Part 16

=ALLAMANDA= (named in memory of Dr. Allamand, of Leyden, who first communicated seeds of this genus to Linnæus). ORD. _Apocynaceæ_. Elegant climbing evergreen stove plants. Peduncles terminal and many-flowered; corolla funnel-shaped, with a narrow tube, gamopetalous, large, inflated, five-cleft at the apex. Leaves verticillate. This genus differs from all others of the same order, in the figure of the corolla. Of comparatively easy culture. To obtain their beauty of foliage and flowers, the shoots should be tied to wires placed within 8in. or 9in. of the glass that forms the roof of the structure in which the plants are growing. Trained in this way, and the shoots allowed to ramble in a somewhat natural manner, the effect, when the plants are in flower, is grander and more pleasing in every respect than when the shoots are tied to a formal trellis, of whatever shape. When thoroughly established, they succeed admirably in a compost of three parts good fibry loam, and one part wood charcoal or coarse river sand, with some rotten cow manure added. When potting the plants, make the fresh compost firm round the old balls of soil, and do not fill the pots too full; leave room for plenty of water, as, when in active growth, they require a liberal daily supply. They must be pruned annually in January or February, cutting the previous year's shoots back to within a joint or two of the old wood. Allamandas should be exposed to the light as much as possible at all seasons of the year. In winter months they require but little water, but the drainage must always be perfect. They are remarkably free from insect attacks of any kind. It may be also observed that the temperature should never fall below 55deg. This genus is easily propagated by cuttings, which will root at any time of the year in a bottom heat of from 70deg. to 80deg. The usual time is, however, in spring, when the old plants are pruned back. Choose the tops of the shoots, retaining two or three joints to each cutting; place these in a compost of sand and peat or leaf mould in equal proportions, singly, in small pots. Press the soil firmly around each cutting, and, when all are inserted, give a good watering, and plunge the pots in the propagating bed. Attend to shading and watering, and in about three weeks' time they will have emitted roots, and started to grow at the tops. The pots should now be raised out of the plunging material, and placed upon the surface thereof, and there allowed to remain two or three weeks longer; when the young roots will have, by this time, filled the little pots, and a shift into the larger ones will be necessary. Return the plants to the propagating bed, but do not plunge them therein. As soon as it is certain that the roots have commenced growth in the fresh soil, pinch the point of each plant that is intended to be grown on a trellis. This will cause the remaining buds to push out fresh shoots; and these, as soon as they have made two joints or whorls of leaves each, should have their points pinched out also. By repotting the plants as often as they fill their pots with roots during the first season of their growth, and pinching the points out of the shoots twice or thrice in the same time, a good foundation will be formed, from which the future specimens will spring. In the case of plants intended to be trained up rafters or pillars, they should not have their points pinched out until they attain to the height where it is desirable they should have more than one shoot, and be repotted as recommended above, for the first year; but, after that, they will require to be repotted only once a year, and this should be done soon after the buds have started to grow afresh in the spring.

=A. Aubletii= (Aublet's).* _fl._ yellow, large. June. _l._ four to five in a whorl, broad-oblong, acuminated, rather hairy beneath. Guiana, 1848.

=A. cathartica= (purging).* _fl._ yellow, large. June. _l._ four in a whorl, obovate, obtuse, acutish, with sub-undulated edges, glabrous. Guiana, 1785. SYN. _A. Linnæi_.

=A. chelsoni= (Chelsea).* _fl._ yellow, large. Summer. This splendid plant is least suited of any for trellis training, from its wood being stiffer and harder, and is therefore best for the roof of a house; it is one of the best kinds for cutting. Garden hybrid.

=A. grandiflora= (large-flowered).* _fl._ distinct pale yellow, rather large, very free bloomer. June. Brazil, 1844.

=A. Linnæi= (Linnæus's). Synonymous with _A. cathartica_.

=A. neriifolia= (oleander-leaved).* _fl._ deep golden yellow, elegantly streaked with orange, between funnel and bell shaped, the tube being wide, 1in. long; panicle many-flowered. June. _l._ oblong, on short petioles, acuminate. _h._ 3ft. South America, 1847. Shrub erect, glabrous.

