Part 34

=ARISTOLOCHIA= (from _aristos_, best, and _locheia_, parturition; in reference to its supposed medicinal character). Birthwort. ORD. _Aristolochiaceæ_. A very large genus of stove, greenhouse, or hardy, evergreen or deciduous, climbing or erect shrubs. Flowers axillary, clustered, or solitary, pendulous, of most extraordinary forms; perianth tubular, curved, or straight, with an oblique, cordate limb; stamens six, rarely four, or numerous, adhering to the stigma; capsule six-valved. Leaves cordate entire or lobed. Good loam, with a small proportion of decayed manure and a slight addition of sharp sand to secure efficient drainage, is a good compost for the whole. They will thrive when planted out in the conservatory more satisfactorily than elsewhere; for as they usually grow a considerable height before flowering, they require very long trellises in pots, and have to be trained up and down; or, better still, round a pillar of uniform circumference, a pyramid form being useless. The best way is to train them round, close down to the pot, and keep on about 2in. from one turn to the next. Some of the larger sorts will require more room. Cuttings root freely in sand under a bell glass with bottom heat.

=A. anguicida= (snake-killing). _fl._ white, spotted brown; tube of perianth inflated at base, dilated and oblique at the mouth; peduncles axillary, solitary, one-flowered. December. _l._ on short petioles, cordate acuminate; stipules cordate-roundish. _h._ 10ft. New Grenada, 1845. An evergreen stove twiner.

=A. barbata= (bearded). _fl._ purple, axillary, 2-1/2in. long; perianth straight; limb spreading; lip spathulate, bearded at the end. July. _l._ cordate, oblong. _h._ 10ft. Caraccas, 1796. Stove evergreen.

=A. caudata= (tailed).* _fl._ lurid; perianth cylindrical ventricose, and six-spurred at the base; lip cordate, cuspidate; the cusp twisted, filiform. June. _l._, lower ones reniform, lobed; upper ones three partite. _h._ 5ft. Brazil, 1828. Deciduous stove twiner.

=A. ciliosa= (fringed).* _fl._ purple-yellow; tube of perianth obliquely ventricose at base, stretched out, from the middle to the apex cylindrical, fringed; peduncles one-flowered. September. _l._ cordate reniform. Plant glabrous. _h._ 6ft. Brazil, 1829.

=A. Clematitis= (Clematis-like). _fl._ pale yellow, upright; lip oblong, shortly acuminate. July. _l._ cordate. Stem erect. _h._ 2ft. A hardy herbaceous perennial, naturalised here and there in Britain.

=A. clypeata= (shielded). _fl._ axillary; tube yellowish, cylindrical; limb elliptic, white, blotched with purple, long and large, funnel-shaped. _l._ subcordate-ovate, acuminate. Columbia, 1871.

=A. cordiflora= (cordate-flowered). _fl._ axillary, very large, with broad cordiform limb, creamy yellow, with blotchy purple veining. May. _l._ cordate acuminate. _h._ 30ft. Mexico, 1860.

=A. deltoidea variegata= (deltoid variegated variety). _l._ variegated with white. _h._ 6ft. Columbia, 1870.

=A. Duchartrei= (Duchartre's).* _fl._ racemose; tube brown; limb cream colour, with purple blotches. January. _l._ reniform-cordate, acuminate. Upper Amazons, 1868. _h._ 5ft. This stove species flowers from the old wood. SYN. _A. Ruiziana_.

=A. floribunda= (free-flowering).* _fl._ numerous; limb purplish-red, with yellow veins, centre yellow. July. _l._ cordate ovate, acuminate. _h._ 10ft. Brazil, 1868. Stove species.

=A. galeata= (helmeted). _fl._ creamy, with reticulated veins. August. _l._ cordate, with broad open sinus. _h._ 20ft. New Grenada, 1873.

=A. gigas= (giant). _fl._ purple; perianth large, cordate ribbed outside, reticulated, downy; tube inflated, contracted in the middle; limb large, cordate ovate, with a long tail. June. _l._ downy, cordate, acuminate; peduncles solitary, bracteate. _h._ 10ft. Guatemala, 1841.

