Part 8

=ACTINIOPTERIS= (from _aktin_, a ray, and _pteris_, a fern; the fronds are radiately cut into narrow segments). ORD. _Filices_. Sori linear-elongated, sub-marginal; involucres (= indusia) the same shape as the sorus, folded over it, placed one on each side of the narrow segments of the frond, opening towards the midrib. A small genus of beautiful and distinct stove ferns. They thrive in a compost of equal parts crocks and charcoal, about the size of peas, which must be mixed with silver sand and a very small portion of loam and peat. About half the pot should be filled with crocks, perfect drainage being necessary. A moist atmosphere is also essential, and the plants may be syringed two or three times a day. A mean summer temperature of 78deg. to 80deg., with a night one of not less than 65deg., is desirable. In winter, a mean temperature of about 73deg., and a night one of not less than 60deg., should be maintained.

=A. radiata= (rayed).* _sti._ densely tufted, 2in. to 6in. long. _fronds_ fan shaped, 1in. to 1-1/2in. each way, composed of numerous dichotomous segments, half line broad, those of the fertile frond longer than those of the barren one. India, &c. (very widely distributed), 1869. In form this elegant little species is a perfect miniature of the Fan Palm, _Latania borbonica_.

=A. r. australis= (southern).* _fronds_, segments fewer, larger, and subulate at the point. Plant much larger and more vigorous.

=ACTINOCARPUS= (from _aktin_, a ray, and _karpos_, fruit; referring to the curiously radiated fruit, resembling a star fish). ORD. _Alismaceæ_. Pretty little aquatic perennials, with habit and inflorescence of _Alisma_. Carpels six to eight, connate at base, spreading horizontally. Excellent for naturalising in bogs and pools. Increased by seeds and divisions during spring.

=A. Damasonium= (Damasonium). Ray Pod. _fl._ white, very delicate; each petal has a yellow spot at the base; scapes with a terminal umbel. June. _l._ radical, on long petioles, sometimes floating, elliptical, five-nerved. A native aquatic. The proper name of this plant is _Damasonium stellatum_.

=A. minor= (smaller).* This greenhouse species, also with white flowers, from New South Wales, is smaller.

=ACTINOMERIS= (from _aktin_, a ray, and _meris_, a part; referring to the radiated aspect of the plants). SYN. _Pterophyton_. ORD. _Compositæ_. A small genus of herbaceous perennials allied to _Helianthus_, but with compressed and winged achenes. Flower-heads corymbose, Coreopsis-like. Leaves ovate or lanceolate, serrate. They are hardy, ornamental plants, and of easy cultivation, in a loamy soil. Increased in spring, by seeds and division of the roots, on a warm border, with or without hand lights, or in cold frames. With the exception of _A. helianthoides_, they are but little known in this country.

=A. alata= (wing-stalked). _fl.-heads_ yellow. July. _h._ 3ft. America. 1803.

=A. helianthoides= (sunflower-like).* _fl.-heads_ yellow, 2in. across, July to September. _h._ 3ft. S. America, 1825.

=A. procera= (tall).* _fl.-heads_ yellow. September. _h._ 8ft. N. America, 1766.

=A. squarrosa= (rough-headed).* _fl.-heads_ yellow, in loose terminal panicles. July and August. _l._ decurrent, broadly lanceolate, coarsely toothed. Stem square, winged. _h._ 3ft. North America, 1640. SYN. _Verbesina Coreopsis_.

=ACTINOPHYLLUM.= _See_ =Sciadophyllum=.

=ACTINOSTACHYS.= Included under =Schizæa= (which _see_).

=ACTINOTUS= (from _actinotos_, furnished with rays; referring to the involucre). ORD. _Umbelliferæ_. An Australian genus of greenhouse herbaceous perennials. Flowers shortly pedicellate, numerously disposed in simple umbels; petals none. Leaves alternate, petiolate. They thrive best in loam and peat, and are increased by root division and seeds. The latter should be sown on a hotbed, in spring, and in May the seedlings may be transplanted out in the open border in a warm situation, where they will flower and seed freely.

