Part 31

=A. formosa= (handsome).* _fl._, sepals bright red, usually less than 1in. long, with an obtuse green tip; limb of petals yellow, about half as long as the sepals; spurs 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, slender in the lower half, nearly straight, distinctly knobbed at the tip; stems many-flowered. May to September. _l._ biternate. _h._ 2ft. to 4ft. North America. Border. The following are synonyms and varieties: _A. arctica_, _A. californica_, _A. eximia_, and _A. f. truncata_, revealing only trivial differences. There is a very beautiful hybrid known in gardens as _A. californica hybrida_, with the sepals and petals yellowish, or tinged with orange, while the long slender spurs are orange red; it is one of the handsomest of all. All the forms are very showy, and well worth growing.

=A. fragrans= (fragrant).* _fl._ white or pale claret purple, finely pubescent, very fragrant; sepals about 1-1/2in. long, not reflexing, twice longer than the broad petals' limb; spur slender, slightly curved, knobbed at the top, same length as the petals; stems few-flowered. May to July. _l._ biternate. _h._ 1-1/2ft. to 2ft. Himalayas, 1839. This requires a warm position.

=A. glandulosa= (glandular).* _fl._, sepals bright lilac blue, about 1-1/2in. long, more than twice the length of the petals' limb; petals white; spur 1/4in. long, or but little more, stout, much incurved; stems one to three-flowered. Spring. _l._ biternate. _h._ 8in. to 12in. Siberia, 1822. Extremely pretty. See Fig. 135.

=A. g. jucunda= (pleasant). _fl._ rather smaller. Very handsome little plants, freely hybridised, and it is necessary to keep raising fresh batches, as they are scarcely more than biennial.

=A. glauca= (glaucous). _fl._ white, tinted claret, fragrant; sepals 1in. long, not reflexing; limb of petals 3/4in. long; spur straight, or a little curved, about 1/3in. long; stem three to four-flowered. June. _l._ biternate. _h._ 1ft. to 1-1/2ft. Himalayas, 1839. Rather tender; plant in a warm dry position.

=A. leptoceras= (slender-horned). A synonym of _A. cærulea_.

=A. macrantha= (large-flowered). A synonym of _A. cærulea_.

=A. olympica= (Olympic).* _fl._ large, delicate mauve blue; petals white, rather shorter than the sepals; spur stout, short, obtuse. _l._ bi- or triternate, glaucous. _h._ 1-1/2ft. 1880. Mount Olympus. See Fig. 136.

=A. pyrenaica= (Pyrenean).* _fl._, sepals bright lilac blue, about 1in. long, but not quite as much broad; limb of petals about 1/2in. long, and half as broad; spur slender, nearly straight, or rather incurved, nearly or quite 3/4in. long, scarcely knobbed at the end; stem one to three-flowered, with small and little compound deep green leaves. Summer. _h._ 9in. to 12in. Pyrenees, 1818. Plant on the rockery.

=A. Reuteri= (Reuter's). Synonymous with _A. Bertoloni_.

=A. sibirica= (Siberian).* _fl._ bright lilac; sepals very blunt, 1in. or a little more in length, spreading or slightly reflexing when fully expanded; limb of petals sometimes white, about 1/2in. long; spur stout, much incurved, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long; stems many-flowered, glabrous. Summer. _l._ biternate. _h._ 1ft. Siberia, 1806. Rockery species. Here are referred, by Mr. Baker, _A. bicolor_, _A. Garnieriana_, and _A. speciosa_. See Fig. 137.

=A. thalictrifolia= (Thalictrum-leaved). _fl._, sepals oblong, acute, lilac blue, about 1/2in. long; limb of petals about as long, and rounded at the top; spurs slender, not quite as long as the sepals; stems about three-flowered. Summer. _l._ with three-stalked segments cut into deep oblong lobes. _h._ 2ft. Tyrol, 1879. Entire plant clothed with fine pubescence.

=A. viridiflora= (green-flowered). _fl._, sepals oval-oblong, shorter than the petals; spurs straight and longer than the petals; stems two to three-flowered. _h._ 1ft. to 1-1/2ft. Siberia, 1780. Border. Rather a pleasing and sweet-scented green-flowered species, but not very ornamental.

=A. vulgaris= (common). Common Columbine. _fl._ variously coloured; sepals ovate acute, about 1in. long, and half as broad; limb of the petal rarely exceeding 3/4in. long, and half as much broad, rounded at the apex; spur much incurved, stout, knobbed at the end, as long as the petals; stems many-flowered. Spring and early summer. _l._ biternate. England, &c. There are numerous varieties of this very handsome species, both double and single-flowered.

