AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
Macrocnemum continued. 
in axillary and terminal panicles; pedicels bracteolate ; 
corolla funnel-shaped or salver-formed; tube sub-elongate. 
Leaves opposite, petiolate. The only species yet in- 
troduced is the one here described. For culture, see 
Catesbæa. 
M. jamaicense (Jamaica). fl. greenish-white, scented ; corymbs 
on long peduncles. J. oblong-oval, petiolate, polished. R. 10ft. 
to 15ft., or sometimes a tree 30ft. high, Jamaica, 1 
MACROGLOSSA STELLATARUM, or HUM. 
MING-BIRD HAWK MOTH. This moth is of in- 
terest to gardeners, chiefly because of the part it plays 
in fertilising the young seeds in Honeysuckle and other 
plants in which the flowers have long, narrow tubes, 
In such flowers, the honey, which is the lure for insect 
visitors, is at the bottom of the tube, and is within reach 
only of those insects that have a long proboscis. Through 
this organ the honey is sucked up, but, to reach the latter, 
the head has to be thrust deep into the flower; and, in doing 
OF HORTICULTURE. 
Macroglossa stellatarum—continued. 
body is of a smoky hue, with black and white spots on 
the hinder part, where also there are black and white 
tufts on the sides, and a tuft of black hairs at the end 
of the body. These tufts are spread during flight, con- 
siderably increasing the apparent breadth of the body. 
The flight is very rapid, the moth dashing from flower 
to flower, remaining poised on the wing before each, 
while it sucks out the nectar, and unconsciously’ trans- 
fers the pollen from flower to flower. In mode of flight, 
in the loud humming noise that it emits while poised 
before a flower, and even in its general appearance, it 
so much resembles a Humming Bird as to well deserve 
the popular name of Humming-bird Hawk Moth. Like 
the bird named, it flies only by day, and most actively 
during bright sunshine, in this respect differing from 
most of the group of Hawk Moths. The caterpillar, 
like those of other Hawk Moths, has a slender, sharp 
horn on the end of the body, resembling a short, erect 
— iT 
Fig. 497. BRANCH AND FRUIT, IN ADULT CONDITION, OF CUDRANIA TRILOBA (MACLURA TRICUSPIDATA, see page 312). 
this, the insect carries off some of the pollen on its head 
or back. The parts thus dusted with pollen are almost 
certain to touch the stigma of the next flower visited ; 
and the pollen grains adhere readily to the sticky sur- 
„face of the stigma, whereon the insect’s share in 1 
Fic. 498. MACROGLOSSA STELLATARUM. 
Some idea of the 
size, form, and markings of M. stellatarum may be formed 
work of fertilisation is completed. 
from Fig. 498. The front wings are smoky, with a black 
central dot, and dark cross-bars. The hind wings are 
orange-coloured, with the base and margin dark. The 
Vol, IT 
tail. It is green, or pinkish-brown, sprinkled with 
white; the sides are bluish, with two dull white or 
pinkish lines along each. The caterpillar feeds on 
Lady's Bedstraws (Galium) of different kinds, and can- 
not be said to do any damage in gardens. When full fed, 
it burrows underground, and turns into a brown chrysalis. 
MACROMERIA (from makros, large, and meris, a 
part; the flowers of this genus are the largest in the 
whole family). Orp. Boraginee. A genus comprising 
about eight species of half-hardy perennial herbs, natives 
of Mexico, Columbia, and Peru, allied to Onosmodium 
and Lithospermum, from the latterof which it is distin- 
guished by the exserted stamens, and by having the 
corolla with a long tube, dilated at the throat. Racemes 
terminal, few-flowered, bracteate. Leaves alternate, ses- 
sile, lanceolate. M. exserta is probably the only species 
yet introduced. For culture, see Lithospermum. 
M. exserta (exserted). . yellow, racemose; style and stamens 
rted. Autumn. J. lanceolate, mucronate, scabrous, 
h Sit, ‘Mexico, 1846. (B. R. 1847, 26.) 
MACROPIPER. Included under Piper (which 
see). 
28 