=A. helianthus= (sunflower).* _fl._ white, in many-flowered capitate umbels; involucre many leaved, radiating, longer than the flowers. June. _l._ alternate, bipinnatifid; lobules bluntish. _h._ 2ft. 1821. SYN. _Eriocalia major_.

=A. leucocephalus= (white-headed). _fl._ white. June. _h._ 2ft. 1837.

=ACULEATUS.= Armed with prickles.

=ACULEOLATUS.= Armed with small prickles.

=ACULEUS.= A prickle; a conical elevation of the skin of a plant, becoming hard and sharp-pointed.

=ACUMEN.= An acute terminal angle.

=ACUMINATE.= Extended into an acute terminal angle; this word is confined to considerable extension.

=ACUNNA OBLONGA.= _See_ =Bejaria æstuans=.

=ACUTE.= Sharp-pointed.

=ACYNTHA.= A synonym of =Sanseviera= (which _see_).

=ADA= (a complimentary name). ORD. _Orchideæ_. An evergreen orchid, very closely allied to _Brassia_, from which it differs chiefly in having the lip parallel with, and solidly united to, the base of the column. Some authorities now refer the plant to the genus _Mesospinidium_. It requires to be potted in peat and sphagnum, in equal parts. The drainage must be perfect, and, during summer, the water supply profuse. Although in winter far less will suffice, the plant should not be allowed to become dry. Propagated by divisions as soon as the plant commences growth.

=A. aurantiaca= (orange).* _fl._ orange-scarlet, in long terminal nodding racemes, each bearing from six to ten blossoms; petals elongated, streaked with black inside. Winter and spring. _l._ two or three to each plant, linear, dark green, about 6in. in length. Habit erect, with somewhat cylindrical pseudo-bulbs, which taper upwards. See Fig. 25.

=ADAMIA= (named after John Adam, some time Governor-General of India, and a promoter of natural history). ORD. _Saxifrageæ_. A small genus of Hydrangea-like greenhouse evergreen shrubs, having many flowered terminal corymbs of flowers, and opposite, petiolate, oblong-lanceolate, serrated leaves. They thrive well in a mixture of loam, peat, and sand; and cuttings will root readily in a similar compost, under a hand glass.

=A. cyanea= (blue-berried). _fl._ whitish, or pink. June. _h._ 6ft. Nepaul, in rocky places, 1829.

=A. sylvatica= (wood). _fl._ blue; cymes nearly undivided, on short peduncles, disposed in a close panicle. June. _h._ 6ft. Java, 1846.

=A. versicolor= (many-coloured). _fl._ blue. August. China, 1844.

=ADAM'S APPLE.= _See_ =Citrus Limetta= and =Musa paradisiaca=.

=ADAMSIA.= _See_ =Geum=, =Puschkinia=, =Sieversia=.

=ADAM'S NEEDLE.= _See_ =Yucca=.

=ADANSONIA= (named after Michael Adanson, an eminent French botanist). Baobab Tree. ORD. _Sterculiaceæ_. This is reputed to be one of the largest trees in the world, as far as the girth of the trunk is concerned; but it is seldom seen in cultivation in this country.

=A. digitata= (finger-leaved). _fl._ white, about 6in. across, with purplish anthers, on long, axillary, solitary pedicels. _l._ palmate, with three leaflets in the young plants, and five to seven in adult ones. _h._ 40ft. Africa.

=ADDER'S FERN.= _See_ =Polypodium vulgare=.

=ADDER-SPIT.= _See_ =Pteris aquilina=.

=ADDER'S TONGUE.= _See_ =Ophioglossum=.

=ADELOBOTRYS= (from _adelos_, obscure, and _botrys_, a cluster). ORD. _Melastomaceæ_. Stove climbing shrubs with terete branches. Flowers white, crowded in cymose heads at the tops of the branches. Leaves clothed with rufous hairs on both surfaces when young, but in the adult state glabrous, except the nerves, petiolate, ovate, cordate, acuminated, ciliately serrated, five-nerved. For general culture, _see_ =Pleroma=.

=A. Lindeni= (Linden's).* _fl._ white, changing to purple. Brazil, 1866.

=A. scandens= (climbing).* This, the original species, possibly not now in cultivation, is a native of French Guiana.