=A. v. alba= (white). _fl._ pure white.

=A. v. a. fl.-pl.= Double white flowers.

=A. v. cærulea nana fl.-pl.= Very dwarf, with double deep blue flowers.

=A. v. hybrida= (hybrid). _fl._, sepals lilac purple, oblong-lanceolate, less than 1in. long; limb of the petals white, about 1/2in. long; spur scarcely incurved.

=A. v. Vervæneana.= This variety has pretty yellow mottled foliage.

=A. v. Wittmanniana= (Wittmann's). _fl._ large, bright lilac purple; sepals ovate-acute, 1in. to 1-1/4in. long, more than half as much broad; limb of petals white, about half the length of sepals; spur curved. A very fine variety.

The following names are also met with in gardens, some of which represent specific forms, but none are effective as garden ornaments: _advena_, _Burgeriana_, _Haylodgensis_ (hybrid), _grata_, _longissima_, _nevadensis_, _oxysepala_, &c.

=AQUOSUS.= Watery.

=ARABIS= (origin of the word not clear). Wall Cress; Rock Cress. ORD. _Cruciferæ_. Hardy perennial trailers, except where otherwise stated. Flowers mostly white; racemes terminal; pedicels bractless. Radical leaves usually stalked; cauline ones sessile or stem-clasping, entire or toothed, rarely lobed. Most members of this genus are peculiarly well adapted for rockwork and the alpine garden, both from their natural hardihood as well as their early and profuse flowering habits. They are of the easiest possible culture in any dry soil. The perennial species may either be increased by divisions of the root, by cuttings, placed in a shady border during the summer, or by seed. The latter may be sown outside, or in pans, in spring, when most of them will germinate in two or three weeks. The annuals and biennials are for the most part devoid of any cultural beauty.

=A. albida= (whitish).* _fl._ white; racemes terminal; pedicels longer than the calyx. January to May. _l._ few-toothed, hoary, or downy with branched hairs; radical ones obovate-oblong; cauline ones cordately sagittate, clasping the stem. _h._ 6in. to 9in. Tauria and Caucasus, 1798. SYN. _A. caucasica_.

=A. a. variegata= (variegated).* A very pretty variegated form for edgings.

=A. alpina= (alpine).* _fl._ white, smaller than those of _A. albida_; racemes terminal; pedicels longer than the calyx, which is smoothish. March to May. _l._ many-toothed, lanceolate, acute, villous with branched hairs; radical ones somewhat stalked; cauline ones cordate, clasping the stem. _h._ 6in. European rocks, in sunny places, 1596. There are one or two varieties, including a variegated-leaved form, in cultivation. See Fig. 138.

=A. arenosa= (sand-loving).* _fl._ rose coloured, very rarely white or bluish; petals obovate; pedicels spreading. April to July. _l._ villous, with forked hairs; radical ones pinnatifid, with the upper lobes much larger than the lower; cauline ones deeply toothed. Stem branched, hispid, with simple hairs. _h._ 6in. Middle Europe, 1798. See Fig. 139.

=A. blepharophylla= (fringed-leaved).* _fl._ rosy purple; petals roundish, narrowing to the base, with slender claws. Spring. _l._ naked, except the margins, which are fringed with very stiff hairs; radical ones spathulate; cauline ones oblong, sessile. _h._ 3in. to 4in. California, 1874. This succeeds best in a cool frame, where it will flower in January.

=A. caucasica= (Caucasus). A synonym of _A. albida_.

=A. lucida= (shining).* _fl._ white; petals entire, narrowed at the base, twice as long as the calyx. Summer. _l._ obovate, thickish, shining, clasping the stem. _h._ 4in. to 6in. Hungary, 1790. A very pretty species, with a dwarf habit; it is especially adapted for edgings, borders, or rockwork.

=A. l. variegata= (variegated).* A great improvement upon the type, being broadly edged with yellow, and the green somewhat lighter. When grown in tufts or as edging, it is very effective, and should be prevented from flowering. This exceedingly desirable variety is a gem for the rockwork, and when seen in crevices, or in bold tufts, it is very striking. It must be increased by slips or rootlets, which should be taken in early summer.

=A. mollis= (soft). _fl._ white, in terminal racemes. May to July. _l._ grossly toothed, somewhat pubescent, with small stellate hairs; lower ones on long petioles, cordate-roundish; cauline ones ovate-cordate, clasping the stem. _h._ 2ft. Caucasus, 1823.

