Part 6

=A. exaltatum= (exalted). _fl._ blue, on loose panicles, with ascending stiff branches; spur thick, somewhat hooked; helmet conical; beak elongated. July. _l._ with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. _h._ 6ft. Pyrenees, 1819. SYN. _A. hamatum_.

=A. flaccidum= (flaccid). _fl._ pale violet, large, on erect spreading peduncles; racemes branched; spur hooked at the apex; helmet high, arched, inclining forwards, gaping. July and August. _l._ multifid, ciliated (as well as the petioles), when young. _h._ 6ft. Siberia, 1822.

=A. gibbosum= (swollen). Synonymous with _A. nasutum_.

=A. Gmelini= (Gmelin's). _fl._ cream-coloured, middle-sized, on very long loose racemes; spur straight, obtuse; bottom of the helmet rounded, cylindrical. July. _l._ on long stalks, villous beneath and shining above; lobes divided into narrow segments. _h._ 2ft. Siberia, 1817. SYN. _A. nitidum_.

=A. gracile= (slender).* _fl._ pale blue or violet, large, on loose racemes; spur erect, clavated-hooked; helmet with a middle sized beak. June. _l._ smooth, with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. Stems slender. _h._ 2ft. Italy, &c.

=A. Halleri= (Haller's).* _fl._ opaque violet, on elongated, loose racemes, with a few lateral ascending ones; spur capitate; helmet convex-hemispherical, gaping. June. _l._ lobes linear, dilated, very long. Stem straight, long, branched. _h._ 4ft. to 6ft. Switzerland, 1821.

=A. H. bicolor= (two-coloured).* _fl._ white, variegated with blue, disposed in spikes or panicles. June.

=A. hamatum= (hooked). Synonymous with _A. exaltatum_.

=A. hebegynum= (blunt-styled). Synonymous with _A. paniculatum_.

=A. heterophyllum= (various-leaved). _fl._ pale yellow, and deep blue in front, large, numerous, dense. August. _l._ petiolate below, sessile above, broadly cordate, coarsely toothed at the edge, and deep green. _h._ 2ft. Himalayas, 1874. A new introduction, said to be non-poisonous, and used as a tonic in India.

=A. illinitum= (anointed). _fl._ pale or deep violet, on very loose and much branched panicles, large; spur thick, long, abruptly pointed; beak blunt; helmet sub-conical. July. _l._ with broad cuneiform lobes, and obtuse lobules. _h._ 4ft. 1821.

=A. intermedium= (intermediate). _fl._ blue, on a loose panicle, with ascending stiff branches; spur supine, somewhat hooked; helmet arched. June. _l._ with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. Alps of Europe, 1820.

=A. japonicum= (Japanese).* _fl._ flesh-coloured, on loose panicles, with ascending branches; helmet exactly conical, abruptly mucronate; beak acute, straight. July to September. _l._ stalked, trifid; lateral lobes bifid, middle lobe trifid, all blunt and deeply toothed. Stem round, smooth. _h._ 6ft. Japan, 1790. One of the best species grown.

=A. j. cœruleum= (blue). _fl._ blue. Japan.

=A. laciniosum= (jagged). _fl._ pale blue, or with a white base, large, on somewhat contracted racemes; spur clavated-hooked; helmet arched, conical. June. _l._ with jagged, trapeziform pinnate lobes. _h._ 3ft. Switzerland, 1820.

=A. lycoctonum= (true Wolf's-bane).* _fl._ livid-violet, rather large; racemes more or less pubescent, branched at the base; bottom of helmet cylindrical; beak elongated. July. _l._ large, seven-parted. Stem slender, simple, upright. _h._ 4ft. to 6ft. Europe, 1596.

=A. maximum= (largest). _fl._ pale blue; panicle loose, furnished with a few long distant, few-flowered, pubescent branches; spur short, incurved; helmet hemispherico-conical, obtuse. July. _l._ multifid, large, smooth. _h._ 6ft. Kamtschatka, 1823.

=A. meloctonum= (Badger's-bane). _fl._ cream-coloured, loose, pubescent; panicle large, with diverging branches; spur arched; bottom of helmet conico-cylindrical. July. _l._ five to seven-parted, deep green. _h._ 2ft. to 4ft. Piedmont, 1821.

