354 THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Menziesia—continued. 
obovate or elliptical, membranaceous, deciduons, entire, 
glabrous or pilose beneath. Branches sub-verticillate. 
The species are very ornamental subjects for rock gardens 
or borders, in a moist peaty soil. Propagated by care- 
fully dividing established tufts, by cuttings, or by layers. 
M. cerulea, See Phyllodoce taxifolia, 
M. empetrifolia (Empetrum-leaved). A synonym of Bryanthus 
empetriſormis. 
M. ferruginea (rusty). f. brown; corolla oblong- o vate, and 
becoming e pedicels bristly-glandular. . Z. ob- 
long or lanceolate-obovate, acutish at both ends, glandular- 
mucronate, rusty strigose-hirsute above, paler beneath. A, 
6in. North America, 1811. 
M. f. globularis (globular-flowered). ff. pink, drooping ; corolla 
2 with rounded lobes. May. J. ovate, clustered at the 
ends of the branches. h. 2ft. to 5ft. North America, 1806. 
1571, under name of M. ferruginea g.) 
M. polifolia (Polium-leaved). A synonym of Dabecia polifolia. 
MERCURIALIS (so named after Mercury, who is 
supposed to have discovered some virtues in the genus). 
Mercury. ORD. Huphorbiacee. A genus comprising 
half-a-dozen erect herbaceous plants, with small, green, 
dicecious flowers, and opposite leaves. They are unin- 
teresting weeds, widely distributed over the temperate 
regions of the globe. M. perennis, the Dog’s Mercury, 
a native of Europe and North Africa, is a poisonous 
plant, which turns dull bluish-green when dried; and a 
deep blue dye, of a fugitive nature, may be obtained 
from it. 
MERCURY. See Mercurialis. 
MERENDERA (a name given to Colchicum by the 
Spaniards). ORD. Liliacee. A genus comprising ten 
species of pretty, hardy, bulbous plants, inhabiting the 
Mediterranean region, and extending thence to Abyssinia 
and Afghanistan. They are closely allied to Colchicum, 
but the flattened portion of each of the six perianth 
segments is abruptly contracted into a long, narrow claw, 
and is, at the point of contraction, furnished on each 
side with a small tooth. For culture, see Colchicum. 
M. —f— ium).* fl. one or two; th 
segments late, sub-acute ; stamens much shorter 
than the Autumn. 
perianth ; an . l emerging 
after the flowers, at 1 Sg falcate, channelled. h. Sin. to 
Ain. r apni and the mountains of Spain (Sierra Nevada) in 
the alpine regions. SYN. Colchicum montanum. 
M. caucasica (Caucasian). fl. one to three from the same 
spathe ; perianth segments, with long narrow claws, which meet 
and form a tube; lamina delicate rose-coloured, tinged with 
purple. May. J. three, narrow-lanceolate, obtuse, ci ed, 
much-tapering at the base, shorter than the flowers. h. 3in. 
Caucasus, 1823. (B. M. 3690.) 
M. c. Eichleri(Eichler’s). This differs from the type in the inner 
segments being distinctly auriculated at the base. Eastern Cau- 
easus. (R. G. 952.) 
M. persica (Persian). f. pale lilac, fragrant, ltin. to 2in. i 
diameter, funnel-shaped ; keel of perianth — pale reddish, 
November. i. lin. to 2in. long, żin. broad, acute, concave, dark 
„rather fleshy, lengthening to 6in. or 8in, Corm lin. 
m-shaped, with a long neck; tunic pale chestnut-brown. 
stja, Persia, &c., 1872. (B. M. 6012, under name of M. Aitchi- 
soni. 
MERIANIA (named in honour of a Dutch lady, 
Sibylle de Merian, 1647-1717, authoress- of De Meta- 
morphosibus Insectorum Surinamensium ”). Syn. Davya. 