=A. petræa= (rock).* _fl._ white; petals ovate, with stalks. June. _l._ smooth, ciliated or scabrous, with simple or bifid radical ones on longish stalks, entire, toothed; cauline ones oblong-linear, entire, or toothed. _h._ 3in. or 4in. Britain.

=A. præcox= (early). _fl._ white; petals obovately cuneated, double the length of the calyx. April to June. _l._ oblong, acute, sessile, quite entire, smooth. Stem covered with close pressed rigid hairs. _h._ 6in. to 9in. Hungary.

=A. procurrens= (procurrent). _fl._ white; petals obovate, double the length of the calyx. May and June. _l._ ovate, quite entire, smooth, ciliated with two-parted hairs; radical ones narrowed into a petiole; cauline ones sessile, pointed. Stolons creeping. _h._ 9in. Servia, 1819. There is a brilliantly variegated form of this pretty species well worth growing.

=A. rosea= (rosy).* _fl._ rosy purple; petals oblong, somewhat wedge-shaped, double the length of the calyx; pedicels longer than the calyx. May to July. _l._, cauline ones oblong, somewhat cordate, and rather stem-clasping, scabrous with branched hairs. _h._ 1ft. Calabria, 1832.

=A. verna= (spring). _fl._ small, purple, with a white claw; pedicels shorter than the calyx. May to June. _l._, cauline ones cordate, clasping the stem, toothed, scabrous with three-parted hairs. _h._ 3in. to 6in. South Europe, 1710. The best annual species.

=ARACEÆ= or =AROIDEÆ=. An extensive order of herbaceous plants, with tuberous rhizomes. Flowers on a spadix, unisexual or hermaphrodite, protected by a spathe. Leaves large, radical. Well known genera belonging to this order are: _Alocasia_, _Arum_, _Caladium_, _Colocasia_, and _Dieffenbachia_.

=ARACHIS= (from _a_, without, and _rachis_, a branch; plant branchless). Ground or Earth Nut. ORD. _Leguminosæ_. A stove annual, of economical value. Corolla resupinate; calyx a long tube, with a bilabiate limb; ovary stipitate, inclosed in the tube of the calyx; the stipe at first short, but afterwards becoming elongated. Sandy loam is the soil most suitable for their cultivation. Seeds should be sown in heat; and, when the plants have grown to a sufficient size, they should be potted off singly, and placed among other stove annuals. After the plant has finished flowering, and the pods begin to lengthen, the pedicels force them into the earth, where they ripen their seeds.

=A. hypogæa= (underground). Monkey Nut. _fl._ yellow, five to seven together in the axils of the leaves. May. _l._ abruptly-pinnate, bearing two pairs of leaflets, without any tendril; stipulas elongated, adnate to the petioles. _h._ 1ft., or procumbent. South America, 1812. See Fig. 140.

=ARACHNIMORPHA.= A synonym of =Rondeletia= (which _see_).

=ARACHNOID.= Resembling a cobweb in appearance; seeming to be covered with cobweb, in consequence of the entanglement of long, white hairs.

=ARALIA= (meaning unknown). ORD. _Araliaceæ_. This widely-grown genus includes stove, greenhouse, and hardy, herbaceous and shrubby plants. Flowers inconspicuous, umbellate, the umbels usually disposed in panicles; petals five, inserted on the margin of the disk; stamens five (see Fig. 142). Leaves usually compound. These plants are of moderately free growth, and the majority are easy to manage. Those requiring indoor treatment thrive well under the ordinary routine of management. One most important requirement, however, is that they must be kept well supplied with water at the roots. The finer, or stove varieties, should be potted in a mixture of sandy loam and peat, with the addition of a little fibrous leaf soil, and sufficient sand to keep the whole porous. The stronger growing kinds thrive in a richer compost. Propagation by cuttings of the roots is a common and very successful method. To obtain the roots, one of the strongest plants should be turned out of the pot, and the roots should be cleared of soil by shaking or washing it out; the requisite number of pieces should then be selected. As each piece is removed, it should have the end nearest the stem cut horizontally, to distinguish it from the other or furthermost end. In planting cuttings of the roots, it is best to place the end nearest the stem uppermost. The pieces may be left about 2in. long, and should be inserted in pots, well drained, and filled with sandy soil, leaving the tops of the cuttings about level with the surface of the soil. A square of glass must be placed over the top of each pot, plunging them in moderate bottom heat. The stems of the plants from which the roots have been taken may be cut into pieces 1in. or 1-1/2in. long, leaving an eye or bud near the top; a slice of half the shoot may be taken off opposite the bud. When prepared, these pieces should be pressed into pots of sand or sandy soil, and plunged into bottom heat. The stems may be cut down without disturbing the roots; in that case, if the pots are plunged in bottom heat, and kept moderately supplied with water, they will probably throw up several suckers or shoots from the roots. These, if taken off with a portion of root to each, and placed in small sized pots, will, with a little care, soon make useful plants. All the hardy species and most of the greenhouse ones are propagated readily by cuttings or pieces of roots. Some of the stove species, however, are very difficult to increase, except by grafting. Among these are _A. leptophylla_, _A. Veitchii_, &c. These should be worked on stocks of _A. Guilfoylei_ or _A. reticulata_, the latter being the better of the two. Cuttings of either of these strike readily, and stocks fit for grafting are easily procured. In sheltered and warm positions, the greenhouse species are admirably suited for sub-tropical gardening, either planted singly or in groups. _See_ also =Dimorphanthus=, =Fatsia=, =Hedera=, =Heptapleurum=, =Monopanax=, =Oreopanax=, and =Panax=.

