Part 2

=A. pectinata= (comb-like).* _l._ linear, solitary, flat, obtuse, stiff, turned-up at the points, two-ranked, 1/2in. to 1in. long, shining green above, with two lines of silvery white on each side of the midrib beneath. _cones_ axillary, cylindrical, erect, 6in. to 8in. long, 1-1/2in. to 2in. broad, when ripe, brown; scales with a long dorsal bractea, 1/6in. to 1-1/4in. long, and 1-1/4in. broad. _h._ 80ft. to 100ft. A very noble silver fir, of slow growth when young only. Central Europe, 1603. There are several unimportant varieties of this splendid species.

=A. Pindrow= (Pindrow). In its native home, the Himalayas, this is a very beautiful tree, attaining the height of 150ft., but it has generally failed in England, in consequence of our late spring frosts destroying the young growth. It comes very near _A. Webbiana_, but is readily distinguished by its longer and more acutely bidented leaves, and smaller cones.

=A. Pinsapo= (Pinsapo).* The Spanish Silver Fir. _l._ linear, disposed around the branches, nearly terete, and entire at the apex, not quite 1/2in. long, bright green, with faint silvery lines on the inner side. _cones_ sessile, oval, or oblong, 4in. to 5-1/2in. long, about 2in. wide; bracts short, concealed by the broad rounded scales. _h._ 60ft. to 80ft. South Spain, 1839. A very magnificent species, very regular and symmetrical in habit. The one or two varieties offered for sale are not desirable.

=A. polita= (neat).* _l._ arranged spirally, short, erect, rigid, falcate, acute at the apex, tetragonal, but compressed. _cones_ ellipsoid, 3in. to 4in. long; scales light brown, coriaceous, minutely notched at the edge. Island of Nippon, 1861. This is a beautiful species, admirably adapted as a specimen tree for lawns.

=A. religiosa= (sacred). _l._ linear, acute, quite entire, 1-1/2in. long. _cones_ roundish-oval, 2-3/4in. long, and 2-1/2in. broad; scales trapezoided-cordate; bracts the length of the scapes, spathulate-oblong. _h._ 100ft. to 150ft. Mexico, 1839. A very handsome species, but not hardy in this country.

=A. sachalinensis= (Sachalin). _l._ in many rows, 1in. or very slightly more long, 1/12in. broad, twisted to one side, rigid, linear, obtuse. _cones_ sessile, erect, cylindrical, bluntly rounded at the apex, 3in. long, 1in. wide; scales transversely oblong, reniform; margin inflexed, denticulate; bracts 1/2in. wide, 1/4in. long, obovate, serrulate, terminating in a reflexed angular point, exceeding the scale. Japan, 1879. A tall pyramidal robust species.

=A. Schrenkiana= (Schrenk's). Synonymous with _Picea Schrenkiana_.

=A. sibirica= (Siberian). Like the last, this species is not recommended; its growth is very slow, even under the most favourable circumstances. Siberia.

=A. Smithiana= (Smith's). A synonym of _Picea Morinda_.

=A. subalpina= (sub-alpine).* On the high mountains of Colorado, &c., a tree 60ft. to 100ft. in height. Has not been long enough in English gardens for any decided opinion to be formed as to its merits as an ornamental tree.

=A. Tsuga= (Tsugan). A synonym of _Tsuga Sieboldi_.

=A. Veitchii= (Veitch's).* _l._ crowded, lateral ones spreading in a distichous manner, those on the upper side much shorter and pointing forwards, 1/2in. to 1in. long, linear, flat, glaucous above, silvery beneath; emarginate on the sterile branches, entire on the fertile ones. _cones_ erect, sub-cylindrical, purplish-brown, 2in. to 2-1/2in. long, 3/4in. to nearly 1in. wide; scales horizontal, reniform, densely packed, each enclosing a short, wedge-shaped bract as long as the scale. _h._ 120ft. to 140ft. Japan, 1860, and again in 1879. Described as a beautiful and interesting tree, as well as perfectly hardy; it should be planted on elevated spots open to the south or south-east.