=A. Goldieana= (Goldie's).* _fl._ greenish outside, deep yellow with chocolate veins inside, bent into two unequal portions, the lower portion surmounting the ovary about 8in. in length, somewhat cylindrical, terminating in a club-shaped curved knob; the upper portion, commencing from this knob, is about a foot long, funnel-shaped, ribbed, dilated above into a somewhat three-lobed limb. Stamens twenty-four--a very unusual number in the whole family. The enormous flowers are 26in. long by 11in. in diameter. July. _l._ ovate, or triangular-cordate, acuminated. Old Calabar River, 1867. This noble climber should be repotted in fresh soil in February or March. But little water will be necessary until the young shoots have made about 6in. of growth; the quantity should then be increased with moderation until early in September, when the old stem dies down within a few inches of the surface of the pot--at this period, and during winter, water must be entirely withheld. This species blooms freely in a temperature of 65deg. to 70deg.

=A. indica= (Indian). _fl._ purple; perianth erect; peduncle many-flowered. July. _l._ elliptical, blunt, somewhat emarginate, slightly cordate. _h._ 10ft. India, 1780. Stove evergreen.

=A. labiosa= (great-lipped).* _fl._ greenish; perianth incurved at base, saccate, two-lipped in the middle. July. _l._ reniform, roundish cordate, amplexicaul. _h._ 20ft. Brazil, 1821. Stove evergreen.

=A. leuconeura= (white-veined). _fl._ purple brown. September. _l._ cordate, acuminate. _h._ 12ft. Magdalena, 1858. Stove species.

=A. odoratissima= (sweetest-scented).* _fl._ purple, sweet-scented; peduncles one-flowered, longer than the leaf; lip cordate lanceolate, longer than the perianth. July. _l._ cordate, ovate, evergreen. Stem twining. _h._ 10ft. Jamaica, 1737. Stove evergreen.

=A. ornithocephala= (bird's-head).* _fl._ purple, very large, and extremely singular. To render any description at all lucid, this species may be said to have the head of a hawk and the beak of a heron, with the wattles of a Spanish fowl, which, however, are grey, netted with brown; head of the same colour, veined; and the beak grey. _l._ between cordate and reniform, obtuse. October. _h._ 20ft. Brazil, 1838. Stove species.

=A. ringens= (gaping).* _fl._ extremely grotesque, 7in. to 10in. long, pale green, marbled and reticulated with black purple. The perianth has an obovoid ventricose sac, or cup, 2-1/2in. long, which is woolly inside; tube ascending obliquely from the sac, terete, dividing into two very long lips, the upper of which (lower as the flower hangs) is oblong-lanceolate, recurved, and hairy inside below the middle, while the lower one is shorter, with recurved margins, and expanding into an orbicular or almost reniform limb. Unlike many other species, the flowers are produced on the young shoots. July. _l._ bright green, glabrous, roundish-reniform. _h._ 20ft. Brazil, 1820. Stove evergreen.

=A. Ruiziana= (Ruiz's). A synonym of _A. Duchartrei_.

=A. saccata= (pouch-flowered). _fl._ purplish-red, forming a large pouch; throat circular, vertical. September. _l._ 12in. to 15in. long, and 4in. broad, scattered, ovate-cordate, narrowed at apex, slightly waved and sinuated, entire, more silky beneath than above. _h._ 20ft. Sylhet, 1829. Stove evergreen.

=A. sempervirens= (evergreen). _fl._ purple; perianth incurved. May. _l._ cordate, oblong, acuminate. Stem prostrate, flexuous, somewhat climbing. _h._ 4ft. Candia, 1727. Greenhouse species.

=A. Sipho= (tube-bearing).* _fl._ yellowish-brown; corolla ascending; limb in three equal portions, not expanding, flat, brown; bracts of the peduncle large, ovate. May and June. _l._ cordate, acute. Stem twining. _h._ 15ft. to 30ft. North America, 1763. This hardy, climbing, deciduous shrub grows freely in a deep, free, rather dry soil. See Fig. 149.

