J 
J 
AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 65- 
Gerardia—continued. š 
usually opposite, the uppermost reduced to bracts of 
the racemose or paniculate showy flowers. Considerable 
difficulty is experienced in the cultivation of this genus 
(owing to its being more or less root-parasitic) ; hence, 
it is but rarely represented in English gardens. Im- 
ported seeds frequently germinate, and the plants thrive 
in rich, friable soil, in a warm, sheltered situation. 
G. pedicularia (Louse-wort). fl. citron-yellow, varying to deep 
yellow, sometimes assuming a reddish tint. l. pinnatifid, cut 
toothed. h. 2ft. to 3ft. United States. Perennial. A smaller, 
but more branching species than G. quercifelia, having smaller 
and less numerous flowers, about lin. long. (G. C. 1872, p. 43.) 
G. p urea (purple). M. purple; corolla lin. or less long; 
pedicels shorter than the calyx, mainly opposite. July. J, usually 
spreading, narrowly linear, either somewhat scabrous or smooth, 
with merely scabrous margins. Branches virgate, rather spread- 
ing. h. lft. to 2ft. United States, 1772. Annual. A marked 
variety of this variable species, G. p. paupercula, is figured in 
B. M. 2048, under the name of G. purpurea. 
G. — (Oak-leaved). A., corolla yellow, nearly 2in. long, 
tubularly campanulate ; calyx large, a little inflated. July and 
l., lower ones large, bipinnatifid ; upper ones oblong- 
August, 
h. 3ft. to 6ft. United 
lanceolate, pinnatifid or quite entire. 
States, 1812. Perennial. See Fig. 100. 
GERMANDER. See Teucrium Chamædrys. 
GERMANEA. A synonym of Plectranthus. 
GERMAN IVY. See Senecio mikanioides. 
GERMEN. The ovary. 
GERMINATION. The first act of growth in the 
embryo plant. Its immediate causes are the presence of 
moisture, atmospheric air, and a certain temperature 
above freezing point, varying in elevation, of course, 
with the nature of the species. Heat excites the vitality 
of the embryo plant, and enables it to take advantage 
of the agents with which it is in contact. It has 
generally been considered that the seed should be ex- 
cluded from direct light at first, but this has been proved 
to be quite unnecessary in very many cases. 
GEROPOGON. Now included under Tragopogon 
(which see). 
GESNERA (named after Conrad Gesner, of Zurich, 
1516-1565, a famous botanist and natural historian). In- 
cluding Rechsteinera. ORD. Gesneracee. A genus of 
about fifty species of very elegant stove perennials, 
mostly natives of Brazil; a few, however, are dispersed 
through Guiana, Columbia, and Peru, one extending to 
Mexico. Flowers disposed in opposite cymes, consti- 
tuting a terminal thyrse ; peduncles furnished with 
floral leaves or bracts at the base; corolla tube often 
elongated, sometimes distinctly ventricose, often curved 
and gibbous at the base; limb regular, or two-lipped. 
Leaves opposite. The species are mostly tuberous- 
rooted and herbaceous. 
Cultivation. Propagation is effected by the increase 
of tubers; also by cuttings of the shoots, inserted in 
peat, soon after the plants are started, and by leaf 
cuttings, detached and put in when they are fully 
matured. The flowering season of Gesneras may be 
considerably prolonged by starting successional batches 
from March until midsummer. Thorough drainage is 
essential, and peat and leaf soil, with the addition of a 
little loam and sand, forms a good compost, which should 
only be pressed moderately firm in potting. The bulbs 
may either be grown singly, in 5in. pots, or about five 
arranged over one 6in. in diameter; they should be. 
covered with lin. of soil, and kept rather dry until 
growth commences, when the quantity of water may be 
increased, according to the amount of roots. Shade from 
bright sunshine, in summer, is necessary, and care must 
be taken to keep the leaves clean, as in many species 
these are extremely attractive and beautifully marked. 
Syringing is not recommended after the leaves are de- 
veloped ; the water, in nearly all cases, contains lime in 
solution, and, as evaporation takes place, a sediment is 
left and retained amongst the minute hairs on the leaves 
Vol. IL 
Gesnera— continued. 
of such plants as Gesneras, greatly to their disfigurement, 
when in flower. The plants succeed best on a moist 
bottom, such as a bed of coal ashes, in a house kept, 
in summer, at about 65deg. by night, and, in winter not 
below 55deg. When flowering is over, they should be 
gradually ripened and dried off, until all the foliage is 
dead, when water should be entirely withheld, and the pots 
stored, with their contents, in a dry part of the stove, 
where they may remain until starting time the following 
year. Thrips are frequently very troublesome on the 
young leaves, and should be carefully looked for and 
destroyed by fumigating, when in a young state. Spong- 
ing is sometimes practised, but the leaves are very 
brittle, and easily broken. If it can be avoided, the 
plants should not be placed in any house where these 
insects, or other pests, are present. 
5 ted). fi. rlet; corolla clavate, cylin- 
bee ee enh ne gh 5 —— aggregate. y Venting 
l. opposite, oblong-ovate, crenate. Branches rounded. h. 2ft. 
Brazil, 1816. (B. M. 2725; B. R. 329.) > 
G. bulbosa (bulbous). /. scarlet; cymes many - flowered, 
spreading from the axils of-the leaves, and disposed upwards — 
in a terminal thyrse. Summer. J. opposite, broad-ovate, cor- 
cato porata Stem erect. t. Brazil, 1816. Plant villous. 
G. chromatella (yellow) Jl. rich yellow, drooping, in 
el t erect spikes. Summer. J. rich dark velvety. Garden 
variety. : ; 
G. cinnabarina. See Nægelia cinnabarina, 
G. cochlearis (spoon-leaved). fl. scarlet, in simple racemes ; 
tube of corolla long, inflated beneath ; limb five-lobed ; pedicels 
elongated. June to August. l. opposite, on long petioles, cordate- 
ovate, concave, tomentose, rugose. A. ift. Brazil, 1837. (B. M. 
G. Cooperi (Cooper’s).* fl. bright scarlet, with a densely spotted 
throat, drooping. May. l light green. A. 2ft. Brazil, i 
G. discolor (two-coloured). A. scarlet, pendulous; corolla 
glabrous, clavately cylindrical; pedicels elongated, slender, 
aggregate. June to September. J. large, opposite, petiolate, 
Fie. 101. FLOWERING BRANCH OF GESNERA ELLIPTICA LUTEA. 
K 