=A. Webbiana= (Webb's).* _l._ two-rowed, linear, flat, obtusely emarginate, silvery beneath, 1-1/2in. to 2-1/2in. long. _cones_ cylindrical, 6-1/2in. to 7in. long, 2in. or more broad, deep purple; scales kidney-shaped, roundish, closely compressed, imbricated, about 1in. long, and 1-1/4in. broad; bracts oblong, apiculate. _h._ 70ft. to 90ft. Himalayan Mountains, 1822. A large handsome pyramidal tree, with numerous branches spreading horizontally, much divided, and densely clothed.

=A. Williamsoni= (Williamson's). A synonym of _Tsuga Pattoniana_.

=ABOBRA= (its Brazilian name). ORD. _Cucurbitaceæ_. A genus of stove or greenhouse plants, having solitary axillary diœcious flowers, and finely divided leaves. The only species in cultivation is a very pretty half-hardy climbing perennial, having a fleshy root about 1ft. or more beneath the surface of the soil. It thrives well in warm sunny spots, and in a light soil; seeds may be sown in pots or pans of light soil early in April; the young plants can be planted out about the middle of June. The fleshy tuberous roots may be stored during winter in a greenhouse or frame. _See_ also =Gourds=.

=A. viridiflora= (green-flowered). _fl._ pale green, fragrant; females succeeded by small oval scarlet fruits, which are about as large as a filbert. _l._ dark green, glossy, much divided into narrow segments. South America. A rapid growing plant, admirably adapted for training over arbours or trellis-work. It is a very pretty form of ornamental gourd.

=ABORTION.= An imperfect formation, or the non-formation of an organ; any fruit or produce that does not come to maturity, or anything which fails in its progress before it is matured, frequently from a defect in the male or female flowers.

=ABRAXAS GROSSULARIATA.= _See_ =Gooseberry or Magpie Moth=.

=ABRICOCK.= A former mode of writing Apricot.

=ABROMA= (from _a_, not, and _broma_, food; from its unwholesomeness). ORD. _Sterculiaceæ_. Handsome, free-flowering evergreen trees, with hairy lobed leaves, and extra axillary or terminal few-flowered peduncles. Of easy culture, in a stove temperature, in loam and peat soil. Propagated by seeds or cuttings, the former sown in March, the latter made in April from half-ripened wood, and placed under a bell glass.

=A. augusta= (smooth-stalked).* _fl._ dingy purple, drooping. August. _l._ lower, cordate, three to five lobed; upper, ovate-lanceolate, undivided. _h._ 10ft. East India, 1770.

=A. fastuosa= (prickly-stalked). _fl._ dark purple. June. _l._ lower, cordate, acutely five lobed; upper, ovate, entire. _h._ 10ft. New Holland, 1800.

=ABRONIA= (from _abros_, delicate; referring to its involucrum). Sand Verbena. ORD. _Nyctaginaceæ_. A small genus of seven species, mostly natives of California, four of which only are known in general cultivation. They are of a dwarf trailing habit, producing showy blossoms in dense verbena-like clusters. Corolla funnel-shaped; limb spreading. They succeed best in light sandy soil, in a position fully exposed; if well drained, the rockery is perhaps the best place. Increased by seeds, the outer skin of which should be peeled off before sowing; sow during autumn in pots of sandy soil, and keep in a frame until the following spring, when they may be placed in their flowering quarters; or by young cuttings, set in spring, and also in sandy soil.

=A. arenaria= (sand-loving).* _fl._ lemon-yellow, about 1/2in. long, in dense clusters, with a honey-like fragrance. July. _l._ broadly ovate, or reniform, on short, thick petioles. _h._ 9in. to 18in. 1865. Half-hardy perennial. SYN. _A. latifolia_.

