Lactuca—continued. . 
may be increased by divisions of the roots, or by seeds, 
All the species of Lactuca abound in a milky juice, 
which partakes, in a considerable degree, of the qualities 
of opium. The production of this juice is lessened by 
culture, and especially by blanching. It is most abundant 
in plants in a wild state, and in both wild and culti- 
vated Lettuce during inflorescence. It is from the juice 
of the Lettuce that the late Dr. Duncan, of Edinburgh, 
prepared the drug called Lactucarium, which is occasion- 
ally used as a mild narcotic or sedative where opium is 
not admissible. See also Lettuce. — 
L. alpina (alpine).* .-heads purplish-blue, large, numerous, 
disposed ina PEE once Jay: l. somewhat lyrate, the 
terminal lobe triangular and very large. Stems furrowed, erect, 
smvoth below, hairy above. h. Sft. Arctic and Alpine Europe, 
West Siberia, and Scotland (but very rare). Perennial. A 
handsome plant for à somewhat shaded position, in very moist, 
deep, loamy soil. (Sy. En. B. 809, under name of Mulgediuwm 
alpinum.) : 
L. macrophylla (large-leaved). jl.-heads pinkish-purple, large, 
corymbose. — l. radical, large, cordate. Stems stout. h. 4ft. 
Caucasus. A noble species. 
L. macrorhiza (large-rooted).* jl.-heads bright light violet-purple, 
about lin. in diameter, and in loose corymbs. Autumn. 
i. variously f sd, sometimes lyrate-pinnatifid, with one or two 
s of lateral lobes, and a large, roundish, terminal one ; some- 
imes very slightly lyrate-pinnatitid, and at other times oblong ; 
those of the stem with broad amplexicaul auricles. k. 6in. to 
3ft. Himalayas. Perennial. (B. R. xxxii. 17, under name of 
Mulgedium macrorhizon.) 
perennis (perennial). fl.-heads light blue, in corymbose 
panicles. June to August. J. all pinnatifid ; segments linear, 
toothed upwards. h. 2ft. South Europe, 1596. (B. M. 2130.) 
L. Plumieri (Plumier’s). f/l.-heads purple, disposed in large, 
spreading, terminal corymbs, with short bracts. Summer. 4 
broad, large, pinnatitid-runcinate, glaucous underneath. A. 6ft. 
South of A handsome perennial, like 4. alpina, but 
larger and more ornamental. 
L. sativa (cultivated). Common Lettuce. fl.-heads pale yellow, 
in corymbs on a stem about 3ft, high, June. J. large, 
roundish or roundish-oblong, entire, slightly toothed, milky. 
h. 4ft. Generally considered to be a cultivated race derived from 
L. Scariola, a widely-distributed weed. Annual. (B. M. Pl. 161.) | 
L. tuberosa (tuberous).* fl.-heads pale blue, over lin. across, 
disposed in loose panicles. Autumn. l. about lft. long, Qin. 
pery je oar S meg i with lanceolate, somewhat recurved, 
tinely-toothed lobes. h, lft. to 14ft. An ornamental perennial, 
with a neat habit. Tauria, E 
LACUNA. An intercellular space, circumscribed by 
a great many cells. ; 
LACUNOSE. Having numerous large, deep excava- 
tions, : 
DYBIR (Coccinella). These are a group of 
beetles of very great value to horticulturists, 
Fig. 367. GRUB OF SEVEN-SPOTTED LADYRIRD (enlarged), 
inasmuch as the larvæ (see Fig. 367) feed on Aphides, 
and aid mach in limiting their ravages. The Coccinellide 
have never more than three distinct joints in the tarsi, 
have antennæ shorter than the thorax, and are usually 
hemispherical in form. The legs are short, and are seen 
very little beyond the wing-cases. The species are 
numerous, but form a very natural assemblage in respect 
of structure, though the individual species are so variable 
in colour as to have been often described under several 
names. They excrete, from the joints of the legs, drops 
of a yellowish fluid with a disagreeable smell. _At times, 
Ladybirds appear in countless swarms, especially after 
severe attacks of Aphides on Hops or other cultivated 
plants. They are commonly red with black spots, but 
vary in size and number of spots, and may be black with 
red spots, or unspotted red or black, or more or less 
marked with yellow. Among the commoner species are: 
AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 227 
Ladybirds—continued. 
C. septempunctata (Seven-spotted Ladybird, see Fig. 368), 
C. bipunctata (Two-spotted), C. undecimpunctata (Eleven- 
FIG. 368. SEVEN-SPOTTED LADYBIRD. 
spotted), and C. variabilis. In Roman Catholic times, 
in -Britain, these insects were regarded as sacred to the 
Virgin: hence the name Ladybirds, or Ladycows. 
LADY FERN. See Asplenium Pilix-femina. 
LADY’S GARTERS. A name applied to the 
striped garden variety of Phalaris arundinacea (which 
see). : 
LADY’S MANTLE. See Alchemilla. 
ceolus. ; í ; 
LADY'S SMOCK. See Cardamine. 
LÆLIA (named after a vestal virgin of that name, — 
because of the delicacy of the flowers). Syn. Amalias. 
ORD. Orchidew. A genus comprising about twenty species — 
of beautifal stove orchids, natives of the warmer parts of 
America, from Brazil to Mexico. They are closely allied 
to Cattleya, and are distinguished principally therefrom in 
having eight pollen masses. Flowers numerous or few, on 
terminal scapes. Leaves thick, hard. Pseudo-bulbs often 
elongated, clavate, and stem-like. For culture, &e., see 
Cattleya. 
L, acuminata (pdinted lipped). 7. lin. to Zin. across ; sepals and 
petals pure white ; lip white, with a dark blotch on the upper 
part; spikes five or six-flowered, lft. to 14ft. long. December 
and January. Z. solitary, oblong, thick. Psendo-bulb rather 
roundish in outline, and fiat. Mexico, 1840. (B.M. 4905.) There 
is a pre variety of this species, with delicate rosy-violet 
flowers. Arh Ante 
Fic. 369. FLOWER OF LAELIA ALBIDA. 
albida (whitish).* ji. very fragrant, Liin. to 2in. across; sepals 
— avei mealy-white ; lip white, or pale pink, streaked in the 
centre with lines of yellow ; scape slender, from the top of the — 