=ADENANDRA= (from _aden_, a gland, and _aner_, a male; the anthers terminate in a globose gland). ORD. _Rutaceæ_. Very beautiful little greenhouse shrubs from the Cape of Good Hope. Flowers large, usually solitary at the tops of the branches; stamens ten, the five opposite the petals sterile, five fertile ones similar in form, but shorter. Leaves usually alternate, flat, glandularly dotted. They thrive in a mixture of sand and peat, with a little turfy loam. The young tops, before they begin to throw out their buds, made into cuttings, and planted in a pot of sand, with a bell glass placed over them, will root without bottom heat.

=A. acuminata= (acuminate). Synonymous with _A. amœna_.

=A. amœna= (pleasing).* _fl._ large, whitish above, and reddish beneath, solitary, sessile, terminal. June. _l._ scattered, oblong or oval, bluntish, smooth, dotted beneath. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. 1798. SYN. _A. acuminata_.

=A. coriacea= (leathery-leaved). _fl._ large, pink, usually solitary on the tops of the branches. June. _l._ scattered, oblong, obtuse, revolute, quite smooth. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. 1720.

=A. fragrans= (fragrant).* _fl._ rose colour, on long peduncles, fragrant; pedicels clammy, aggregate, umbellate. May. _l._ scattered, smooth, spreading very much, ovate-oblong, glandular, a little crenulated. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. 1812.

=A. linearis= (linear-leaved). _fl._ white, terminal, on long, usually solitary, pedicels. June. _l._ opposite, linear, obtuse, spreading; branches and pedicels smooth. _h._ 1ft. 1800.

=A. marginata= (margined).* _fl._ pale flesh-colour, on long peduncles; umbels terminal. June. _l._ scattered, smooth, transparent, cordate, lower ones ovate, upper ones lanceolate. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. 1806.

=A. umbellata= (umbel-flowered).* _fl._ pink, almost sessile, terminal, umbellate, petals fringed. June. _l._ oblong or obovate, dotted beneath, fringed on the edges. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. 1790.

=A. u. speciosa= (showy).* _fl._ large, pink, nearly sessile, terminal, umbellate. June. _l._ scattered, oblong or obovate, revolute, dotted beneath, smooth, but a little fringed on the edges. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. 1790.

=A. uniflora= (one-flowered).* _fl._ large, whitish inside, and pinkish outside, nearly sessile, solitary, terminal. June. _l._ scattered, oblong-lanceolate, somewhat pointed, revolute, smooth, dotted beneath. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. 1775.

=A. villosa= (shaggy).* _fl._ pink, nearly sessile, terminal, umbellate; sepals, petals, and stamens fringed. June. _l._ crowded, ovate-oblong, fringed, pubescent and glandular beneath. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. 1786.

=ADENANTHERA= (from _aden_, a gland, and _anthera_, an anther; in reference to the anthers, which are each terminated by a deciduous, pedicellate gland). ORD. _Leguminosæ_. A small genus of stove evergreen trees, with racemose spikes of small flowers and bipinnate or decompound leaves. They thrive well in a mixture of peat and loam. Increased by cuttings, which should be taken off at a joint and planted in heat in a pot of sand, placing a bell glass over them.

=A. chrysostachys= (golden-spiked). _fl._ golden. _h._ 15ft. Mauritius, 1824.

=A. falcata= (sickle-shaped). _fl._ yellowish. _h._ 6ft. India, 1812.

=A. pavonina= (peacock-like).* Peacock Flower Fence. _fl._ white and yellow mixed. May. _l._ leaflets oval, obtuse, glabrous on both surfaces. _h._ 5ft. India, 1759.

=ADENANTHOS= (from _aden_, a gland, and _anthos_, a flower; referring to the glands on the flowers). ORD. _Proteaceæ_. Ornamental greenhouse evergreen pilose shrubs, thriving in sandy peat. Propagated in spring by cuttings, which should be placed in sandy soil under a bell glass, with a gentle bottom heat.

=A. barbigera= (bearded).* _fl._ red, axillary, solitary, pedunculate; perianth pilose, bearded at top; involucre spreading, villous. June. _l._ oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, triple-nerved. _h._ 7ft. Swan River, 1845.