=A. fragrans= (fragrant).* _fl._ pure white, in terminal and axillary clusters, very delicately perfumed, expanding in the evening. May. 1865. A perennial, more or less erect in growth, forming large branching tufts from 1ft. to 2ft. high. Imported seeds only of this species will grow.

=A. latifolia= (broad-leaved). A synonym of _A. arenaria_.

=A. pulchella= (pretty). _fl._ pink. July. _h._ 6in. 1848.

=A. rosea= (rose-coloured). _fl._ rose-coloured. June. _h._ 6in. 1847. An unimportant species.

=A. umbellata= (umbel-flowered).* _fl._ rosy pink, in dense terminal clusters, slightly scented. April. _l._ oval or oblong. _h._ 6in. to 24in. 1823. An elegant prostrate half-hardy annual; but under greenhouse culture it is a perennial. SYN. _Tricratus admirabilis_. See Fig 1.

=ABRUPT.= Suddenly terminating, as abruptly pinnate; when pinnate leaves are without a terminal or odd leaflet.

=ABRUS= (from _abros_, soft, in reference to the extreme softness of the leaves). ORD. _Leguminosæ_. A very ornamental and delicate much branched deciduous stove climber, whose roots have the virtues of the common liquorice. Leaves abruptly pinnate, bearing many pairs of leaflets. Requires a strong heat to keep it in a growing, healthy condition, and to flower it well; and thrives best in sandy loam. Increased by cuttings under a hand glass, in sand, or seeds raised in heat.

=A. precatorius= (prayer). _fl._ pale purple, butterfly-shaped, disposed in axillary clusters. Seeds bright scarlet, with a black spot at the base, used by the Buddhists for making rosaries, whence the specific name. March to May. _l._ leaflets ligulate, oblong. _h._ 12ft. East Indies, 1680. Varieties are now and then met with having rose coloured or white flowers.

=ABSORPTION.= The action by which liquids and gases become incorporated with various bodies, through molecular or other invisible means, to which function all parts of a growing plant contribute, the roots more especially.

=ABUTA= (native name). ORD. _Menispermaceæ_. A strong growing ornamental stove evergreen climber. Used medicinally in Cayenne. Flowers diœcious, fascicled, males racemosely panicled; females loose and simply racemose. It grows freely in a mixture of loam and peat. Cuttings will root readily if planted in a pot of sand, with a hand glass placed over them, in heat. About half-a-dozen species are known.

=A. rufescens= (rusty-coloured). _fl._ grey-velvety on the outside, dark purple on the inside. March. _l._ ovate; under surface brownish. _h._ 10ft. Cayenne, 1820.

=ABUTILON= (Arabic name for a plant analogous to the Marsh Mallow). ORD. _Malvaceæ_. Very showy, decorative, and free-growing shrubs, both for the greenhouse and outside culture. Calyx naked, five-cleft, usually angular; style multifid at apex. The many beautiful hybrids (of which Fig. 2 represents a group) now in cultivation, far supersede the true species. Cultivation: Few plants are more easily grown and worthy of liberal treatment than these. The best soil for them is equal parts turfy loam, peat, and leaf mould, with some gritty sand. They may either be grown in pots, or planted out; but in all cases thorough drainage is indispensable, as they require an abundance of water, and stagnancy must be guarded against. At the end of May they may be planted outside, when they will flower profusely through the summer. In a free growing and flowering state they enjoy weak manure water. From the latter part of autumn till early spring they may be kept almost dry without injury, though in a warm conservatory some of the later struck plants will go on flowering throughout the greater part of the winter; or plants may be specially prepared for winter flowering. They are admirably adapted for forming standards of various heights, from 2ft. to 6ft. Some of the taller sorts are very useful for training under roof rafters. As pillar plants, too, very loosely trained, so as to allow the upper and side branches to droop to a considerable distance from the pillar, they are very effective. Propagation: They strike readily from cuttings made of the young wood, at almost any season; the best time, however, is early spring and September. Inserted in pots, in a compost of equal parts peat, leaf mould, loam, and sand, and placed in a temperature of from 65deg. to 70deg., they will then quickly root, and form good plants. Seeds may be sown in pans filled with soil as recommended for cuttings, and placed in a similar temperature. Those followed by a dagger (†) are the best for training to pillars, roofs, &c.