=A. Meyeri= (Meyer's). _fl._ bluish purple, on pubescent peduncles; spur capitate, inclining. June. _l._ with cuneate bipinnate lobes. _h._ 2ft. to 4ft. Bavaria, 1823.

=A. molle= (soft). _fl._ violet, large, puberulous; racemes panicled, pubescent; helmet irregularly conical, obtuse; front erect; spur capitate, or a little hooked. June. _l._ smooth, with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. _h._ 2ft. to 6ft. 1820.

=A. Napellus= (little turnip).* Common Monk's Hood. _fl._ blue, large, on a large terminal raceme; peduncles erect, pubescent; spur capitate; helmet convex-hemispherical, gaping, smoothish; lip revolute. Summer. _l._ pedately five-lobed. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. There are a great number of varieties of this species cultivated and introduced. The following are some of the names representing slightly varying forms which have, however, been regarded as species by Reichenbach and other authors: _acutum_, _amœnum_, _Bernhardianum_, _Braunii_, _callibotryon_, _Clusianum_, _commutatum_, _firmum_, _formosum_, _Funkianum_, _hians_, _Hoppeanum_, _Kœhleri_, _lætum_, _laxiflorum_, _laxum_, _Mielichhoferi_, _napelloides_, _neomontanum_, _neubergense_, _oligocarpus_, _rigidum_, _strictum_, _tenuifolium_, _venustum_, _virgatum_. One of the most virulent of poisonous plants, both to cattle as well as human beings; and, notwithstanding its eminently handsome appearance, it should only be planted in places where no danger is likely to arise from its presence. See Figs. 17 and 18.

=A. nasutum= (great-nosed). _fl._ violet; panicle contracted, quite smooth; spur elongated, arched; helmet conical, bending forward; beak short. June. _l._ with broad, trapeziform, pinnate lobes. _h._ 3ft. Caucasus, &c., 1818. SYN. _A. gibbosum_.

=A. nitidum= (shining). Synonymous with _A. Gmelini_.

=A. Ottonianum= (Otto's).* _fl._ blue, variegated with white; young peduncles nodding; spur supine, somewhat hooked; helmet arched. July, August. _l._ with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. _h._ 2ft. to 4ft. Carpathian Mountains, 1824.

=A. paniculatum= (paniculate).* _fl._ large, violet; panicle terminal, much branched, loose or contracted, more or less pubescent; helmet conical, beaked; front sinuate. June to September. _l._ smooth, with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. France and Switzerland, 1815. SYN. _A. hebegynum_.

=A. plicatum= (folded). Synonymous with _A. tauricum_.

=A. productum= (long-lipped). _fl._ violet, downy, on few-flowered, loose, pubescent racemes; helmet straight, irregularly convex-conical, with a drawn-out beak; spur capitate. June. _l._ on long stalks with three-parted lobes. _h._ 1ft. Siberia.

=A. rostratum= (beaked).* _fl._ violet; panicle rather loose; spur thick, depressed, globose; helmet conical, elongated, abruptly pointed in front; beak stretched out. June. _l._ with trapeziform, pinnate lobes. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. Switzerland, 1752. SYN. _A. alpinum_.

=A. Schleicheri= (Schleicher's). _fl._ blue or violet, middle sized, on short racemes; spur capitate; helmet convex-hemispherical, gaping, smoothish. Summer. _l._ with finely jagged lobes. Stem straight (or infracted), simple, slender. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. Europe. SYN. _A. vulgare_.

=A. semigaleatum= (half-helmeted). _fl._ pale blue, pubescent when young, on very loose racemes; peduncles elongated; spur hooked; helmet convex, navicular. June. _l._ multifid, few, membranous, smooth; root about the size and form of a pea. _h._ 6in. to 2ft. Kamtschatka, 1818.

=A. Sprengelii= (Sprengel's). _fl._ bluish purple; spur obtuse, straight. June. _l._ with blunt, bipinnate lobes. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. Europe, 1820.