=A. cuneata= (wedge-leaved). _fl._ red. July. _h._ 5ft. New Holland, 1824.

=A. obovata= (obovate-leaved).* _fl._ red. July. _h._ 5ft. New Holland, 1826.

=ADENIUM= (from Aden, where it is found). ORD. _Apocynaceæ_. Greenhouse evergreen succulent shrubs. The species mentioned below is remarkable in having a globose thick caudex or stem; branches dichotomous; corolla salver-shaped. They require a well-drained compost of sand and loam. Half-ripened cuttings strike root readily in sand, under a hand glass. But little water is required when the plants are not in a growing state.

=A. obesum= (fat). _fl._ pinky-crimson, downy; corymbs terminal, many-flowered; pedicels short. June. _l._ close together at the tops of the branches, 3in. long, oblong, narrowed at the base, abruptly terminated by a hard, short point. _h._ 3ft. or 4ft. Aden, 1845.

=ADENOCALYMNA= (from _aden_, a gland, and _calymna_, a covering; referring to the conspicuous glands on the leaves and floral coverings). ORD. _Bignoniaceæ_. An elegant genus of stove evergreen climbers. Flowers racemose, trumpet-shaped, bracteate. Leaves ternate or binate. Stems slender. They require a hot and moist temperature to grow them successfully, and thrive best in a compost of loam and peat. Cuttings will root in sand, if placed under a bell glass, with bottom heat.

=A. comosum= (hairy).* _fl._ yellow; racemes spicate, axillary, and terminal; bracts comose. September. _l._ trifoliate and conjugate, tendrilled; leaflets ovate, leathery, glandular. _h._ 10ft. Brazil, 1841.

=A. longeracemosum= (long-racemed). _fl._ yellow. October. Brazil.

=A. nitidum= (shining).* _fl._ yellow; racemes axillary, nearly terminal, velvety; corolla velvety; bracts narrow, glandular. February. _l._ trifoliate or conjugate, tendrilled; leaflets elliptic, oblong. _h._ 10ft. Brazil, 1848.

=ADENOCARPUS= (from _aden_, a gland, and _karpos_, a fruit; in reference to the legumes being beset with pedicellate glands). ORD. _Leguminosæ_. Shrubs, with numerous racemes of yellow flowers; divaricate branches, trifoliate usually aggregate leaves, having petiolar stipulas, and complicated leaflets. All the species are elegant when in flower, and well suited for ornamenting the fronts of shrubberies. Except where otherwise mentioned, all are hardy. They thrive best in a mixture of loam, peat, and sand; and may be readily increased by seeds or layers, or by grafting the rarer on the commoner kinds. Young cuttings will root freely in sand, covered by a hand glass, which should be taken off and wiped occasionally. Seeds may be sown in March, the hardy species out of doors, and the others in a cold house.

=A. foliolosus= (slightly-leaved).* _fl._ yellow; racemes terminal; calyx covered with glandless hairs, with the lower lip elongated and trifid at the apex; the segments equal. May. _l._ (and branches) much crowded, hairy, trifoliate. _h._ 4ft. to 6ft. Canary Islands, 1629. A half-hardy evergreen species.

=A. frankenioides= (frankenia-like).* _fl._ yellow, crowded; racemes terminal; calyx beset with glandular pubescence, with the lower lip having the middle segment longer than the lateral ones, and exceeding the lower lip. April. _l._ trifoliate, much crowded, hairy; branches velvety. _h._ 1ft. to 3ft. Teneriffe, 1815. Requires protection in winter; an evergreen.

=A. hispanicus= (Spanish).* _fl._ yellow, crowded; racemes terminal; calyx beset with glands and hairs; lower lip of calyx with three equal segments, hardly longer than the upper lip. June. _l._ trifoliate, grouped; branchlets hairy. _h._ 2ft. to 4ft. Spain, 1816. Deciduous.

=A. intermedius= (intermediate).* _fl._ yellow, not crowded; racemes terminal; calyx beset with glandular pubescence, with the lower lip trifid, the lateral segments shorter than the middle ones, and much exceeding the upper lip. May. _l._ trifoliate, grouped; branches rather shaggy. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. Sicily and Naples, on mountains, 1816. Deciduous.