=A. Bedfordianum= (Bedford's). _fl._ yellow and red. November. _l._ deeply-lobed. _h._ 15ft. Brazil, 1838.

=A. Darwini= (Darwin's).†* _fl._ bright orange, with darker veinings, fine cupped form. April. _l._ large, broad. _h._ 4ft. Brazil, 1871. A handsome species, of good habit, equally suitable as a stove or greenhouse plant during winter, and for outdoor culture during summer months. There are a great number of garden hybrids from this.

=A. globiflorum= (globe-flowered). _fl._ solitary, large, globose, cream-coloured. November. _l._ on long stalks, cordate, serrate. _h._ 4ft. to 5ft. Mauritius, 1825.

=A. igneum= (bright). Synonymous with _A. insigne_.

=A. insigne= (handsome-flowered).* _fl._ large, purplish crimson, with dark venation, in axillary pendulous racemes; petals short, broad, much reflexed. Winter. _l._ large, cordate, thick, rugose. Stem deep green, with short brown hairs. _h._ 6ft. New Grenada, 1851. SYN. _A. igneum_. See Fig. 3.

=A. megapotamicum= (big river).†* _fl._ small, bell-shaped, singularly beautiful, the sepals being dark red, petals pale yellow, and stamens dark brown. Autumn and winter. _l._ small, pointed. _h._ 3ft. Rio Grande, 1864. A free-flowering species, with a graceful drooping habit; the shoots should be well pressed in during spring. SYN. _A. vexillarium_.

=A. pæoniflorum= (pæony-flowered). _fl._ pink, smaller than those of _A. insigne_, but very distinct. January. _l._ large, ovate. _h._ 6ft. Brazil, 1845.

=A. pulchellum= (pretty).†* _fl._ white, on few-flowered axillary racemes. July. _l._ cordate, unequally crenated, downy beneath. _h._ 8ft. Habit very branching. New Holland, 1824.

=A. striatum= (striped).* _fl._ orange yellow, with a thick veining of blood-red, on long curving stalks. _l._ large, lobed, on long slender petioles. Brazil, 1837. A free grower, and makes an excellent greenhouse plant. In sheltered positions, in the south-west of England, this species proves to be almost hardy. It requires to be freely pinched. A very continuous bloomer.

=A. Thompsoni= (Thompson's). _fl._ striated yellow, large. Summer. _l._ small, vine-like, richly mottled with yellow and dark green. _h._ 3ft. or 4ft. Habit very neat and erect.

=A. venosum= (veined).†* _fl._ orange, with red veins, very large, bell shaped, 3in. long; pedicels nearly 12in. long. July. _l._ large, deeply palmate. _h._ 10ft. This splendid species is distinguished by its unusually large flowers.

=A. vexillarium= (standard). Synonymous with _A. megapotamicum_.

=A. vitifolium= (vine-leaved).* _fl._ porcelain blue, large, cupped. May. _l._ cordate, five to seven lobed, assuming, towards the autumn, a fine golden hue. _h._ 30ft. Chili, 1837. This fine shrub, or tree, is hardy in Ireland and the south of England, but should have a protection from frost. It is not a fast grower.

The following are some of the best varieties, which, although they do not include all the newest sorts, yet afford a good selection of first-rate kinds, which will give general satisfaction. They are arranged according to their respective colours. Those marked with a dagger (†) are best for roofs and pillars.