=A. nobilis= (noble).* _fl._ bright yellow, rather deeper tinted in the throat, large, full circular form, but without streaks or any other markings. July. _l._ in whorls of four or of three, tapered to the base, sessile, oblong, abruptly acuminate, membranaceous, hairy on both surfaces, especially beneath and on the midrib. Brazil, 1867. One of the best species.

=A. Schottii= (Schott's).* _fl._ yellow, large, throat beautifully striped with rich brown. September. _l._ oblong, acuminated, four in a whorl, quite glabrous, on both surfaces. _h._ 10ft. Brazil, 1847. This species is a very strong grower, and suits the roof system best; it is also a very free bloomer.

=A. verticillata= (whorl-leaved). _fl._ yellow, large. June. _l._ usually six in a whorl, ovate-oblong, obtuse, quite glabrous. South America, 1812.

=A. violacea= (violet). _fl._ purple. Brazil, 1859.

=ALLANTODIA= (from _allantos_, a sausage; in reference to the cylindrical form of the indusium). ORD. _Filices_. A greenhouse monotypic genus, differing from _Asplenium_ in the dehiscence of the involucre, and it may receive similar treatment to the Spleenworts. Sori dorsal, linear-oblong, attached to the primary veins. Involucre the same shape as the sorus and quite inclosing it, bursting in an irregular line down to the centre.

=A. Brunoniana= (Brown's).* _fronds_ often 1ft. to 2ft. long, 1/2ft. to 1ft. broad; pinnæ 3in. to 6in. long, 1in. broad, entire. _sori_ confined to the anterior vein of the first fork. Himalayas, up to 6000ft., &c. SYN. _Asplenium javanicum_.

=ALLARDTIA.= _See_ =Tillandsia=.

=ALLEYS.= Small walks of various widths, but generally 1-1/2ft. or 2ft. wide, and formed in right lines, parallel to the main walks, or borders, sometimes covered with a thin coat of sand, gravel, or shells, or paved with flints, pebbles, &c. Spaces left between beds of seedling plants are generally meant when alleys are referred to.

=ALL-HEAL.= _See_ =Prunella vulgaris=.

=ALLIACEOUS.= Pertaining to the _Garlic_ family.

=ALLIARIA.= _See_ =Sisymbrium=.

=ALLIGATOR APPLE.= _See_ =Anona palustris=.

=ALLIGATOR PEAR.= _See_ =Persea gratissima=.

=ALLIUM= (from _all_, meaning hot or burning; in allusion to the well-known properties of the Onion tribe). Including _Porrum_, _Schœnoprasum_. ORD. _Liliaceæ_. Hardy bulbous plants, with flat or terete radical leaves, and capitate or umbellate flowers, enclosed in a membranous spathe at the summit of a slender, naked, or leafy scape; perianth spreading or campanulate. They are of very easy culture, increasing rapidly by offsets. The little bulbs, which are produced in clusters, may be separated and replanted, in autumn or early spring, about 4in. deep. Seeds are also easily obtainable. These may be sown thinly in light soil, in February or March, where they should remain until the autumn or following spring, when they may be transplanted to their flowering situations. During the growing season, all the attention required will be to keep the plants free of weeds, and place stakes to the tall-growing kinds.

=A. acuminatum= (taper-pointed).* _fl._ deep rose, 1/2in. to 1in. across, in many-flowered umbels. July and August. _l._ rather shorter than the stems, very narrow, only about a line wide. _h._ 6in. to 10in. North-West America, 1840.

=A. a. rubrum= (red). _fl._ deep red-purple; in other respects like the type. California.

=A. ascalonicum= (Eschallot). _fl._ purple; umbels globose; scape rounded. Summer. _l._ subulate. _h._ 9in. Palestine, 1546. For culture, _see_ =Eschallot=.