=A. parvifolius= (small-leaved).* _fl._ yellow, not crowded; racemes terminal; calyx clothed with glandular pubescence, with the middle segment of the lower lip longer than the lateral ones, much exceeding the upper lip. May. _l._ trifoliate, grouped, small; branches glabrous. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. France, on exposed heaths, 1800. Deciduous.

=A. telonensis= (Toulon).* _fl._ yellow, not crowded; racemes terminal; calyx clothed with glandless pubescence, the segments of the lower lip about equal in length, a little longer than the upper lip. June. _l._ trifoliate, grouped; branchlets smoothish. _h._ 2ft. to 4ft. South France, 1800. Deciduous.

=ADENOPHORA= (from _aden_, a gland, and _phoreo_, to bear; in reference to the cylindrical nectary which girds the base of the style). ORD. _Campanulaceæ_. A genus of elegant hardy border perennials, very similar in habit, shape of flower, &c., to _Campanula_, from which genus _Adenophora_ differs in having the style surrounded by a cylindrical gland. Flowers stalked, drooping, spicate. Leaves broad, stalked, somewhat whorled. They grow best in light rich garden soil, with a warm sunny position, and should be increased by seeds, as dividing the roots is the sure way to lose them. They are easily raised from seeds, which may be sown as soon as ripe, or in spring, in pots placed in a cold frame.

=A. coronopifolia= (buckhorn-leaved).* _fl._ blue, large, three to ten, racemose, at the top of the stem, on short pedicels. July. _l._ radical ones petiolate, ovate-roundish, cordate, crenately toothed; upper ones sessile, linear-lanceolate, nearly entire, quite glabrous. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. Dahuria, 1822.

=A. denticulata= (toothed-leaved).* _fl._ blue, small, numerous, on short pedicels, disposed in a more or less loose elongated raceme. July. _l._ serrated, smoothish; radical ones petiolate, rounded; upper ones sessile, ovate-lanceolate. _h._ 1-1/2ft. Dahuria, 1817. SYN. _A. tricuspidata_.

=A. Fischeri= (Fischer's).* _fl._ blue, or whitish blue, numerous, sweet-scented, disposed in a more or less compound, elongated, and loose pyramidal panicle. August. _l._ radical ones petiolate, ovate-roundish, cordate, crenately toothed; upper ones sessile, ovate-lanceolate, coarsely serrated. _h._ 1-1/2ft. Siberia, 1784. SYN. _A. liliiflora_.

=A. Gmelini= (Gmelin's). _fl._ blue, secund, three to ten, on the top of each stem, rising from the axils of the upper leaves, disposed in a long raceme. July. _l._ upper ones erect, linear, very narrow, entire, glabrous. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. Dahuria, in dry stony places, 1820.

=A. intermedia= (intermediate). _fl._ pale blue, small, racemose. May. _l._ radical ones petiolate, cordate, toothed; upper ones lanceolate, tapering to a point at the base, serrated, crowded. _h._ 3ft. Siberia, 1820.

=A. Lamarckii= (Lamarck's).* _fl._ blue; corolla funnel-shaped, disposed in an elongated, many-flowered, raceme, which is compound at the base. June. _l._ ovate-lanceolate, acutely serrated, ciliated, glabrous, except on the margins. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. Eastern Europe, 1824.

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

=A. liliiflora= (lily-flowered).* _fl._ numerous, sweet-scented, in a loose pyramidal panicle. Central and Eastern Europe.

=A. pereskiæfolia= (pereskia-leaved).* _fl._ blue, rather numerous, scattered over the upper part of the stems, rarely subverticillate; peduncles one to two, or three-flowered. July. _l._ three to five in a whorl, ovate-oblong, acuminated, coarsely serrated, roughly ciliated. _h._ 1-1/2ft. Dahuria, 1821. SYN. _A. latifolia_.

=A. periplocæfolia= (periploca-leaved). _fl._ pale blue, at the top of the stem, sometimes only one. June. _l._ petiolate, ovate, acute, somewhat cordate, crenately serrated. Stem ascending. _h._ 3in. Siberia, 1824. Rockery species.