=Orange-flowered.= AUREUM GLOBOSUM,* flowers deep orange, heavily red shaded, of medium size, with good form and substance; DARWINI MAJUS,* bright orange, deeply veined, extremely free, and of good form and size; FLEUR D'OR,† light orange, veined pale red, very free and dwarf; GRANDIFLORUM,* deep orange, red shaded, deeply veined with red, a robust, large-flowered variety; LEO, flowers pale below, deeper above, red-veined, of medium size; PRINCE OF ORANGE,†* a strong grower, and very free.

=Ornamental-foliaged.= DARWINI TESSELATUM,†* foliage mottled with yellow, invaluable for sub-tropical bedding; SELLOWIANUM MARMORATUM,* very large maple-like foliage, heavily mottled with bright yellow, a most effective variety; THOMPSONI, leaves very freely blotched with yellow; VEXILLARIUM IGNEUM,†* very free, of good habit, prettily blotched. All these ornamental-foliaged varieties are invaluable for bedding purposes.

=Purple-coloured.= EMPEROR,* flowers large, rich purple magenta shaded, habit vigorous; LOUIS VAN HOUTTE, very free, rosy purple; PURPUREA,* deep purple shaded lake, very attractive; SOUVENIR DE ST. MAURICE, flowers medium size, very profuse; VIOLET QUEEN,* bright violet purple, very distinct and free.

=Red and Crimson-flowered.= BRILLIANT,* flowers of good form and substance, brilliant red inside, rather paler outside, dwarf and free; CRIMSON BANNER,* rich crimson, dwarf, very floriferous; FIRE KING,* bright red, orange shaded, veined with crimson; LUSTROUS,* brilliant red crimson, large, most profusely produced, habit dwarf; NE PLUS ULTRA,* intense crimson, of excellent form; SCARLET GEM,* flowers medium sized, brilliant scarlet, habit dwarf and free.

=Rose-coloured.= ADMIRATION, light pink, shaded salmon, of good form and shape; ANNA CROZY,* deep pink, lilac shade, veined white, very showy; CLOCHETTE,* deep rosy pink, with crimson veins, very dwarf and free; DELICATUM, pale salmon rose, with deeper vein, flowers very large; KING OF THE ROSES,* rich deep rose, of good size and substance, habit dwarf and very free; LADY OF THE LAKE,* flowers medium sized, rich pink; LOUIS MARIGNAC, pale pink, veined white, splendid habit, a charming variety; PRINCESS MARIE,†* flowers rich rosy lake, very profuse, of excellent form; ROSÆFLORUM,†* pale salmon rose, veined with crimson.

=White-flowered.= BOULE DE NIEGE,†* very fine pure white flowers, the best in its class; PURITY,* very free, of good habit, and pure white; SERAPH,* dwarf, and very floriferous.

=Yellow-flowered.= CANARY BIRD,†* similar in habit to Boule de Niege, bright primrose, very lovely; COURONNE D'OR,* bright yellow, of the finest form and substance, very bold foliage; GOLDEN GEM, rich canary yellow, extremely free, of dwarf habit; LEMOINEI,† very fine, pale yellow, good size; QUEEN OF THE YELLOWS,* very large, lemon yellow, good substance; YELLOW PRINCE,* rich golden yellow, of medium size, very profuse.

=ABYSSINIAN PRIMROSE.= A common name for =Primula Boveana= (which _see_).