=A. azureum= (sky-blue).* _fl._ deep sky-blue, with a dark line through the middle of each division; umbels dense, globular, longer than the spathes which envelop them before expanding. Summer. _l._ triangular, from 6in. to 12in. long. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. Siberia, 1830. One of the handsomest species grown.

=A. Bidwelliæ= (Mrs. Bidwell's).* _fl._ bright rose, about 1/2in. across, in few-flowered umbels. July. _l._ narrow, rather longer than the stem. _h._ 2in. to 3in. Sierra Nevada, 1880. A very charming little species for the rockery.

=A. Breweri= (Brewer's).* _fl._ deep rose, nearly or quite 1in. across, in few-flowered umbels. July. _l._ much longer than the flower-stem, 1/4in. or more broad. _h._ 1in. to 3in. California, 1882.

=A. Cepa= (common Onion). _fl._ white; scape ventricose, longer than the leaves. June, July. _l._ fistular, rounded. _h._ 3ft. For culture, _see_ =Onion=.

=A. C. aggregatum.= Aggregated, Tree, or Potato Onion. _See_ =Onion=.

=A. cœruleum= (blue-flowered).* _fl._ blue, in large compact globular heads. June. _h._ 8in. Russia, 1840. Very distinct.

=A. Douglasii= (Douglas'). Synonymous with _A. unifolium_.

=A. Erdelii= (Erdel's). _fl._ white, keeled with green, in compact umbels. _h._ 6in. Palestine, 1879. A rare but pretty species, and should be planted in a warm position on the rockery.

=A. falcifolium= (sickle-leaved).* _fl._ pale rose, 1/2in. to 3/4in. across, in few-flowered umbels. August. _l._ two in number, thick, broadly linear, falcate. _h._ 2in. to 3in. North-West America, 1880.

=A. falciforme= (sickle-formed). Probably a variety of _A. unifolium_, with pure white flowers, in several-flowered umbels. _h._ 6in. California, 1882.

=A. flavum= (golden). _fl._ yellow, bell-shaped, and somewhat drooping, in pretty umbels; scape leafy at the base. _l._ round, not hollow, flattish above the base. _h._ about 1ft. Italy, 1759. A slender species.

=A. fragrans.= _See_ =Nothoscordum=.

=A. karataviense= (Karatavian). _fl._ white, in dense globose heads. May. _l._ very broad, flat, glaucous, sometimes variegated. _h._ 6in. Turkestan, 1878.

=A. Macnabianum= (MacNab's).* _fl._ deep magenta, a colour quite unique in this family, in large umbels. _l._ nearly as long as the stem, channelled, about 1/4in. broad. _h._ 1ft. North America.

=A. magicum= (enchanting). Synonymous with _A. nigrum_.

=A. Moly= (Moly).* _fl._ bright yellow, numerous, in compact umbels. Spring. _l._ few, broadly lanceolate. Stem sub-cylindrical. _h._ 10in. to 15in. South Europe, 1604. A very old favourite; bright-flowered and very fine in masses. See Fig. 58.

=A. Murrayanum= (Murray's).* _fl._ rosy purple, in large heads. _l._ narrow, longer than the stem. _h._ 1ft. North America. A good variety of _A. acuminatum_.

=A. mutabile= (changeable). _fl._ white, changing to rose, in many-flowered umbels. July. _l._ shorter than the stem, narrow, channelled. _h._ 12in. to 24in. North America, 1824.

=A. neapolitanum= (Neapolitan).* _fl._ white, with green stamens, numerous, in a loose umbel, on stems exceeding the leaves in length; pedicels much longer than the flowers. Early summer. _l._ two or three, sheathing the flower stem, strap-shaped, about 1in. across. _h._ 15in. to 18in. South Europe, 1823. Probably the most ornamental white-flowered species.

=A. nevadense= (Sierra Nevada). _fl._ white, or pale rose, about 1/2in. across, in several-flowered umbels. July. _l._ flat, rather longer than the stem, about 1/4in. wide. _h._ 3in. to 6in. Sierra Nevada and Utah, 1882.