=A. canescens= (greyish). A garden synonym of _A. chinensis_.

=A. Chabrierii= (Chabrier's).* _l._ alternate, pinnate, about a foot long; pinnæ opposite, 6in. to 9in. long, linear-lanceolate, deep green, with a heavy crimson midrib. 1882. Suitable for table decoration. A charming stove species.

=A. chinensis= (Chinese).* _fl._ white; panicles terminal; peduncles umbelliferous. _l._ petiolate, coriaceous, woolly on both surfaces when young (only); pinnæ seven, ovate, serrated at the apex, erect and distinct. _h._ 5ft. to 6ft. 1838. This species, if planted in a soil with a dry porous bottom, will prove to be hardy. SYN. _A. canescens_, of gardens. See Fig. 141.

=A. concinna= (neat). _l._ unequally pinnate; pinnæ lobed and serrate. Stem spotted. New Caledonia, 1879. A handsome stove species, but very rare. SYNS. _A. spectabilis_, _Delarbrea spectabilis_.

=A. crassifolia= (thick-leaved). A synonym of _Pseudopanax crassifolium_.

=A. edulis= (edible).* _fl._ numerous, white; umbels globose, axillary and terminal, united into simple or compound racemes. Summer. _l._, lower ones pinnate, with five leaflets, or three pinnate, with divisions of three to five leaflets; upper ones generally simple, with stalked leaflets, having a cordate base, ovate, acute, finely toothed, downy. _h._ 4ft. to 6ft. Japan, 1843. Hardy, herbaceous, perennial, hairy, and spineless.

=A. elegantissima= (most elegant).* _l._ digitate, on long dark green footstalks, which are mottled with white; leaflets seven to ten, filiform, and, being pendulous, impart a very graceful character to the plant. Stem straight, erect. South Sea Islands, 1873. Stove species, excellent for table decoration.

=A. filicifolia= (fern-leaved).* _l._, leafstalks sheathing at the base, and terete in the upper part, expanding into a broad leafy limb which is impari-pinnately divided; pinnæ opposite, deeply pinnatifid, bright green, with a purplish midrib. Stem and leafstalks purplish, thickly marked with oblong white spots. Polynesia, 1876.

=A. gracillima= (most graceful). Synonymous with _A. Veitchii gracillima_.

=A. Guilfoylei= (Guilfoyle's).* _l._ pinnate, on long smooth terete petioles; leaflets oblong-elliptic, bluntish, from three to seven, they are sometimes obscurely lobed, and irregularly spinose, serrate, varying in size from 2in. to 3in. long, neatly and evenly margined with creamy white, the surface being in addition occasionally splashed with grey. Stem erect, copiously dotted with lenticular markings. South Sea Islands, 1876. Stove species.

=A. heteromorpha= (many-formed).* _l._ sometimes ovate-lanceolate and serrated, and at others bifid or even trifid at the apex, about 6in. to 8in. or 9in. long, bright shining green. A very desirable species, of robust and compact habit.

=A. japonica= (Japanese). Another name for _Fatsia japonica_.

=A. Kerchoveana= (Count Kerchove's). _l._ digitate, almost circular in outline; leaflets nine to eleven, spreading, elliptic-lanceolate, conspicuously serrated or undulated margins, of a deep glossy green relieved by a pale midrib. 1883. A very elegant slender-stemmed plant from the South Sea Islands, and likely to prove valuable for decorative purposes. Stove species.

=A. leptophylla= (slender-leaved).* _l._ compound, bearing often seven or more petiolate leaflets of a somewhat pendent character, and dark green in colour. 1862. An elegant stove or greenhouse slender growing species.

