342 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Medinilla—continued. 
entire, fleshy, three to nine-nerved; nerves sometimes 
pinnate. The species do best in a compost of peat, 
thoroughly decomposed leaf mould, and light loam, in 
equal parts, with about a sixth part of silver sand 
added. Medinillas luxuriate in a moist atmosphere and 
a high temperature. All those described below are 
branched, more or less erect, shrubs, not climbers. 
M. amabilis (lovely).* fl. rosy-pink, in large panicles, which are 
erect, and composed of four-branched whorls, the branches each 
forming a cyme of numerous flowers. Spring. l. opposite, sessile, 
oblong-obovate, obtuse, with a short acuminate point, lft. long, 
Tin. to 8in. broad. Stem quadrangular ; angles furnished with a 
narrow undulated wing. India, 1874. (B. M. 6681; G. C. n. s., 
xvii. 561.) 
M. Curtisii (Curtis’).* fl. white, in terminal panicles ; peduncles 
and pedicels coral-red; stamens purple. J. aposta elliptic, 
acute, rather fleshy, three-nerved, Sumatra, 1884. (B. M. 6730.) 
M. javanensis (Java). AH. of a pale flesh-colour, nearly lin. 
across, with very dark purple anthers, disposed in short terminal 
panicles. Winter. l i rine sessile, somewhat cordate, elliptic, 
rather acuminated. h. 4ft. Java, 1850. (B. M. 4569.) 
M. magnifica (magnificent) “ jl. rosy-pink, borne in very large, 
terminal, pendulous racemes, continuing a long time in perfection. 
agg l. opposite, broadly ovate, smooth, rich shining green, Sin. 
to 10in. long. R. 3ft. Manilla. A lovely plant. See Fig. 531. 
(B. M. 4533.) 
M. Sieboldiana (Siebold's). fl. white, about 3in. across, dis- 
a a thyrsoid drooping panicle; stamens 2 on Winter 
40 tapering to each end, fleshy. h. Aft. Moluccas. (B. M. 
1 i i i doin mani 
9 —.— 1 A Ro 1 * n> 3 rane, 
ovate-oblong. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Java, 1845. (B. M. 4321.) 
MEDLAR (Mespilus germanica.) The wild Medlar, 
from which the cultivated varieties have originated, is a 
common deciduous shrub, or small tree, found in hedges 
and woods t a great part of the European con- 
tinent. It has been found in some parts of England; 
but whether the plants were, in all cases, truly wild, or 
had become naturalised, is somewhat uncertain. Under 
cultivation, the varieties of Medlar differ in habit, the 
majority being characterised by a spreading, crooked 
growth, many of the branches assuming an elbowed form, 
by turning at right angles in various directions. The 
fruits are produced on the points of main or side shoots. 
They are hard and useless until beginning to decay, when 
the green colouring matter passes away, the flesh or pulp 
becoming soft, and acquiring what is considered by some 
an agreeably acid flavour. In this incipient state of 
decay (the process of which is called bletting), the fruits 
are generally eaten raw, but sometimes they are pre- 
served with sugar. 
Propagation. The general method of propagation 
adopted for Medlars is that of budding or grafting. 
Seedling plants may also be raised, if desired, with a 
view to obtaining new varieties or stocks. The seeds 
should be sown so soon as the fruit is ripe. Two years 
‘usually elapse before they vegetate, and the young plants 
must be tied and kept in an upright position, to preserve 
tolerably straight stems. Besides the Medlar itself, the 
Pear, Quince, and Whitethorn may also be used as 
stocks whereon to bud or graft the cultivated varieties. 
‘The Pear stock is well adapted for grafting standard 
high, and succeeds well on ordinary soils; the Quince 
roots near the surface, and is suited, in consequence, for 
moist situations; while the White Hawthorn is readily 
obtained in quantity, is preferred as a stock on the Con- 
tinent, and is, perhaps, best for light soils and com- 
paratively dry situations. Cleft-grafting in April, with 
scions of the previous summer’s growth, having the 
extremities removed, and shield-budding, with well-formed 
dormant buds, in 
July, are the two methods of propaga- 
= 
. The heading-down, or disbudding, 
attended to so soon as a union is 
the bud or graft, and the latter 
staked, See also Budding 
gis 
Medlar—continued. 