=A. Thwaitesii= (Thwaites'). _fl._ yellow. March. _h._ 3ft. Old Calabar, 1854. Stove species.

=A. tomentosa= (tomentose).* _fl._ purple; perianth with its tube twisted back, and much more deeply divided than in _A. Sipho_, expanding, flat, and yellow, with the mouth of the tube of a deep purple; peduncle solitary, without a bract. July. _l._ cordate, downy beneath. _h._ 20ft. North America, 1799. Hardy.

=A. tricandata= (three-tailed).* _fl._ dark purple-brown, solitary, split into three subulate tails. August. _l._ oblong acuminate, rugose, 5in. to 8in. long. Mexico, 1866. A curious, but pretty, stove shrub.

=A. trilobata= (three-lobed). _fl._ purple; perianth cylindrical, broken saccate at base; lip cordate cuspidate. June. _l._ three-lobed. Stem twining. _h._ 8ft. South America, 1775. Stove evergreen.

=A. ungulifolia= (claw-leaved). _fl._ racemose; perianth brownish-purple, stipitate at base, above which it is swollen out in a globose or oblong form, with two thickened projections near the end; upper end of tube contracted, somewhat curved, terminating in a two-lipped limb, one lip large, ovate, the other minute. June. _l._ 6in. to 7in. long, cordate, and pedately five-nerved at the base, three-lobed below the middle, with broad sinuses, the two lateral lobes arcuate, and blunt at the apex. Labuan, 1880. Stove species.

=ARISTOLOCHIACEÆ.= An order of very curious plants, with singularly inflated flowers, consisting of a calyx only, of a dull, dingy colour. It is popularly known as the Birthwort family, and has an English representative in _Aristolochia clematitis_.

=ARISTOTELIA= (said to be named in honour of Aristotle, the Greek philosopher). ORD. _Tiliaceæ_. A hardy evergreen shrub. Calyx campanulate; petals five, inserted in the base of the calyx, and alternating with its lobes. Easily grown, in ordinary garden soil, in the shrubbery. Propagated by ripened cuttings, which root freely if placed under a hand glass; or by layers.

=A. Macqui= (Macqui's).* _fl._ small, greenish, axillary. May. _l._ nearly opposite, stalked, oblong, acute, smooth, shining, dentate, permanent. _h._ 6ft. Chili, 1733. A shrub esteemed for its handsome foliage. The berries are about the size of a pea, very dark purple, at length becoming black. The variegated form is not so hardy as the type, but much more ornamental.

=ARMENIACA= (from Armenia, the native country of the Apricot). Apricot. ORD. _Rosaceæ_. TRIBE _Drupaceæ_. Small, hardy, deciduous trees. Flowers appearing before the leaves from scaly buds, solitary, or few together, almost sessile. Leaves, when young, convolute. Drupe ovate-globose, fleshy, covered with velvety skin, containing a nut, or stone, which is acute at one end and blunt at the other, with a furrow on both sides; the rest smooth, not wrinkled. For culture, &c., _see_ =Apricot= and =Prunus=.

=A. brigantiaca= (Brigancon).* _fl._ white or pink, glomerate, almost sessile. March. _l._ somewhat cordate, acuminated, sharply toothed; the teeth numerous, and lapping over each other. _h._ 6ft. to 8ft. South Europe, 1819.

=A. dasycarpa= (thick-fruited).* _fl._ white, pedicellate; pedicels filiform. March. _l._ ovate, acuminate, serrated; petioles glandular. _h._ 10ft. to 15ft. China, 1800.

=A. sibirica= (Siberian). _fl._ rose-coloured. April. _l._ ovate, acuminate; petioles glandless. _h._ 8ft. to 20ft. Dahuria, 1788.

=A. vulgaris= (common).* Common Apricot. _fl._ pinkish-white, sessile. February. _l._ ovate, or cordate, glabrous, glandularly serrated. _h._ 15ft. Levant, 1548. Of this species numerous varieties, differing in the foliar outline, &c., are sometimes met with. _See_ =Apricot=.