=ACACIA= (from _ac_, a point, in Celtic; or from _akazo_, to sharpen; many of the species are furnished with spines). _See_ also _Albizzia_. ORD. _Leguminosæ_. Shrubs or trees, very variable in habit and leaves. Flowers yellow, white, rarely red, disposed in globular heads or spikes, decandrous or polyandrous. Spines stipular, scattered, or wanting. This is a very polymorphous genus, and the majority of species described are known in this country only from herbarium specimens. It is very doubtful whether the entire genus is represented in our gardens by more than about fifty species, many of which are only to be found in botanic gardens; but this number is, without doubt, sufficiently characteristic. The number of species is close upon 400, and the genus one of the largest known. In our enumeration, we have strictly confined ourselves to describing such as are unquestionably in cultivation, and to this end we have adopted the only accurate method of deciding which are and which are not grown, viz., by consulting the trade lists of nurserymen, both in this country and on the Continent. Such lists, however, are not always correct, from a scientific point of view, in the matter of nomenclature. The species best deserving of cultivation are all natives of Australia, New South Wales, or other temperate regions, and are among the hardiest and most easily cultivated of all greenhouse plants. They are very floriferous. The greenhouse species are sufficiently hardy to withstand the winter in a temperature very little higher than freezing point. Cultivation: Some have a tendency to make long straight shoots; these should be selected for training upon rafters or pillars, on which they thrive well and form splendid ornaments in spring; whilst the more shrubby kinds will be equally at home in pots in the form of bushes. Roots and tops grow with great rapidity, and an abundance of water is required at all times. Immediately after flowering (usually about May) is the best time to prune Acacias; they may then be placed in the open air, and fully exposed to the sun, until October. They make a far healthier, cleaner growth, and ripen their wood much better outside than under glass; all they require is copious waterings, never allowing them to become dry, and keeping clear of weeds. In the first week in October house the plants, and winter in a temperature of 40deg. to 50deg. They delight in a light rich compost of equal parts turfy loam and leaf mould, freely intermixed with sand, or peat may be used instead of the leaf mould. Propagation: Cuttings of the half-ripened wood, put in with a heel, root readily during the summer. They do not bear heat well, nor do they require it. The soil should be equal parts peat and sand, covered with pure sand, thoroughly consolidated. Insert the cuttings as soon as made; water home, and leave them in the shade till dry. Then place the bell glasses over them, shade and water so as to prevent flagging. Pot off as soon as rooted, and keep in a close pit or house until the plants are thoroughly established. Seeds should be sown as soon as ripe, in sandy peat; about 1/4in. deep, or a little more, for large seeds. A temperature of 55deg. to 60deg. suits them well. Pot off when large enough to handle, and place in a cool close pit or house until quite established. The culture and propagation of the stove species are the same as for the greenhouse sorts, but the former require, of course, greater heat. Their flowers, however, are much less frequently produced than their more temperate congeners, consequently they are not so much grown.

=A. affinis.=* _fl._ yellow. May. _h._ 5ft. New Holland, 1822. Greenhouse species.

=A. albicans= (whitish).* _fl._ white; heads, two to five, aggregate, rising in racemes from the axils to the leaves. _l._ with eight to nine pairs of pinnæ, each pinna bearing nineteen to twenty-two pairs of oblong linear-leaflets. _h._ 5ft. Swan River.

=A. amœna= (pleasing). This closely resembles _A. heterophylla_.

=A. angustifolia= (narrow-leaved). _fl._ yellow, in heads two to four together, pedunculate. April. _l._ with fifteen to twenty pairs of pinnæ, each pinna bearing thirty to forty pairs of linear-acute, ciliated leaflets. _h._ 4ft. New South Wales, 1816. One of the numerous varieties of _A. longifolia_.

=A. arabica= (Arabian).* Gum Arabic. _fl._ white; heads pedunculate, axillary, usually in threes. _l._ with four to six pairs of pinnæ, each pinna bearing ten to twenty pairs of oblong-linear leaflets. _h._ 20ft. Arabia, East Indies, &c., 1820. Greenhouse species. See Fig. 4.

=A. argyrophylla= (silver-leaved). A synonym of _A. brachybotrya_.

=A. armata= (armed, simple leaved).* _fl._ yellow, in solitary globular heads. April. _l._ phyllodia obliquely ovate-oblong, quite entire, one-nerved. _h._ 6ft. to 10ft. Australia, 1803.

=A. Benthami= (Bentham's). A synonym of _A. cochlearis_.