=A. longipes= (long-stalked). _l._ digitate, long stalked, and rather distant; leaflets oblanceolate acuminate, slightly undulated at the edge; petioles elongated. Stems simple. North Australia, 1882. A very distinct erect-growing evergreen stove species.

=A. maculata= (spotted). _l._ of a light green colour; leaflets oblong-acuminate, in about four pairs. Stem erect, which, as well as the stalks of the leaves, is of a blackish-purple hue, thickly spotted with green dots. This peculiar colouring is very distinct and conspicuous. South Pacific Islands. Stove species.

=A. Maximowiczii= (Maximowicz's).* _l._ on long stalks, palmately five to seven-lobed; lobes lanceolate, 3-1/2in. long, serrate. Japan, 1874. An elegant and distinct hardy shrub, with erect spiny stem. SYN. _Acanthopanax ricinifolium_.

=A. monstrosa= (monstrous).* _l._ pendent, pinnate; leaflets three to seven, oblong elliptic, deeply and irregularly serrated (this serration sometimes takes most fantastic forms), broadly margined with creamy white, the surface blotched with grey. South Sea Islands, 1880. Stove species.

=A. nudicaulis= (naked-stemmed).* _fl._ greenish; scape trifid at the apex, shorter than the leaf, each division bearing a many-flowered umbel. June. _l._ radical, the divisions pinnately five foliate; leaflets oblong-oval, with a long tapering point, serrate. Root horizontal, very long. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. North America, 1731. Quite hardy, herbaceous perennial.

=A. Osyana= (Osyan).* Resembling _A. leptophylla_, but with leaflets deeply bifid at the ends; surface colour bright green; primary veins and tips of the leaflets chocolate brown. South Sea Islands, 1870. Very elegant stove species.

=A. pentaphylla= (five-leaved).* _l._ digitate, or sometimes only three leaflets are produced, each varying from 6in. to 10in. in length, and from 1in. to 2in. in breadth, deeply lobed or pinnatifid, bright shining green. Stem arboreous, prickly. _h._ 20ft. Japan. SYN. _Panax spinosa_.

=A. p. variegata= (variegated). _l._ broadly edged with creamy white. Japan, 1874.

=A. quercifolia= (oak-leaved).* _l._ opposite, trifoliate; leaflets deeply sinuate; lower petioles about 3in. long, light shining green. New Britain, 1880. Very pretty stove species.

=A. racemosa= (raceme-flowering).* _fl._ greenish-white, petals spreading; peduncles axillary, disposed in a terminal raceme, umbelliferous. June. _l._ petioles tripartite, the partitions bearing each three to five ovate or cordate, acuminated, serrated, smoothish leaflets. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. North America, 1658. Hardy herbaceous species, highly ornamental. See Fig. 142.

=A. reticulata= (netted). _l._ alternate, strap-shaped when young, becoming larger with age, dark green, reticulated with a lighter shade of the same colour. A very handsome species, requiring stove heat during winter. In spring and summer it is admirably suited for conservatory or indoor decoration, having a light and graceful aspect.

=A. rotunda= (round). _l._ sometimes of a single leaflet only, which is spreading, orbicular, cordate at the base, margined with distinct white tipped teeth; at other times, especially when approaching maturity, the leaves are trifoliate, the leaflets being rounded and toothed, and the terminal one being about double the size of the lateral ones. Stems erect, brownish-green, spotted when young with pale elongate blotches. Polynesia, 1882.

=A. Scheffleri= (Scheffler's). _l._ on long petioles, digitate; leaflets five, petiolulate, lanceolate, attenuated at the base, serrulated, glabrous on both surfaces. Stem shrubby, smooth. New Zealand. Greenhouse species.

=A. spectabilis= (showy). A synonym of _A. concinna_.

=A. spinosa= (thorny).* Angelica Tree. _l._ doubly and triply pinnate; leaflets ovate, acuminated, deeply serrated. Stem simple, prickly (as are also the petioles), forming into an umbrella-like head, deciduous. _h._ 8ft. to 12ft. North America, 1688. A very fine hardy species for sheltered spots.

=A. spinulosa= (small-spined). _l._ alternate, pinnate; pinnæ ovate acuminate, dark green, margined with little reddish-crimson spines or prickles. Stems and petioles spotted and suffused with crimson. 1880. A bold and robust stove plant.

=A. ternata= (three-leafleted).* _l._ opposite, ternate; leaflets oblong-lanceolate; margins in some cases deeply serrate, in others sinuate, light green. New Britain, 1879. A slender growing species.

=A. trifolia= (three-leaved). A synonym of _Pseudopanax Lessonii_.