Part 14

=A. macracantha= (long-spined).* _fl._ greenish, 2in. long, ten to twelve in a loose raceme 6in. long, all solitary on ascending pedicels 1/4in. to 1/2in. 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 1-1/2in. broad, very stiff and rigid, very glaucous; face rather thicker in the lower half; terminal spine nearly black, very pungent, 1/2in. long; side prickles purplish-black, sub-distant, 1/8in. 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, 1-1/2ft. to 2ft. long, 1-3/4in. 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 1/4in. long. Mexico. A very distinct species.

=A. micracantha= (small-spined). _fl._ yellowish, 1-1/2in. 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, 1-1/2ft. to 2ft. long, 2in. to 2-1/2in. 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, 1-1/2in. 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, 2-1/2in. to 5in. broad above the middle, bright green, slightly glaucous when young; terminal spine dark brown, pungent, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long; side prickles crowded, deltoid, dark chestnut brown, irregular, 1/12in. or 1/8in. 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 1-1/2ft. long; 1-1/2in. 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 2-1/2ft. long, 7in. to 9in. broad above the middle, a dull glaucous green; face slightly concave; terminal spines hard, pungent, 1-1/2in. to 2in. long; side prickles deltoid-cuspidate, about 1/4in. 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, 1-1/2ft. 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 1-1/2in. 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, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long; side prickles copious, spreading, lanceolate, curved, 1/4in. long. Mexico, 1869.

=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 1-1/2in. to 2in. long, hard and pungent; side prickles 1/4in. 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, 1-1/2in. 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, 1-1/2ft. 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, 3/4in. 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, 2-1/2in. 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 1-1/2ft. 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 1/4in. 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 1-1/2ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 6in. to 9in. long, 3in. to 3-1/2in. 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, 1/2in. 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 3-1/2in. 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, 3-1/2in. to 4-1/2in. 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, 1/4in. to 1/2in. 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 2-1/2in. long, in a deltoid panicle, of which the lower panicles are 9in. to 12in. long, and bear a hundred flowers each; pedicels 1/4in. to 1in. long; scape 8ft. to 10ft. high, 2-1/2in. 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, 1/2in. long; side prickles distant, brown, hooked, 1/12in. to 1/8in. long. West Indies, 1678.

=A. striata= (striated-leaved).* _fl._ brownish green outside, yellow inside, 1in. to 1-1/2in. 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 2-1/2ft. long, 1/4in. to 3/8in. broad above the deltoid dilated base, where they are 1/4in. 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, 1/2in. long; edges minutely serrulate. Mexico, 1856.

=A. s. echinoides= (Echinus-like). _l._ about 6in. long, 1/3in. 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, 1/4in. 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, 1-1/2in. long (or less); spike 10ft. to 12ft. long, 6in. to 7in. thick; pedicels 1/4in. 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 2-1/2ft. 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, 1/8in. long, from 1/2in. to 1in. apart; terminal spine brown, pungent, 1in. long. Mexico, 1830.

=A. utahensis= (Utahan).* _fl._ yellowish, about 1in. long; peduncles ultimately 1/4in. 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, 1/8in. to 1/2in. 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 1-1/2in. 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, 1-1/2in. 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 1/2in. 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 1-1/4in. long; spike very loose, 1ft. to 1-1/2ft. long; lower flowers with very short pedicels and lanceolate bracts, about 1/4in. 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 1-1/2in. 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, 1-1/2in. 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, 1-1/2in. 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, 1/2in. 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._ 2-1/2in. 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 3-1/2in. 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 1/8in. 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, 1-1/2in. 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, 1-1/2ft. 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, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, and 3/8in. to 1/2in. 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_.

=A. yuccæfolia= (Yucca-leaved).* _fl._ greenish yellow, 1-1/4in. to 1-1/2in. 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, 1-1/2ft. to 2-1/2ft. long, 3/4in. 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._ 1-1/2ft. 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._ 1-1/2ft. 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.