=A. tauricum= (Taurian).* _fl._ deep blue, disposed in dense racemes; peduncles erect, smooth; lateral sepals smooth inside; spur blunt; helmet closed, hemispherical. June. _l._ segments almost pedately disposed and divided into linear acuminate lobes. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. Germany, 1752. SYN. _A. plicatum_.

=A. tortuosum= (twisting). _fl._ pale or deep violet, large; panicle loose, few flowered; spur thick, long, abruptly pointed (neither arched, nor convolute). July. _l._ smooth, with narrow wedge-shaped lobes, and acute lobules. _h._ 6ft. to 8ft. North America, 1812.

=A. toxicum= (very poisonous). _fl._ violet, large, pubescent, on loose, also pubescent, racemes; spur hooked; helmet large, arched, with a blunt beak. June. _l._ smooth, with trapeziform pinnate lobes. Stem flexuous, almost simple. _h._ 2ft. America, 1825.

=A. uncinatum= (hooked).* _fl._ generally lilac, large, smooth; racemes loose, rather umbellate at the apex, very rarely panicled; spur somewhat spiral, inclined; helmet regularly conical, compressed. July. _l._ with trapeziform pinnate lobes. Stem with branches rising from the axils of the leaves. _h._ 4ft. to 8ft. North America, 1768.

=A. variegatum= (variegated).* _fl._ blue, large, smooth; racemes panicled, loose; spur erect, clavated-hooked; helmet bent forward, inflated; beak ascending. July. _l._ lower, on long stalks; upper, sessile, smooth, thickish. _h._ 1ft. to 6ft. Europe, 1597. See Fig. 19.

=A. v. albiflorum= (white-flowered).* _fl._ white, small; helmet straight.

=A. v. bicolor= (two-coloured).* _fl._ white, edged with blue or lilac; helmet straight.

=A. vulgare= (common). A synonym of _A. Schleicheri_.

=A. Willdenovii= (Willdenow's).* _fl._ bluish-purple; peduncles pubescent; spur obtuse, straight. June. _l._ with blunt segments. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. Carniola, 1823.

Sect. II. Roots Fibrous or Napiform.

=A. Anthora= (Anthora).* _fl._ pale yellow; panicles generally pubescent; spur refracted; lip obcordate; helmet arched. July. _l._ palmately cut into linear lobes. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. Pyrenees, 1596. The following varieties of _A. Anthora_ are erroneously classed as species by some authors:

=A. a. Decandollii= (Decandolle's). _fl._ yellow; panicle and flowers pubescent; helmet rather conical, bent, with a short, abrupt, and acuminated beak. _l._ with rather large dark green lobes. Alps of Jura, 1873.

=A. a. eulophum= (well-crested). _fl._ yellow; panicles and flowers puberulous; helmet conical. Caucasus, 1821.

=A. a. grandiflorum= (large-flowered). _fl._ yellow, large; panicle, flowers, and fruit pubescent; helmet rather conical. Alps of Jura, 1821.

=A. a. Jacquinii= (Jacquin's). _fl._ yellow, smooth; helmet somewhat conical, drawn out into an elongated beak.

=A. a. nemorosum= (grove-loving).* _fl._ yellow; panicle and flowers pubescent; helmet somewhat conical, bent; beak short. _l._ with broad lobes.

=A. autumnale= (autumn-flowering).* _fl._ bluish-purple, in loose panicles; peduncles rigidly spreading; spur capitate; helmet closed; lip very long, refracted. July. _l._ with cuneate, bipinnate lobes. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. Europe.

=A. barbatum= (bearded).* _fl._ cream coloured, middle sized; racemes dense, puberulous; spur straightish, obtuse; bottom of helmet conical; middle sepals densely bearded. July. _l._ opaque, with the lobes divided into many linear segments, on long stalks, which are villous as well as the nerves. _h._ 2ft. to 6ft. Siberia, 1807. SYN. _A. squarrosum_.

=A. chinense= (Chinese).* _fl._ intense and very bright blue, in large compound racemes; pedicels slightly hairy above. Summer. _l._ lower ones large, deeply cut into three wedge-shaped segments, tapering at the base; upper ones sessile, gradually becoming more entire. _h._ 4ft. to 6ft. China, 1833.