Onp. Melastomaceæ. A genus comprising about twenty- 
six species of erect, glabrous or pubescent, stove trees 
or shrubs, natives of tropical America and the West 
Indies. Flowers yellow or purple, large, disposed. in 
Short, cymose, terminal or lateral panicles; calyx glabrous 
or powdery, tube shortly campanulate or hemispherical ; 
stamens ten, equal or nearly so. Leaves often on long 
petioles, oblong-lanceolate, obtusely acuminate or caudate 
at apex, three to five-nerved, entire or obtusely toothed. 
For culture, see Me 
serrate, long-acuminate, 
deep red. Summer. J. lanceolate, 
terete, smooth, Caraccas, 
Meriania—continued. 
M. rosea (rosy).* fl. varying from white with a crimson base to 
rose and purple; calyx lobes subulate ; anther spurs short, alter- 
nately conical and bi-tubercled. Z. elliptical or ovate-lanceolate, 
the younger ones minutely serrate with glandular teeth. A. 30ft. 
West Indies, 1885. An arborescent shrub. 
MERISTOSTIGMA. A synonym of Lapeyrousia 
(which see). 
MERODON CLAVIPES. See Narcissus Fly. 
MERTENSIA (named in honour of Professor Francis 
Charles Mertens, 1764-1831, a German botanist). Syns. 
Casselia, Hippoglossum, Oreocharis, and Steenhammera. 
ORD. Boraginex. This genus comprises abont fifteen 
species of very handsome, hardy, perennial, glabrous or 
pilose herbs, natives of Eastern Europe, extra-tropical 
Asia, and North America. Flowers blue or purplish, 
pedicellate, ebracteate; racemes terminal, or cymes 
loosely branched, few-flowered, unilateral, sometimes 
paniculate. Leaves alternate, often pellucid-dotted. 
The species are of very easy culture in ordinary garden 
soil; they form admirable subjects for mixed borders, 
copses, and rockwork. Propagated by divisions in autumn ; 
or by seeds, sown as soon as ripe. a 
NA ` A 5 
F 
Spring and summer. l. bluish-green, oblong, somewhat spathu- 
late or lanceolate, rather obtuse. h. 6in, to 10in. Rocky Moun- 
tains, 1875. A lovely little alpine. 
M. alpina (alpine), of Hooker. A synonym of M. lanceolata. 
* 
SSS SSS 
ERTENSIA DAHURICaA, showing Habit and 
detached Flower. 
M. dahurica (Dahurian). F. bright azure- blue, drooping, in 
racemose icles. June. ovate, roughish, slightly glaucous, 
and clothed with small decumbent hairs. Stems erect, branch- 
angular, furrowed, hairy. k. Ein, to 12in. Dahurica. A 
species, with a very slender habit, and requiring a shel- 
red position. See Fig. 551. (B. M. 1743, under name of 
Pulmonaria dahurica.) 
M. lanceolata (lanceolate).* fl. drooping; bracts leafy; calyx 
shorter than the corolla tube, five-clett t the middle 1 lower ; 
segments oblong and obtuse, or lanceolate and acute; corolla light 
or dark blue, with a cylindric tube; limb campanulate, very 
shortly five-lobed. May. l. sessile, chiefly cauline, linear-oblong 
or spathulate, radical often broader, acute or obtuse ; upper sur- 
face smooth or muricate; margin ciliate. Stems simple, erect, 
slender. h. Ein, to 12in. Rocky Mountains, 1874. (B. M. 6178, 
under name of M. alpina.) 
M. maritima (sea). Oyster Plant. fl. blue, erect, disposed in 
terminal corymbose racemes. July. 4. ovate or oblong, acutish ; 
pel ol ones "upie Pema wo bent, 17 — 
iN coast regions of Northern hemisphere (Bri . 
SYN. Pulmonaria maritima. (Sy. En. B. 1099.) 
Fic. 551. M 
M. paniculata (paniculate). f. purplish-blue ; corolla somewhat 
funnel-shaped, three or four Gee the length of the lanceolate- 
lanceolate, taper-pointed, ribbed, thin. A. 1ft. to 2ft. 
America. Plant erect, roughish, more or less hairy. 
eshy, brous ; radical ones cor- 
-obcuse, or Droad-hipkie; cauline 
„ ae, ae ee 