=ARMERIA.= (from _Flos Armeriæ_, Latin name for the flowers of a species of Pink). Thrift; Sea Pink. ORD. _Plumbagineæ_. A very interesting and pretty group of hardy alpine tufted perennials. Flowers pedicellate, collected in dense solitary heads; involucre scarious, sheathing the scape and turned downwards; petals cohering at the base, persistent; flower scapes leafless. Leaves linear, radical. As the majority of the species differ in mere technical details, we have given a representative group only. They are easily cultivated in a sandy loam and leaf soil, and are increased by seeds and division, separate pieces being planted as cuttings under hand glasses; or the rarer kinds should be potted and placed in a frame. The seed should be sown in spring, in pots of sandy soil, and placed in a cold frame. Although best grown as rock plants, most of them do well in pots and borders. _A. vulgaris_ makes one of the best of edging plants.

=A. cephalotes= (round-headed).* _fl._ deep rose or crimson, in a large roundish head on erect stalk. Autumn. _l._ broadly lanceolate, glabrous, acute; petioles channelled, sheathing at the base. _h._ 12in. to 18in. South Europe, 1800. This is perhaps the finest species, and is best raised from an annual sowing of seed, as it is somewhat difficult to increase by divisions. SYNS. _A. formosa_, _A. latifolia_, _A. mauritanica_, and _A. pseudo-armeria_.

=A. dianthoides= (Pink-like).* _fl._ light pink, in close heads about 6in. high. May and June. _l._ spreading, flattened, nerved, slightly downy. South Europe, 1810.

=A. formosa= (handsome). Synonymous with _A. cephalotes_.

=A. juncea= (rush-like).* _fl._ rose pink, in small heads about 3in. high. June. _l._ small, erect, roundish, pointed, deep green. South Europe. A very pretty little alpine species.

=A. juniperifolia= (Juniper-leaved).* _fl._ deep rose, in small densely packed heads. May and June. _l._ short, stiff, erect, Juniper-like. _h._ 6in., with a dense tufted habit. Spain, 1818. Plant in a warm well-drained portion of the rockery in very sandy soil, with some nodules of sandstone intermixed.

=A. latifolia= (broad-leaved). Synonymous with _A. cephalotes_.

=A. leucantha= (white-flowered). A white-flowered variety of _A. plantaginea_.

=A. maritima= (sea). Synonymous with _A. vulgaris_.

=A. mauritanica= (Mediterranean). Synonymous with _A. cephalotes_.

=A. plantaginea= (Plantain-leaved).* _fl._ bright rose; scapes taller than in _A. vulgaris_. _l._ broader, three to five-nerved, and with a stouter growing habit than the common species. _h._ 1ft. South Europe, 1818. A very pretty species. SYNS. _A. leucantha_, which is frequently called _A. p. alba_, and _A. scorzoneræfolia_.

=A. pseudo-armeria= (false-Armeria). Synonymous with _A. cephalotes_.

=A. scorzoneræfolia= (Scorzonera-leaved). Synonymous with _A. plantaginea_.

=A. setacea= (bristly).* _fl._ light rose, in small heads about 2in. high, very freely produced from the axils of the leaves. April to June. _l._ in dense rosettes, erect, or nearly so, narrow, acute, the tufts having a bristly appearance. _h._ 3in. South Europe. Plant in a semi-perpendicular cranny of the rockery, with a sunny position.

=A. vulgaris= (common).* Common Thrift; Sea Pink. _fl._ pink, rosy red, lilac, or white (the latter known as _A. v. alba_), collected into a rounded head on the top of the simple scape. June to August. _l._ all radical, numerous, linear, usually one-nerved, more or less pubescent. _h._ 6in. to 12in. Britain, on the sea coasts. _A. v. alpina_ is a dwarf alpine form of this species. The white-flowered variety is very handsome. _A. v. Laucheana_ is also a pretty form, with deep pink flowers in dense heads about 6in. high, and a very tufted habit. _Crimson Gem_, of garden origin, is stronger growing, with stems about 9in. high, carrying heads of bright crimson pink flowers, also of tufted habit. SYNS. _A. maritima_, _Statice Armeria_.