=A. Lamarckii= (Lamarck's). _fl._ cream-coloured, pubescent; racemes long, cylindrical, crowded, branched at the base; spur spiral; helmet constricted, clavate. July. _l._ large, seven to nine-parted, with the lobes unequally cleft. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. Pyrenees, 1800.

=A. lupicidum= (Wolf's-bane). Synonymous with _A. Vulparia_.

=A. macrophyllum= (large-leaved). _fl._ yellow, numerous, panicled; spur arched; helmet large, somewhat ventricose at the apex. July. _l._ large, more or less dissected. _h._ 4ft. to 8ft. Germany.

=A. Nuttallii= (Nuttall's). Synonymous with _A. ochroleucum_.

=A. ochroleucum= (yellowish-white).* _fl._ cream coloured, large; spur arched; bottom of helmet conico-cylindrical; middle sepals covered with short hairs; racemes puberulous, rather loose. July. _l._ five to seven-parted, deep green, the first ones are puberulous above. _h._ 2ft. to 4ft. Russia, 1794. SYNS. _A. Nuttallii_, _A. pallidum_.

=A. Pallasii= (Pallas'). Probably a mere variety, with a continuous spur, of _A. anthora_.

=A. pallidum= (pale). Synonymous with _A. ochroleucum_.

=A. pyrenaicum= (Pyrenean).* _fl._ yellow, rather large; spur hooked; bottom of helmet cylindrical, rounded; racemes elongated, dense, puberulous. June. _l._ parted almost to the base, with pinnatifid lobes, rather hispid beneath, but smooth above, on long stalks. _h._ 2ft. Pyrenees, &c., 1739.

=A. squarrosum= (rough). Synonymous with _A. barbatum_.

=A. vulparia= (Fox-bane).* _fl._ pale yellow, smooth; spur spiral; helmet cylindrical, large; beak stretched out, acute; racemes crowded. July. _l._ three or five-lobed, ciliated. _h._ 1ft. to 3ft. Europe, 1821. SYN. _A. lupicidum_. The principal varieties of this species are:--

=A. v. carpaticum= (Carpathian). _fl._ panicled, of a lurid colour, sometimes variegated with yellow; helmet conico-cylindrical, compressed; peduncles smooth. _l._ profoundly cut. Stems smooth. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. Carpathian Mountains, 1810.

=A. v. Cynoctonum= (tall Dog's-bane). _fl._ (and stem) yellow, smoothish, numerous, panicled. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. France, 1820.

=A. v. moldavicum= (Moldavian). _fl._ violet, panicled; helmet cylindrical, compressed. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. Moldavia.

=A. v. rubicundum= (reddish). _fl._ livid violet, panicled, villous, variegated with yellow; helmet conico-cylindrical, compressed. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. Siberia, 1819.

=A. v. septentrionale= (northern).* _fl._ blue, panicled, villous; helmet conico-cylindrical, compressed. _h._ 4ft. North Europe, 1800.

=ACONTIAS.= _See_ =Xanthosoma=.

=ACORN.= The seed or fruit of the oak. _See_ =Quercus=.

=ACORUS= (from _a_, without, and _kore_, the pupil of the eye; in allusion to its reputed medicinal qualities). ORD. _Aroideæ_. A small genus of hardy herbaceous plants. Flowers on a sessile spadix; perianth six-cleft, inferior, persistent. They thrive best in a moist soil, and are very suitable for the banks of water, or even as aquatics in shallow water. Propagated easily by divisions during spring.

=A. Calamus= (sweet-flag).* _fl._ yellowish, small, borne on a cylindrical spadix 4in. to 6in. long. Summer. _l._ sword-shaped, erect, striated 3ft. long. The root is cylindrical, channelled, and very fragrant. Europe. The variety with gold-striped leaves is more useful as a decorative plant. See Fig. 20.

=A. gramineus= (grass-leaved). China, 1796. This is much smaller in all its parts than the above, but very pretty.

=A. g. variegatus.=* A pretty variety with white striped leaves, forming handsome little tufts.

=ACOTYLEDONS.= Plants having no cotyledons, or seed leaves, as in _Cuscuta_, but usually applied to cryptogamic or flowerless plants, such as ferns, mosses, &c.