=A. nigrum= (blackish).* _fl._ dull violet, or whitish, with a green vein, very numerous, in a large umbel. Summer. _l._ thick, broadly lanceolate, acute, ciliated, toothed at the edges, at first erect and glaucescent, afterwards green and spreading, much shorter than the stem. _h._ 2-1/2ft. to 3-1/4ft. South of Europe. Very vigorous and free flowering. SYN. _A. magicum_.

=A. paradoxum= (wonderful). _fl._ white, gracefully pendulous, borne on long footstalks springing from little nests of yellow bulbils. Spring. _l._ one or two, as long as the scape, linear-lanceolate, acute, keeled, striated, smooth, 1/4in. broad, drooping and recurved. _h._ 9in. to 14in. Siberia, 1823.

=A. pedemontanum= (Piedmont).* _fl._ rosy-purple, large, bell-shaped, in large, graceful drooping clusters. July. _l._ lanceolate, shorter than the stem. Piedmont, 1817. A neat little plant for rockwork, or warm border. One of the handsomest species grown.

=A. reticulatum= (netted). _fl._ varying from pink to white. Summer. _l._ narrow, or almost filiform, shorter than the stem. _h._ 9in. to 15in. North-West America, 1882. A rare species.

=A. r. attenuifolium= (attenuate-leaved).* This may be regarded as an extremely handsome white-flowered variety. North-West America.

=A. roseum= (rose-coloured).* _fl._ pale lilac-rose, large, in umbels of ten or twelve; stems round, rather longer than the leaves. Summer. _l._ strap-shaped, channelled, rolled inwards at the top, not hairy. _h._ 12in. to 16in. South Europe, 1752.

=A. sativum= (cultivated). Garlic. _fl._ white; umbel bulbiferous. Summer. _l._ flat. _h._ 1-1/2ft. Sicily, 1548. For culture, _see_ =Garlic=.

=A. schœnoprasum= (rush-leaved onion). Chives. _fl._ purple; umbel many-flowered, globose, without bulbils. June and July. _l._ cylindrical, somewhat tapering towards the point; stem with one leaf, or naked. _h._ 1ft. England. For cultivation, _see_ =Chives=.

=A. Scorodoprasum.= Rocambole; Sand Leek. _fl._, perianth 1/3in. long, the segments red-purple, with white margins; head loose-flowered, with purple bulbils; scape slender. May to August. _l._ 6in. to 8in. long, flat, keeled, the edges scabrid. _h._ 3ft. Europe (Britain), 1596. _See also_ =Rocambole=.

=A. sphærocephalum= (globe-headed).* _fl._ densely packed in a subspherical head; in a bud state the upper ones are reddish-purple, the lower green. June. _l._ narrow, shorter than the long terete stems. _h._ 1-1/2ft. to 2-1/2ft. South Europe, 1759.

=A. stramineum= (straw-coloured). _fl._ yellow, in dense globular umbels. July. _l._ narrow, shorter than the stems. _h._ 1-1/2ft. to 2ft. Siberia.

=A. striatum= (striated). _See_ =Nothoscordum=.

=A. triquetrum= (three-cornered). _fl._ white, somewhat bell-shaped, with a narrow streak of pure green down each petal, in a loose, slightly drooping umbel, on erect triangular stems shorter than the leaves. Summer. _l._ green, broadly strap-shaped, keeled in a triangular manner, sometimes very long. _h._ 12in. to 18in. South Europe, 1789.

=A. unifolium= (one-leaved). _fl._ bright rose. July. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. California, 1873. A handsome species, from California, resembling _A. roseum_, but differing from all known species by the circumstance that its bulbs are developed at a distance from each other, and are connected by a thread-like rhizome, 1/2in. to 1in. long. SYN. _A. Douglasii_.

=A. ursinum= (bear). Broad-leaved Garlic; Ramsons. _fl._ pure white, with acute perianth segments; umbel level at top; scape triangular. Summer. _l._ one or two, radical, ovate-lanceolate, stalked, large, bright green. _h._ 1ft. Britain. See Fig. 59.