=A. stylosa= (long-styled).* _fl._ pale blue, small, few, disposed in a loose, naked, raceme. May. _l._ petiolate; lower ones obovate, sinuate; upper ones ovate, acuminated, glabrous. Stem ascending. _h._ 1ft. to 1-1/2ft. Eastern Europe, 1820.

=A. tricuspidata= (three-cusped). Synonymous with _A. denticulata_.

=A. verticillata= (whorl-leaved).* _fl._ pale blue, small, irregularly disposed at the tops of the stems; lower whorls many flowered, distant; peduncles one to three-flowered. June. _l._ in whorls, serrately toothed; radical ones petiolate, roundish; upper ones ovate-lanceolate; stems simple. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. Dahuria, 1783.

=ADENOSTOMA= (from _aden_, a gland, and _stoma_, a mouth). ORD. _Rosaceæ_. Hardy shrubs, having small racemose, five-petalled flowers. They grow freely in rich loam and peat in equal proportions. Propagated in spring or autumn, by cuttings made of the young shoots, placed in sand, under glass.

=A. fasciculata= (fascicled).* _fl._ white, small, produced in terminal panicles. _h._ 2ft. California, 1848. A hardy, heath-like evergreen bushy plant, allied to _Alchemilla_.

=ADESMIA= (from _a_, without, _desmos_, a bond; in reference to the stamens being free). ORD. _Leguminosæ_. Chiefly greenhouse evergreen shrubs, or trailers, from South America, with lanceolate stipulas, abruptly pinnate leaves, ending in a bristle; axillary one-flowered pedicels, or the flowers racemosely disposed at the tops of the branches, in consequence of the upper leaves being abortive. They will grow well in a mixture of loam, peat, and sand. Propagated by cuttings placed in sand, covered by a hand glass, in a gentle heat; or by seeds, which are generally more satisfactory. The annual species--_A. muricata_, _A. papposa_, and _A. pendula_--are not worth growing. The following are fairly representative of the most ornamental species.

=A. glutinosa= (sticky).* _fl._ yellow; racemes elongated, terminal, simple, spinescent, and are (as well as the linear bracteas) clothed with white hairs. May. _l._ with about three pairs of elliptic, hairy leaflets; branches spreading, beset with glandular, glutinous hairs. Stem shrubby; legumes three-jointed, very long. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. 1831.

=A. Loudonii= (Loudon's). _fl._ yellow. May, _h._ 2ft. Valparaiso, 1830.

=A. microphylla= (small-leaved).* _fl._ yellow; racemes somewhat capitate, terminal, simple, spinescent. June. _l._ with six pairs of small orbicular leaflets, on short petioles, pubescent; branches spinose. Stem shrubby. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. 1830.

=A. Uspallatensis= (Uspallatan). _fl._ yellow. July. _h._ 1ft. China, 1832.

=A. viscosa= (clammy). _fl._ yellow. August. _h._ 12ft. Chili, 1831.

=ADHATODA= (its native name). ORD. _Acanthaceæ_. Allied to _Justicia_. Very ornamental stove shrubs, requiring a good fibrous peat and loam, with a moderate addition of silver sand. To grow them well, they require liberal treatment and plenty of heat, when the flowers will be produced in great profusion. Increased by young cuttings in spring, placed in sandy soil, in bottom heat. _See_ =Justicia=.

=A. cydoniæfolia= (quince-leaved).* _fl._ produced in rather dense clusters at the point of every branch; tube of corolla white, the upper lip white tipped with purple; the lower lip large, rich deep purple, with a white stripe down the centre. October. _l._ opposite, ovate, dark green, and are, as well as the branches, slightly downy. Brazil, 1855. This species is an excellent subject for training up pillars or rafters; and, when in bloom, makes a pretty basket plant. It has a somewhat straggling habit, but a little care only is needed in pruning and training to grow it into an elegant shape.

=A. vasica= (Vasica). _fl._ purple. July. _h._ 10ft. India, 1699.

=ADHERENT.= Strictly signifies sticking to anything, but is more commonly employed in the sense of adnate.