138 
THE ‘DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
HERMINIERA (from hermine, a bedpost; in allu- 
sion to the shape of the stems). Syn. @demone. ORD. 
Leguminosæ. A monotypic genus, the species being a 
tall stove shrub. It thrives best if the pot be partially 
submerged in a warm-water tank. Propagated by seeds. 
H. Ela on (Elaphroxylon). M. large; corolla yellow, 
papilionaceous ; calyx two-lipped ; stamens in two bundles of five 
each, with uniform anthers, l. impari-pinnate ; leaflets exstipel- 
late. Tropical Africa. This plant grows in the beds of shallow 
8 nt rivers of the Upper Nile country, sometimes in such 
thick masses as to impede navigation. It is the ‘‘ Ambash,” or 
Pith-tree, so frequently mentioned in books of tropical African 
travels. 
HERMINIUM (from hermin, the foot of a bed; in 
allusion to the knob-like shape of the root). Musk Orchis. 
Orv. Orchidew. A genus comprising but a few species 
of curious and interesting orchids, all natives of the 
temperate or alpine regions of Europe and Asia, They 
are closely allied to Orchis, but the perianth has no spur, 
and the anther cells are distant at their base, the glands 
of the stalks of the pollen masses protruding below the 
cells. H. Monorchis, the commonest and most widely- 
spread species, is best grown on dry chalky banks, It 
may be propagated by divisions.” 
H. Monorchis (one-bulbed). M. greenish-yellow, small, numerous, 
with a musky odour; spike dense; lip without a spur, deeply 
three-lobed. July. J. radical, two, oblong or lanceolate. h. din. 
to in. Europe (Britain), Siberia, Himalaya. (Sy. En. B. 1466.) 
HERNANDIA (named after Francisco Hernandez, 
physician to Philip II. of Spain, and a writer on the 
Flora of Mexico). Jack-in-a-Box. ORD. Laurinee, A 
genus comprising five or six species of elegant stove 
evergreen trees, widely dispersed throughout the tropical 
regions of both hemispheres. Flowers yellowish, monœ- 
cious, in panicles; sepals petaloid. Leaves cordate, pel- 
tate, smooth. WHernandias require a compost of sandy 
loam and peat. Ripened cuttings, with leaves intact, 
bottom heat. Probably the only two species now in cul- 
tivation are those here described. 
Meerenhoutiana (Mcerenhout’s).* A. dirty yellow, three in 
each involucre, two males and one female; uncles axillary, 
equalling the leaves, nearly glabrous. October. l. coriaceous, 
Zin. to 5in. long, alternate, eng petiole’, ; young ones elliptic ; old 
ones broadly ovate-cordate, obtuse, ecg om thers above, the 
nerves and midrib beneath pilose. Pacific Islands, 1869. A small 
tree. (B. M. 5839.) : 
H. sonora (sounding). /l. whitish-green, corymbose. J. simple, 
roundish, with a lively red centre. h. 50ft. India, 1693. This 
species forms a very handsome plant for sub-tropical gardening, 
for which purpose it is much employed on the Continent. The 
leaves produce a juice that is a powerful depilatory ; it destroys 
hairs without pain wherever it is applied. : 
(from hernia, a rupture; in reference 
ORD. Illecebracee. A genus consisting of eight or ten 
species of herbs, either small, or with a perennial stock 
of short duration. They are natives of Central and 
_ Southern Europe, Western Asia, as far as North-west 
India and Northern Africa; one species being also 
found in South Africa, Flowers green, small, granular, 
crowded in little axillary cymes. Leaves opposite. None 
of the species are of much interest from a horticultural 
point of view, and the only one worth mentioning here 
is H. glabra, whieh is sometimes used for carpet-bedding. 
For culture, see P 
H. glabra (glabrous). Rupturewort. 4. green, small. Summer, 
i. small, opposite, oblong-obovate, or rarely orbicular. Stems 
much branched, spread the ground to the length of a few 
int Europe (Britain), North and West Asia. (Sy. En. B. 
HERON’S BILL. A general name for the British 
species of Erodium and Geranium. — 
__ HERPESTIS (from herpestes, anything that creeps; 
in allusion to the babit of the species). ORD. Scrophu- 
larinew. This genus comprises about fifty species of 
erect, diffuse, prostrate, or aquatic perennial herbs, 
root freely in sand, under a glass, if placed in brisk - 
HERNIARIA 
to the supposed effect of the plant in curing rupture), — 
Herpestis—continued. 
natives of various parts of America, Africa, Australia, 
er Southern Asia, few of which are in cultivation. 