=A. validum= (strong). _fl._ pure white or rose-coloured, in large, rather drooping umbels. Summer. _l._ 1/4in. to 1/2in. broad, nearly as long as the stem. _h._ 12in. to 30in. Oregon and California, 1881. A pretty species.

=A. Victorialis= (Victoria's). _fl._ greenish-white, in many-flowered, spicate umbels. May. _l._ broadly ovate-oblong, channelled, shorter than the stem. _h._ 1-1/2ft. to 2ft. Southern and Eastern Europe, 1739. Conspicuous from its broad leaves. Rare.

=ALLOBROGIA.= A synonym of =Paradisia= (which _see_).

=ALLOCHLAMYS.= A synonym of =Pleuropetalum= (which _see_).

=ALLOPHYLLUS.= A synonym of =Schmidelia= (which _see_).

=ALLOPLECTUS= (from _allos_, diverse, and _pleco_, to plait; the calyx appears as if it was plaited in diverse directions). ORD. _Gesneraceæ_. Very handsome stove evergreen shrubs. Corolla tubular or club-shaped, straightish; calyx coloured. Leaves opposite, one in each pair smaller than the other, petiolate, fleshy, scattered or decumbent, or erect, the under surface generally reddish; branches opposite. For cultivation, _see_ =Gesnera=.

=A. bicolor= (two-coloured). _fl._ yellow, purple; corolla pilose; pedicels axillary, one-flowered. June. _l._ ovate, oblong, acuminate, denticulate, pilose above, downy beneath; branches tetragonal. _h._ 1ft. New Grenada, 1840. Plant erect, rather woody.

=A. capitatus= (headed). _fl._ capitate; sepals red, leafy; corolla silky, ventricose above the middle; peduncles axillary. March. _l._ large, ovate, serrated, downy, reddish beneath. Stem bluntly tetragonal, red. _h._ 2ft. South America, 1847.

=A. dichrous= (two-coloured). _fl._ purple, yellow, axillary, crowded, nearly sessile. _l._ ovate-lanceolate, quite entire, pubescent. Brazil, 1845. A climber.

=A. peltatus= (peltate-leaved).* _fl._ whitish, about 2in. long, in axillary tufts. August. _l._ opposite, one is 1in. to 2in. long, and the other 6in. to 9in. long, and 2in. wide, oblong, shortly acuminate, rounded, peltate at the base, and raised on stout footstalks, 1in. to 2in. long. _h._ 1ft. Costa Rica, 1877.

=A. repens= (creeping). _fl._ yellow; corolla with curved tube, four lobed; sepals ovate, spotted; peduncles axillary, solitary. February. _l._ ovate, rather fleshy, serrate, on short petioles. St. Martha, 1845. Plant downy; an evergreen trailer.

=A. vittatus= (striped). _fl._, calyx crimson; corolla pale yellow; terminal and fasciculate, surrounded by vivid red foliaceous bracts. _l._ large, shortly-stalked, broadly-ovate, of a deep velvety green, having a broad greyish-green band down the centre, branching off along the course of the principal veins. Stems erect, fleshy. Peru, 1870.

=A. zamorensis= (Zamora).* _fl._ yellow; sepals orange-red. _h._ 1ft. Columbia, 1875.

=ALLOSORUS.= _See_ =Cryptogramme= and =Pellæa=.

=ALLOTMENT GARDENS.= A system of assigning small portions of land to be cultivated by labourers after their ordinary day's work.

The following are the most important rules to be carried out; but, should occasion arise, other rules must be made to meet particular cases:--

1. Each Allotment should consist of a rood of land (=1/4 acre) to be let yearly at a rent of not more than 10s.

2. The Allotment to be let for one year only, to be re-let to the same occupier, provided his character has been satisfactory during the preceding year.

3. The rent shall be considered due at Michaelmas. If it remains unpaid for one month after that date, the Allotment shall be forfeited.

4. The Allotment to be cultivated solely by spade husbandry, and the same crop shall not be planted on the same part two years in succession.