General Cultivation. Medlars are not very particular 
regarding soil; but they generally succeed best in some- 
what sheltered positions, where the soil is loamy, and in- 
clined to be moist rather than dry. The trees are usually 
trained as standards, and require but little pruning, 
beyond thinning out weak growths, to admit light and 
air to the stronger ones, and to prevent the branches 
crossing each other. The large Dutch Medlar, which 
is very extensively cultivated, assumes a naturally crooked 
and rustic growth; while the small-fruited Nottingham 
variety is distinct in being of better quality, and of an 
upright habit. The fruit from Medlars should not be 
gathered until about the end of October, or even later, 
if frosts are not prevalent. It should be collected on 
a dry day, and laid out thinly on a cool fruit-room shelf. 
A fungus frequently attacks the stems, and passes to 
other parts, of the fruit, thus rendering it useless. This 
must be looked for occasionally, and any specimens that 
are found affected should be at once removed. The 
process of bletting usually takes from two to three weeks 
at the least, and some fruits may keep good for several 
weeks afterwards. 
Varieties. The following are the best sorts of Medlar 
in cultivation : 
Dutch. Fruit very large, and much flattened, sometimes 2in. in 
diameter; eye wide open; flavour good, but inferior to the 
Nottingham. The most extensively cultivated variety, on ac- 
count of its size. SyNs. Broad-leaved Dutch, Large Dutch, &c. 
Nottingham, Fruit smaller than the preceding, about lin. in 
diameter, of a rich sub- acid flavour, superior to any other variety. 
The leaves are small, and the tree of upright-growing habit. 
_ Syn. Small-fruited. i 
Stoneless. Fruit small, from żin. to łin. in diameter. The 
fruits are destitute of stones, and are only valuable on account of 
their keeping longer than those of the varieties above named ; 
the quality is not so good. 
MEDLAR, JAPANESE. See Photinia japonica. 
MEDORA. A synonym of Smilacina (which see). 
` MEDULLARY SYSTEM. The cellular tissue 
of the ring, disk, and bands, constitutes the Medullary 
System. The Medullary System of the disk is called the 
- pith, that of the ring is the cortical pith, and the radiating 
cellular bands are the Medullary Rays” (Hooker). 
MEGAC ARPA (from megas, great, and karpos, a 
“fruit; in allusion to the large pods). ORD. Crucifere. A 
genus consisting of only three species of large, robust, 
branched herbs, with thick perennial roots, natives of 
Siberia, the Himalayas, and Thibet. Flowers white or 
violet, racemose or corymbose; sepals equal at base; 
stamens six or many, free, edentulate. Pods large, inde- 
hiscent, laterally much compressed. Leaves glaucous, 
pinnatisect. The undermentioned species thrives in light 
sandy soil, and is increased readily by seeds. M. poly- 
andra, a Himalayan species, is, perhaps, not now in 
cultivation. 
M. laciniata (jagged). A. small; ix; valves 
ovate, broadly winged. Jans and July. 4, villous radical ones 
stalk pinnate-parted, with deeply toothed or cut lobes. 
Stems furnished at the neck with the vestiges of the petioles 
rag preceding year. h. Ein. to 12in. Caspian Desert, &c., 
MEGACARPHA. A synonym of .Oxyanthus 
(which see), 
MEGACLINIUM (from megas, large, and kline, a 
bed; referring to ris axis piped... a which the 
flowers are borne). Oxp. Orchidee. A genus com- 
prising about nine species of stove epiphytal orchids, 
natives of tropical and Southern sub-tropical Africa. 
They are closely allied to Bulbophyllum. The species 
are More curious than beautiful. The singular flattened 
Scape is a good distinguishing mark of this genus. For 
2 Bulbophyllum. 
i {toad brow le i ck hairs; 
ad), * to purple, covered with bla 
, lateral ones downy inside ; petals 
— acute, glabrous ; lip ovate, fleshy, —— 2 March to 
June. Sierra Leone, 1839. (G. C. 1841, p. 548.) 
