224 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Laburnum— continued. 
common sorts. Laburnums thrive in almost any soil or 
situation. The genus was formerly included under 
Cytisus. 
L. Adami (Adam’s).* ji. dull purplish, disposed in long pendulous 
racemes. This remarkable graft hybrid is said to have been 
raised by Jean Louis Adam, in 1825, by shield-grafting Cytisus 
purpureus on L. vulgare. A most extraordinary thing in con- 
nection with it is the complete reversion of some parts of the same 
tree to one or the other of the parents. SYN. Cytisus Adami. 
L. alpinum (alpine).* Scotch Laburnum. ji. yellow; racemes 
Scag be -p A ieee and calyces puberulous. June, Pod shorter 
han that of L. vulgare, smooth, with distinctly-winged upper 
suture. E petiolate, glabrous ; leaflets ovate -lanceolate, — ed 
at the base. Branches terete. A. 15ft. to — ,, puro 
Hardy tree. Syn. Cytisus alpinus. See Fig. rage aS 
C. hirsutum, and C. pendulum (a form with — branches), 
are varieties. 
L. caramanicum (Caramanian). fl. large, in erect racemes, 
arranged in panicles. June. J. small, shortly stalked. R. 3ft. to 
4ft. Asia Minor, 1879. 
—— (common).* Common Laburnum; Golden Chain. 
fl. yellow; racemes pendulous, simple; pedicels and calyces 
clothed with adpressed pubescence. April to June. Pod clothed 
with hairs ; upper suture thickened and keeled, but not winged, 
A petiolate ; leafiets ovate-lanceolate, pubescent beneath, 
Branches terete, whitish. h. 20ft. Southern France to Hungary, 
1596. SyN. Cytisus Laburnum (under which name it is figured in 
B. M. 176). The following are the best varieties of this very 
rage spring-flowering tree : 
. aureum (golden). An interesting variety, with golden- 
—— leaves. 
L. v. Carlieri (Carlier’s). A — — form, with very 
narrow leaflets and long racem 
L. v. involutum (curled). | A P grower, with the leaflets 
curled so as to form “rings.” 
L. v. Parkesii (Parkes’).. Racemes very long; flowers deeper- 
lourd than those of the type. An excellent variety, raised 
about 1840. 
L. v. quercifolium (Oak-leaved). Leaflets sinuated and lobed, 
so as to resemble a miniature Oak-leaf in outline. 
L. v. Watereri (Waterer’s). For length of raceme, depth of 
alu, and floriferousness, this is, perhaps, the Ta of all the 
v es. 
LAC. A fhid having an opaque appearance, and 
occurring in many plants. 
LACÆNA (a Greek adjective, meaning — of 
Lacedemon; one of the names of Helen of Troy, which 
was applied to this genus on account of its beauty). — 
Orp. Orchidew. A genus of two species of stove epiphytal 
orchids, natives of Central America. They are very 
closely allied to Lycaste and Anguloa. 
Acineta. 
L. bicolor (two-coloured). 
spotted with — — and dark purple. 
(B. R. xxx. 
L. spectabilis Ee fl. pinkish-white, dotted with small 
spots, lin. in diameter ; lip having the central one of the three 
lobes prolonged intoa stalked spade-shaped body, thickly dotted ; 
spikes loose, pendulous. May. Z. elliptic. Pseudo-bulbs oblong: 
ovoid. h. 6in. Mexico, 1853. (B. M. 6516.) 
For culture, see 
jl. greenish-yellow, streaked and 
May. A. 1ft. Guatemala, 
LACE BARK OF JAMAICA. See Lagetta 
lintearia. ‘ 
LACEPEDEA. A synonym of Turpinia (which 
LACERATE. Torn; having a torn appearance. 