5. Separate Allotments shall be divided by a space not less than 18in.

6. Any occupier trespassing on his neighbour's Allotment, or in any way interfering or damaging the same, shall not be allowed to hold his Allotment after the expiration of the year.

=ALLSPICE.= _See_ =Calycanthus=.

=ALLSPICE TREE.= _See_ =Pimenta=.

=ALMEIDEA= (in honour of J. R. P. de Almeida, a Brazilian, who was of great assistance to St. Hilaire while travelling in Brazil). ORD. _Rutaceæ_. Stove trees or shrubs with alternate, simple, entire, stalked leaves. Racemes terminal, divided at the apex into compound thyrse-like panicles. The undermentioned species will grow freely in a mixture of loam, sand, and peat. Partly ripened cuttings will root in sand under a hand glass, in heat.

=A. rubra= (red). _fl._ pink; petals very blunt; racemes compound. September. _l._ lanceolate, acute at base. _h._ 12ft. Brazil, 1849. Evergreen shrub.

=ALMOND.= _See_ =Amygdalus=.

=ALMOND-LEAVED WILLOW.= _See_ =Salix triandra=.

=ALNUS= (from _al_, near, and _lan_, the bank of a river; general habitat of the genus). The Alder Tree. ORD. _Betulaceæ_. A genus of deciduous trees and shrubs. Flowers monœcious; barren ones in long drooping autumnal catkins, lasting through the winter; fertile ones, produced in spring, in oval catkins, resembling a fir-cone in shape, the fleshy scales of which become indurated and ligneous as they approach maturity. Leaves stalked, roundish, blunt. Propagated usually by seeds, which are gathered towards the end of October; they require to be well dried, in order that the cones do not become mouldy. The seeds are sprinkled lightly on the ground with the slightest possible covering. Towards the end of the year, the seedlings will be about 10in. high. They are then planted in rows 1-1/2ft. apart, and 6in. from each other, where they may remain for two years, after which they can be placed out in the situations where they are intended to stand. Planting is best done in November or March; and, if it is designed to make a plantation of Alder, the young trees should be put in holes, made with an ordinary garden spade, about 9in. deep, and about 4ft. apart. They are also increased, but rarely, by cuttings, by suckers, and by grafting.

=A. cordifolia= (heart-shaped-leaved).* _fl._ greenish-brown. March and April, before the development of the leaves. _l._ heart-shaped, acuminate, dark green, and shining. _h._ 15ft. to 50ft. Calabria and Naples, 1820. A large, very distinct, and handsome round-headed tree. It grows rapidly in dry soil, and is one of the most interesting of ornamental trees.

=A. firma= (firm).* _l._ oval lanceolate, acuminate, sharply serrated, many-nerved. Japan. One of the most distinct of all the Alders.

=A. glutinosa= (sticky).* _barren catkins_ long, large, and cylindrical, pendent, their footstalks branched. _fertile catkins_ small, ovate, with deep red scales. Spring. _l._ roundish-cuneiform, obtuse lobed at the margin, and serrated, somewhat glutinous, downy in the axils of the nerves beneath. _h._ 50ft. to 60ft. Britain. The Alder affects moist and damp situations, and, as it grows quickly, it is a useful tree to plant in bare situations. It is valuable as a nurse to other trees by the sea-side. See Fig. 60.

=A. g. aurea= (golden).* Foliage golden colour.

=A. g. incisa= (incised).* Compact form, with leaves quite like those of common hawthorn. SYN. _A. g. oxyacanthifolia_.

=A. g. laciniata= (cut).* _l._ oblong and pinnatifid, with the lobes acute. This has elegant drooping branches and fern-like leaves, and is one of the best.

=A. g. oxyacanthifolia= (sharp-prickled). Synonymous with _A. g. incisa_.

=A. g. quercifolia= (oak-leaved).* _l._ with a sinuate outline, like that of the common oak. A very distinct form. The variety _imperialis_ (=_asplenifolia_) slightly differs in its more or less lobed or cut foliage; _A. g. variegata_ is a variegated form.