=ARNEBIA= (its Arabian name). ORD. _Boraginaceæ_. Handsome hardy herbaceous perennials or annuals, allied to _Lithospermum_. Cuttings should be removed with a heel in autumn, dibbled in sandy soil in small pots, and placed in a cool house, where they will ultimately, though slowly, root; they should then be gradually hardened off, and finally planted out. _A. echioides_ is also easily increased by making cuttings of the strong roots, which should be dibbled in pots of sandy soil, and placed in gentle heat; it is also raised from seed.

=A. echioides= (Echium-like).* _fl._ bright primrose yellow, with a purplish spot in the sinuses between the lobes of the corolla, which gradually disappears in a few days; spikes terminal, large, solitary, secund. May. _l._ sessile, alternate; margins-—as well as the stems-—ciliated. _h._ 9in. to 12in. Armenia. One of the showiest of hardy perennials for the border or rockery.

=A. Griffithii= (Griffith's). This differs from above in having narrower leaves, rather smaller flowers, which are of a more decided yellow, a differently shaped calyx, and a longer corolla. _h._ 9in. North-west India. Equally desirable, were it a perennial; but, being an annual, it must be constantly raised from seed.

=ARNICA= (from _arnakis_, lambskin; in reference to the texture of the leaves). ORD. _Compositæ_. Hardy, dwarf, herbaceous perennials, allied to _Senecio_. They thrive best in loam, peat, and sand; the plants are best divided in spring. Seeds should be procured when possible, and sown in a cold frame, in spring. The only species worth growing are described below.

=A. Aronicum.= Synonymous of _A. scorpioides_.

=A. Chamissonis= (Chamisso's).* _fl.-heads_ yellow, 1-1/2in. to 2in. across, arranged in a corymb. July to September. _l._ oblong-lanceolate, acuminate or acute, tomentose, tapering to the base. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. North America. A rather scarce, showy species.

=A. Clusii= (Clusius's). _fl.-heads_ yellow, solitary, terminal; stalks long, thickened towards the top, and covered with long hairs. Summer. _l._ soft, radical ones entire, or nearly so, oblong, obtuse, attenuated into the petiole; cauline ones sessile, half stem-clasping, lanceolate, toothed in the lower part. _h._ 1ft. Switzerland, 1819. SYN. _Doronicum Clusii_.

=A. foliosa= (leafy).* _fl.-heads_ pale yellow, about 1in. across, from three to seven in a corymb. August. _l._ lanceolate, stalked, acute, denticulate, smooth. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. Stems springing from slender rhizome-like shoots. United States. Closely allied to _A. montana_. It requires a damp situation.

=A. montana= (mountain).* Mountain Tobacco. _fl.-heads_ yellow, three or four together, about 2in. in diameter; ray florets numerous. July. _l._ radical, except a few on the scape, oblong-lanceo-late, entire, smooth. Habit tufted. _h._ 1ft. Europe. 1731. A very handsome but rare plant; excellent for a rockery. It is slowly increased. See Fig. 150.

=A. scorpioides= (scorpion-like).* _fl.-heads_ yellow, large, solitary; scape one to three-flowered. Summer. _l._ pale green, denticulated; radical ones on long petioles, broadly ovate; the lower stem leaves shortly stalked, amplexicaul; the upper ones sessile. _h._ 6in. to 12in. South Europe, 1710. Border. SYNS. _A. Aronicum_, _Aronicum scorpioides_.

=ARNOPOGON.= _See_ =Urospermum=.

=AROIDEÆ.= _See_ =Araceæ=.

=ARONIA.= _See_ =Cratægus Aronia= and =Pyrus=.

=ARONICUM.= _See_ =Arnica scorpioides= and =Doronicum=.