LACEWING FLIES. These are frequently called 
Golden-eyes (Chrysopa vulgaris, &c.). They belong to the 
Neuroptera. The flies have usually slender bodies, and 
rather large, delicate wings, reaching from lin. to 1jin. 
in their span. The whole insect is usually green, vary- 
ing in depth, often tinted with yellow; the eyes are very 
brilliant, resembling small golden-yellow beads. The eggs 
are attached, by means of long hair-like stalks, to a 
_ branch, many near one another, and have more than once 
_been mistaken for the fruits of a moss The larve are 
4in. long, oval in form, and depressed, and have strong 
‘jointed legs, and hairs along the sides of the body. 
m Aphides, sucking their victims dry, and 
way the skins. These insects have a most 
Lacewing Flies—continued. 
unpleasant smell; hence they are often known as Stink 
Flies. An allied genus, Hemerobius, includes several 
species, similar in form to Chrysopa, but smaller, seldom 
exceeding lin. in span of wings, and with the body and 
wings of a brown or grey colour. It is like Chrysopa in 
feeding, while young, on Aphides, but the larve clothe 
themselves with the skins of the Aphides killed by them. 
Both genera are rather common. 
LACHENALIA (named after W. de Lachenal, 1736- 
1800, Professor of Botany at Basel). ORD. Liliacew. A 
rather large genus (about thirty species) of greenhouse 
bulbous plants, natives of South Africa. Flowers sessile, 
spicate, or in pedicellate racemes, erect, spreading, or 
pendulous; perianth tubular or almost campanulate ; scape 
simple, leafless. Radical leaves two (or, in a few species, 
three to five), rather thick, oblong, lorate, linear, or 
sub-terete, often spotted or pustulate. Bulbs tunicated. 
Lachenalias are among the most distinct and beautiful of 
dwarf bulbous plants for greenhouse decoration. Some of 
the species are very rare; but, fortunately, one of the best, 
tricolor, is plentiful, and is that most commonly seen. 
L. aurea (a variety of L. tricolor) and L. Nelsoni are also 
extra fine—especially the latter—and worthy of the most 
extensive cultivation so soon as the stock, which is now 
somewhat limited, admits. The flowering season, with 
most species, is spring and early summer; that of a few 
of the rarer kinds being, however, dispersed throughout 
the year. Propagation is effected by the increase of 
bulbs round those of the previous year, which also remain 
good. L. tricolor increases very rapidly, and all of its 
bulbs, except the smallest, flower the following season. 
Cultivation. About the beginning of August is the best 
time for the annual repotting. The whole stock of any 
species to be grown should be taken out of the dry soil in 
which the bulbs are usually kept while at rest, and placed 
together in order that the large and smaller sizes may be 
selected, and grown separately, to produce spikes uniform 
in strength in each pot. Efficient drainage must be pro- 
vided, and the compost here recommended is two parts 
loam to one of leaf soil and dried cow manure; some” 
sharp river sand or road grit being also added, to insure 
the free passage of water. -The bulbs should be placed 
in the pots or pans in which they are intended to flower, - 
as no further repotting will then be necessary. Pans 
from 9in. to 12in. in diameter are well adapted for 
‘Lachenalias, where they are procurable, and there is a 
sufficient stock to fill them. Pots 5in. in diameter are 
those best suited, and about six bulbs should be placed 
in each. Select the strongest for the pans, and cover, 
in either case, with }in. of soil. Place them afterwards 
on a moist bed of ashes, in a cool, shallow pit or 
frame, where frost is merely excluded in winter. A 
good watering may be given at first, to settle the soil; 
but scarcely any more will be needed until growth com- 
mences. Air and all possible light must be admitted 
throughout the winter, to induce a sturdy growth, and 
extra room should be allowed as the plants require it. 
It is advisable to give air to Lachenalias on all favour- 
able occasions in winter, as they soon become drawn in a 
close or warm atmosphere. Cold draughts disfigure the 
foliage, particularly in February and March, causing a 
stunted growth; consequently, in airing, special care must 
be taken. A little artificial manure may be applied with 
advantage so soon as the flower-spikes can be seen. This 
is preferable to the use of manure water, as the latter 
can scarcely be kept off the leaves, or from lodging 
in their axils, to the detriment and injury of the flowers. 
Foreing is sometimes recommended, but it should not 
be practised unless a quantity of plants are at hand 
to keep a succession; all Lachenalias being very much 
* sturdier and better when kept altogether in a cool place, 
away from the drying influences of fire heat. When in 
flower, they present a much finer appearance in a green- 
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