=ACRADENIA= (from _akra_, top, and _aden_, a gland; referring to the five glands on the top of the ovary). ORD. _Rutaceæ_. An excellent neat and compact evergreen bush, suitable for the cool conservatory. It requires a rich loam and leaf mould. Propagated by seeds and cuttings under a bell glass.

=A. Frankliniæ= (Lady Franklin's).* _fl._ white, produced in great profusion, in terminal clusters. August. _l._ fragrant, opposite, trifoliate, gland-dotted. _h._ 8ft. Tasmania, 1845.

=ACRE= (from _agros_, an open field). The English Statute acre consists of 160 square rods (perches, poles, roods, or lugs); or 4840 square yards; or 43,560 square feet. The following list shows the differentiation in the number of square yards per acre in the various districts of Great Britain and Ireland: Cheshire, 10,240; Cornish, 5760; Cunningham, 6250; Derby (W.), 9000; Devonshire, 4000; Herefordshire, 3226-2/3; Irish, 7840; Leicestershire, 2308-3/4; Scotch, 6150; Wales, North (customary), 3240; ditto (erw), 4320; Westmoreland, 6760; Wiltshire, 3630.

=ACRIDOCARPUS= (from _akris_, a locust; and _karpos_, fruit; meaning not obvious). ORD. _Malpighiaceæ_. A handsome sub-tropical or warm greenhouse climber, requiring plenty of water, and a very free drainage. Increased by imported seeds, and by cuttings in bottom heat.

=A. natalitius= (Natal).* _fl._ pale yellow; petals five, rounded, wedge-shaped, crenately-toothed at the edge; racemes simple, elongated, terminal. July. _l._ oblong or obovate, obtuse, leathery. Natal, 1867.

=ACRIOPSIS= (from _akros_, top, and _opsis_, eye). ORD. _Orchidaceæ_. A small genus of pretty stove epiphytal orchids, almost unknown to cultivation. Flowers small, arranged in loose panicles; lip adnate to the very curious column, from which it projects at right angles.

=A. densiflora= (crowded-flowered).* _fl._ green and pink. May. _l._ linear-lanceolate. _h._ 6in. Borneo, 1845.

=A. javanica= (Javanese). _fl._ yellow, green. May. _l._ linear-lanceolate. _h._ 3in. Java, 1840.

=A. picta= (painted).* _fl._ white, green, and purple. May. _l._ solitary, linear. _h._ 6in. Bantam, 1843.

=ACROCLINIUM= (from _akros_, top, and _kline_, a bed; referring to the open flowers). ORD. _Compositæ_. A small genus of elegant half hardy annuals with "everlasting" flower heads, which are solitary, terminal, and consist of tubular florets; involucrum many-leaved, imbricated. Leaves numerous, linear, smooth, acuminated. Stems numerous, erect. They thrive best in a loamy soil, and constitute very neat summer flowering annuals if sown out of doors in patches in June; they are also useful as winter decorative greenhouse plants if seed is sown in August in pots placed in a cold frame. The flower-heads should be gathered when young, if it is desired to preserve them.

=A. roseum= (rosy).* _fl.-heads_ pretty rose, solitary, terminal, on erect, slender, and gracefully disposed branches. _l._ linear, acute. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. S. W. Australia, 1854. See Fig. 21.

=A. r. album= (rosy white).* A very pretty white form of the preceding.

=A. r. grandiflorum= (large-flowered).* _fl.-heads_ rose, larger than in the type.

=ACROCOMIA= (from _akros_, top, and _kome_, tuft; referring to the position of the leaves). ORD. _Palmeæ_. A genus of South American palms, containing about eleven species, which are not easily distinguished, but having the following general characteristics: Trunk from 20ft. to 50ft. high, and clad with long prickles. The flowers, which appear in the axils of the lower leaves, are greenish or yellow, and their drupes are much the same colour. Leaves pinnate, with seventy to eighty leaflets on each side of the pinnæ. They require a warm greenhouse and rich sandy loam. Increased by suckers. Two species only are in general cultivation.

=A. aculeata= (prickly). _h._ 40ft. West Indies, 1791.