Flowers axillary, sessile or pedicellate, one to three 
together. Leaves opposite entire, toothed, or in the 
aquatic species submerged, capillaceous-multisect. In- 
creased by divisions, or by seeds. The species described 
below will grow in any loamy, well-drained soil, which 
must be kept constantly moist. 
H. Monniera (Monnier’s). f/i. pale blue, small, solitary, opposite, 
on long pedicels. Summer. Z. cuneiform, entire, or toothed at 
the apex. Tropics. Stove. (B. M. 2557.) 
H. refiexa (refiexed). A garden name for Myriophyllum 
proserpinacoides (which see). 
HERREANIA (named in honour of General Herran, 
a President of the Republic of New Grenada). ORp. 
Sterculiacee. A genus comprising three or four species 
of greenhouse evergreen trees, with palm-like heads, 
natives of tropical America. Flowers fasciculate, grow- — 
ing directly from the trunk. Leaves digitate, five or 
six-foliolate. Few of the species are yet in cultivation. 
For culture, see Sterculia. 
H. albiflora (white-flowered). ji. white, the thick concave petals 
terminated by a long strap-shaped appendage. l. palmate, clothed 
with rusty-colonred hairs. Shrub. The seeds of this plant are 
said to be mixed with those of the Cacao, and the product thereby 
improved. 
HERRERIA (named in honour of Gabriel A. de 
Herrera, 1470-1539, a Spanish agriculturist). ORD. 
Tiliacee. A genus comprising three or four species of 
pretty greenhouse plants. Flowers small, scented, in 
many-flowered axillary racemes. Leaves whorl-fascicled, 
linear-lanceolate. Stems climbing. Rootstock tuberous. 
Herrerias succeed in peat, sand, and loam, mixed. In- 
creased by seeds, or by cuttings. Probably the only 
species in cultivation is the following: 
H. Sarsa Sar: i é A 
oa aprio ep pe * in Soca A Be. 
razil, 1824. (B. R. 1042, under name of H. parviflora.) 
HESIODA. See Heisteria. 
HESPERANTHA (from hesperos, the evening, and 
anthos, a flower). Evening Flower. ORD. Iridee. A 
genus of about twenty species of rather pretty dwarf green- 
house bulbous plants, natives of tropical and Southern 
Africa. Flowers very sweetly scented, opening in the even- 
ing (whence the common name), in loose spikes; perianth 
salver-shaped ; limb equalling the slender tube; segments 
equal, spreading. Leaves sword-shaped, curled. For cul- 
ture, see Ixia (to which this genus is allied). 
H. angusta (narrow), fi. uniform white. ing. 2. wer 
than those of H. —— — ai 
cinnamomea (Cinnamon-scented . whitish. April and 
May. l, radical ones faleate, curled, A bin, 1787. (B: M. 1054,) 
H. falcata (sickle-shaped). jl., outer perianth segments shining 
brown outside ; inner segments and inside of outer ones pure 
white. April. l. šin. to 12in. long, striated, somewhat sickle- 
shaped. A. 6in. to 12in. (B, M. 566, under name of Ixia falcata.) 
graminifolia (grass-leaved). M. greenish-white. August and 
September. J. linear. Stem —— h. bin. 1808. (B.M, 1254, 
under name of H. pilosa nuda.) 
ilosa (pilose). A. whitish; inner ents pure white ; outer 
white within, specked with red oulente a ril RA May. /. linear, 
hairy. Stem smooth. A. 6in. 1811. (B. M. 1475.) 
radiata (rayed).* A. white within, nodding; outer segments 
striped with reddish-brown. April to — tistulous, %. 6in. 
1794. (B. M. 573, under name of Ixia radiata. ) 
(the old Greek name used by Theo- 
phrastus, from hesperos, the evening ; in reference to the 
flowers of most of the species being sweet-scented in the 
evening). Dame’s Violet; Rocket. ORD. Crucifere. A 
genus comprising twenty species of pretty hardy or half- 
hardy biennial or perennial erect herbs, indigenous to 
Europe, Asia Minor, Persia, and Siberia. Flowers 
various-coloured, loosely racemose, ebracteate, sweet- 
seented. Leaves ovate or oblong, entire, dentate, or 
lyrate. Only a few of the twenty species constituting 
this genus are cultivated; and of these the double forms 
of H. matronalis are by far the best. They thrive in 
