.
A. farinosa (mealy).* fl. white, bell-shaped, in a terminal spiked raceme, upon stems 1½ft. to 2ft. high. l. lanceolate, ribbed. North America, 1768. A pretty species, forming a spreading tuft, and possessing intensely bitter properties.
ALEURITES (from the Greek word signifying floury; all the parts of the plant seeming to be dusted with a farinaceous substance). ORD. Euphorbiaceæ. A handsome stove evergreen tree, with small, white, clustered flowers. Leaves alternate, stalked, exstipulate. Of easy culture in a loamy soil. Ripe cuttings, with their leaves untouched, root readily in sand, under a hand-glass.
A. triloba (three-lobed).* Candleberry Tree. l. three-lobed, 4in. to 8in. long. h. 30ft. to 40ft. Moluccas and South Pacific Islands, 1793.
ALEXANDERS. See Smyrnium.
ALEXANDRIAN LAUREL. See Ruscus racemosus.
ALGAROBA BEAN, or CAROB. See Ceratonia.
ALGAROBIA. Included under Prosopis (which see).
ALHAGI (its Arabian name). ORD. Leguminosæ. Manna Tree. Greenhouse shrubs or sub-shrubs, with simple leaves, and minute stipulas. Flowers few, in clusters. They thrive in pots filled with a mixture of sand, loam, and peat. Young cuttings will root in sand, with a bell glass placed over them, in heat; but by seeds, if they can be procured, sown in a hotbed, is a preferable mode of increasing the plants. They may be placed out of doors during the summer months.
A. camelorum (camels). fl. red, few, disposed in racemes along the peduncles. July. l. lanceolate, obtuse, simple; stipulas minute. Stem herbaceous. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Caucasus, 1816.
A. maurorum (Moors'). fl. purple in the middle, and reddish about the edges, disposed in racemes along the axillary, spinose peduncles. July. l. obovate-oblong, simple; spines strong, and longer than those of the above species. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Egypt, &c. The Manna is a natural exudation from the branches and leaves of this shrub, which takes place only in very hot weather.
ALIBERTIA (in honour of M. Alibert, a celebrated French chemist, author of "Traite des Fievres Attaxiques," wherein he mentions the effects of Peruvian bark). ORD. Cinchonaceæ. A small stove evergreen tree, very ornamental when in flower. Flowers solitary or fascicled, diœcious; corolla leathery, tubular. A mixture of loam and peat is the best soil. Cuttings strike root freely, in a similar kind of soil, under a hand glass, in a moist heat.
A. edulis (edible). fl. cream-coloured, solitary or in fascicles, terminating the branches, almost sessile. June. fr. edible. l. opposite, leathery, oblong, acuminated, shining above, and bearded in the axils of the veins beneath. h. 12ft. Guiana, 1823.
ALICANT SODA. See Salsola.
ALISMA. (from alis, the Celtic word for water). Water Plantain. SYN. Actinocarpus. ORD. Alismaceæ. A genus entirely composed of hardy aquatic species. Flowers three-petalled. Leaves parallel-veined. Increased by division or seeds. The latter should be sown in a pot immersed in water, filled with loam, peat, and sand, and the former root freely in a moist loamy soil. The British species are most easily grown.