=A. fusiformis= (spindle-shaped). _h._ 40ft. Trinidad, 1731.

=A. globosa= (globular). =h.= 20ft. St. Vincent, 1824.

=A. horrida= (horrid). _h._ 30ft. Trinidad, 1820.

=A. lasiospatha= (hairy spathed). _l._ drooping. Trunk about 40ft. high, smooth and ringed. Para, 1846.

=A. sclerocarpa= (hard-fruited).* A very elegant species bearing a head of spreading pinnate leaves, with the rachises and petioles aculeate, and the leaflets linear, taper-pointed, glaucous underneath, about 1ft. long. _h._ 40ft. West Indies, 1731. SYN. _Cocos fusiformis_.

=A. tenuifolia= (fine-leaved). _h._ 30ft. Brazil, 1824.

=ACROGENS.= Plants increasing at the summit, as Ferns, &c.

=ACRONYCHIA= (from _akron_, tuft, and _onux_, a claw; referring to the curved points of the petals). ORD. _Rutaceæ_. An ornamental rue-like greenhouse evergreen shrub. Petals and sepals four; stamens eight, inserted on a disk; fruit berry-like. It requires ordinary greenhouse treatment. Increased by cuttings in July in sand, under a bell glass.

=A. Cunninghami= (Cunningham's).* _fl._ white, in clusters, resembling those of an orange, with an exquisite fragrance. July. _h._ 7ft. Moreton Bay, 1838.

=ACROPERA.= _See_ =Gongora=.

=ACROPHORUS.= _See_ =Davallia=.

=ACROPHYLLUM= (from _akros_, top, and _phyllon_, a leaf; referring to the way in which the leaves are produced at the summit of the branches, above the flowers). ORD. _Cunoniaceæ_. Handsome greenhouse small, erect-growing, evergreen shrubs, flowering profusely during the spring months. They require a mixture of fibrous peat, a little loam, and sharp sand; thorough drainage, an airy situation, and as little artificial heat as possible, are important to its well-being. Re-pot in February. Propagated by cuttings of the half ripened shoots, which strike freely in a soil of sand and peat, if covered with a hand glass, and placed in a cool house. The roots should not be allowed to get dry, and light syringing during late spring and summer will be found beneficial in assisting to keep down thrips.

=A. verticillatum= (whorled). A synonym of _A. venosum_.

=A. venosum= (veined).* _fl._ pinkish white, in dense axillary spikes, which are borne on the upper part of the stems and branches. May and June. _l._ nearly sessile, oblong, cordate, acute, serrate, in whorls of threes. _h._ 6ft. New South Wales. SYN. _A. verticillatum_.

=ACROPTERIS.= _See_ =Asplenium=.

=ACROSTICHUM= (from _akros_, top, and _stichos_, order; meaning very obscure). ORD. _Filices_. This genus includes _Aconiopteris_, _Chrysodium_, _Egenolfia_, _Elaphoglossum_, _Gymnopteris_, _Olfersia_, _Photinopteris_, _Pœcilipteris_, _Polybotrya_, _Rhipidopteris_, _Soromanes_, _Stenochlæna_, _Stenosemia_. A large and almost entirely tropical genus; it includes groups with a wide range in venation and cutting. Sori spread over the whole surface of the frond or upper pinnæ, or occasionally over both surfaces. The species having long fronds, are admirably suited for growing in suspended baskets, and the dwarfer sorts do well in Wardian cases. A compost of peat, chopped sphagnum, and sand, is most suitable. For general culture, _see_ =Ferns=.

=A. acuminatum= (taper-pointed).* _rhiz._ thick, climbing. _sti._ 4in. to 6in. long, firm, erect, scaly throughout. _barren fronds_ 1ft. to 2ft. long, 1ft. or more broad, deltoid, bipinnate; upper pinnæ oblong-lanceolate, slightly lobed, truncate on the lower side at the base, 2in. to 3in. long, 3/4in. to 1in. broad; lower pinnæ, 6in. to 8in. long, 4in. to 5in. broad, with several small pinnules on each side; light green, with a firm texture. _fertile fronds_ 1ft. long, deltoid, tripinnate. Brazil. Stove species. SYN. _Polybotrya acuminatum_.