=ARPOPHYLLUM= (from _arpe_, a scimitar, and _phyllon_, a leaf; the leaf is sword-shaped). ORD. _Orchideæ_. Distinct evergreen epiphytes. There are about six species known, and the genus belongs to the _Epidendreæ_ division of orchidaceous plants; their general characters are: Flowers small, numerous, in closely packed cylindrical spikes; anther-bed broad, shorter than the broad extension of the upper edge of the stigma; pollinia eight. Stems rather long, with white sheaths. They thrive well in fibrous peat, one-third turfy loam, freely interspersed with lumps of fresh charcoal and an abundance of crocks. When growing, a liberal supply of water at the roots is essential, as is also a situation near the light, where they will blossom much more profusely than if in any way shaded. The flowers last in perfection about four weeks.

=A. cardinale= (cardinal). _fl._, sepals and petals light rose; lip deep red, on upright spikes about 1ft. high. Summer. New Grenada.

=A. giganteum= (gigantic).* _fl._ dark purple and rose, densely and symmetrically arranged on the cylindrical spikes, which are from 12in. to 14in. long. April and May. _l._ dark green, about 2ft. long, borne on slender pseudo-bulbs. Mexico.

=A. spicatum= (spike-flowered).* _fl._ dark red, on an upright spike about 1ft. long. During winter. Guatemala, 1839.

=ARRACACHA= (its Spanish name in South America). ORD. _Umbelliferæ_. A half-hardy tuberous perennial, highly esteemed as an esculent in South America, where it yields a food, which is prepared in the same manner as potatoes, and is said to be grateful to the palate and extremely easy of digestion. It thrives best in rich loam, and is increased by divisions of the roots.

=A. esculenta= (edible). _fl._ white; umbels opposite the leaves or terminal; involucre wanting. July. _l._ pinnate; leaflets broadly ovate, acuminated, deeply pinnatifid, profoundly serrated; the two lower leaflets petiolate, sub-ternate. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. Mountainous districts of Northern South America, 1823. SYN. _Conium Arracacha_.

=ARRHOSTOXYLUM.= Included under =Ruellia= (which _see_).

=ARROW ARUM.= _See_ =Peltandra virginica=.

=ARROWGRASS.= _See_ =Triglochin=.

=ARROW-HEAD.= _See_ =Sagittaria=.

=ARROWROOT.= _See_ =Maranta=.

=ARTABOTRYS= (from _artao_, to suspend or support, and _botrys_, grapes; in reference to the way the fruit is supported by the curious tendril). ORD. _Anonaceæ_. A handsome stove evergreen shrub, thriving in a good sandy loam and peat, to which a little rotten dung may be added. Propagated by cuttings made of ripened wood, insert in sand under a bell glass, with bottom heat, in early spring. Seed, when procurable, should be sown as soon after receipt as possible.

=A. odoratissimus= (sweetest-scented).* _fl._ reddish brown, extremely fragrant; peduncles opposite the leaves, hooked beneath the middle. June and July. _l._ oblong-lanceolate, acuminated, smooth, shining. _h._ 6ft. Malayan Islands, 1758. In Java, the leaves are held to be invaluable as a preventive of cholera.

=ARTANEMA= (from _artao_, to support, and _nema_, a filament; in reference to a tooth-like process growing on the longer filaments). ORD. _Scrophularineæ_. An interesting and handsome greenhouse evergreen shrub, allied to _Torenia_. Flowers disposed in terminal racemes, and on short pedicels. Leaves opposite, sub-serrated. It may be treated as hardy during summer, for which purpose seeds should be sown in spring; but it requires the protection of a greenhouse during winter. Artanema grows freely in light rich soil, and is readily increased by cuttings and seeds.

=A. fimbriatum= (fringed). _fl._, corolla blue, large, tubularly funnel-shaped, clothed with minute glandular pubescence outside; lobes unequally serrated; racemes terminal, four to sixteen-flowered. June, November. _l._ lanceolate, acute, serrated, rough to the touch from numerous elevated dots. Stem smooth, glossy. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. New Holland (on the banks of the Brisbane River at Moreton Bay), 1830.

=ARTANTHE.= _See_ =Piper=.