* 
AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
363 
OF HORTICULTURE. 
Microcachrys continued. 
Fic. 568. FRUITING BRANCH OF MICROCACHRYS TETRAGONA. 
M. (four-sided).* Strawberry-fruited Cypress of Tas- | 
mania. (. deep green, a Se small, four un 
p 
closely imbricated. T: 
describes this species as among conifers. The 
female plant is v nearly every one of its 
multitude of little et Spar termi by a bright red, almost 
globular, fleshy cone, measuring about jin. from base to apex. 
y training up a leader, the lateral them- 
Selves in a drooping manner round oot Syn. Dacrydium 
tetragonum. See Fig. 568. (B. M. 
MI A synonym of Lagenophora 
(which see). 3 
MICROGASTER. A genus of parasitic insects be- 
longing to the Braconidæ, a family of Ichneumons, very 
rich in species. They are all of small size, seldom ex- 
. having: 
ceeding in. in length, and zin. in spread of wings. The 
body-colours are almost always black, red, or yellow ; 
the legs are usually paler, at times almost white. The 
oripositor is usually short, and is often hardly visible. 
e wings are transparent, and show few cross-veins and 
cells. Some of the Braconide in the larval state live 
in the bodies of aphides; others live in the bodies of 
caterpillars of butterflies and of moths. To this latter 
group belongs the genus Microgaster. The most notice- 
able species is M. glomeratus, which is very helpful 
to gardeners, because of the number of caterpillars 
of the White Cabbage Butterfly it destroys. The larve 
live on the fat of the caterpillars, usually many in each 
individual ; and, till full fed, they do not seem greatly 
to interfere with the growth of their hosts, as they 
do not attack any vital organs of the latter. But, when 
mature, the parasitic larve eat their way through the 
skin of their hosts, and each proceeds to spin a small 
oval, yellow, silken eocoon, These secoons are free 
- Labiate. 
Microgaster—continued. 
quently grouped in masses of nearly lin. across, on the 
dying or dead caterpillars, and must have often been 
observed by every gardener. The perfect flies have the 
body deep black, with very short, white hairs; the belly 
and legs yellow; and the four wings transparent, and 
covered with short hairs. See also Ichneumon Flies. 
MICROGLOSSA (from mikros, small, and glossa, a 
tongue; alluding to the shortness of the straps of the 
ray-flowers). Syn. Frivaldia. ORD. Composite. This 
genus comprises abont six species of shrubs, inhabiting, 
for the most part, the warmer regions of Asia and Africa. 
Flower-heads small; disk pale-coloured; ray white or 
pale blue. Leaves alternate, ovate or lanceolate, entire. 
M. albescens, probably the only species yet introduced, 
is a hardy shrubby perennial, thriving in almost any 
soil. Propagated by seeds, or by division of the roots. 
yee ager ga — ah 
Si 
late, acuminate. Him 
ferous plant. SYN. Aster albescens. (B. M. 
MICROLEPIA. Included under Davallia 
see). ; 
MICROLICIA (from mikros, small, and olikos, in 
general; in allusion to the generally dwarf habit of the 
plants). Orp. Melastomacee. A genus consisting of a 
large number of species (of which seventy-seven are 
regarded, by Bentham and Hooker, as distinct) of small 
erect stove shrubs. Flowers solitary, axillary, or at the 
tips of the branchlets, sessile or shortly pedunculate; 
calyx lobes five; petals obovate. Leaves small, often 
imbricated, entire, serrated, or crenulated, often gland- 
dotted. The species have little or no horticultural 
value. 
MICROLOMA (from mikros, small, and loma, a 
fringe; in reference to the fascicles of hairs in the 
tube of the corolla). Orp. Asclepiadee. A genus com- 
prising about five species of greenhouse evergreen 
twining sub-shrubs, natives of the Cape of Good Hope. 
Flowers red, in interpetiolar umbels; corolla urceolate, 
with a ventricose angular tube, a naked throat, and a 
(which 
short limb. Leaves opposite, often narrow. For cul- 
ture, see 
M. lineare (linear blood-coloured; limb of corolla 
blunt. Fats: l. . with reflexed margins. 182. 
M. ttatum (sagittate). AH. scarlet; limb of corol very 
kn July. l — —— sub-tomentose, linear-hastate, shortly _ 
petiolate ; margins reflexed. 1775. fon . 
MICROMERIA (from mikros, small, and meris, a 
part; referring to the usually diminutive flowers). Syns. 
Piperella, Sabbatia (of Moench), and Tendana. _ ORD. 
A genus comprising about sixty species of 
hardy or half-hardy wub-shrubs or herbs, dispersed over 
nearly all the temperate and warmer parts of the globe, 
but occurring in the greatest abundance in the Mediter- 
ranean region. Flowers purplish or white, generally 
small; whorls axillary or spicate, rarely cyme-formed, 
sub-panicled. Leaves opposite. With few exceptions, 
the species are of no horticultural value. M. Piperella 
is a pretty little rock plant. It thrives in any common 
garden soil, and may be increased by cuttings. 
CROMYRTUS (from mikros, small, and Myrtos, 
tle; small Myrtles) ORD. Myrtacee. A genus 
patie dA. six species of Heath-like, glabrous, greenhouse 
shrubs, confined to Australia. Flowers white or pink, 
small, solitary, and shortly pedicellate or almost sessile 
in the exile of the leaves) petals five, obovate or orbioular, 
