AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 
499 
Onychium continued. : 
linear, opposite, pressed down over the sori, the edge 
nearly or quite reaching the midrib. Only two species 
have been introduced; both thrive in a compost of peat, 
loam, and sand. For general culture, see Ferns. 
O. auratum (golden).* sti. 6in. to 12in. long, stout, erect naked. 
fronds lit. or more long, Ein. broad, ovate, quadripinnatifid; 
lower pinne 4in. to bin: long, sub-deltoid, erecto-patent ; pinnules 
and segments numerous, usually deltoid; ultimate divisions of 
the sterile frond often -obovate-cuneate, trifid at the apex, not 
more than one line long, coriaceous in texture; those of the 
fertile frond pod-like. Rachis and both surfaces naked; the 
membranous involucres and copious sori a rich golden-yellow. 
Himalayas. Stove. 
` O. capense (Cape). A garden synonym of O. japonicum. 
O. japonicum (Japanese).“ ‘sti. bin. to 12in. long, stout, erect, 
naked. fronds lft. or more long, bin. broad, ovate, quadripin- 
natifid; lower pinne din. to 6in. long, lanceolate- 
deltoid; pinnules and segments numerous, usually del- 
toid, the copious, linear-mucronate, ultimate divisions 
one and a-half to two lines long, nearly uniform in 
the barren and fertile fronds. sort brown. Japan, China, 
&c. Greenhouse or nearly hardy. SYNS. O. capense, 
O. lucidum, 
O. lucidum (shining). A synonym of 0. japonicum. 
OPAQUE. Dull; the reverse of shining. In 
botany, the term does not mean the reverse of 
transparent. 
OPERA GIRLS. See Mantisia salta- 
toria 
OPERCULARIA (from operculum, a lid; re- 
ferring to the shape of the calyx). ORD. Rubiaceæ. 
A genus comprising fourteen species of Australian 
greenhouse herbs or sub-shrubs, sometimes twining, 
glabrous or hispid-pilose, often fetid. Flower- 
heads white, small, terminal, or rising from the 
forks of the branches, involucrate ; peduncles erect 
or recurved. Leaves opposite, linear or oblong; 
stipules connate with the petioles. The species 
(of which two only are seen in cultivation) thrive 
in a compost of sandy loam, a little fibry peat, 
dried pieces of leaf mould, and a few pieces of 
charcoal. Propagation may be effected by seeds, 
sown in spring, on a mild hotbed; by cuttings of 
young shoots, several inches long; or by division, 
as growth commences. 
N A Juke Ewes PAA 
ovate or lanceolate, scabrous above, glabrous or pu- 
bescent beneath, mostly jin. to Izin. long, variable. 
h. lft. 1790. Sub-shrub. Syn. 0. ocymisolia. 
O. hispida (hispid). fl.-heads on short, recurved pe- 
duncles, smaller than in O. aspera. July. l petiolate, 
ovate or lanceolate, either very hirsute and scarcely 
scabrous, or very scabrous, mostly about din. long. k. 
lft. 1790. Sub-shrub. 
O. ocymifolia (Basil-leaved). A synonym of O. as- 
pera. 
OPERCULATE. Covered with a lid. 
OPHELIA. A synonym of Swertia (which 
see). 
OPHELUS. A synonym of Adansonia. 
OPHIOCAULON (from ophis, a serpent, and kaulon, 
a stem; in reference to its climbing habit). ORD. 
Passifloree. A small genus (three or four species) of 
stove, climbing,, herbaceous, very glabrous shrubs, natives 
of tropical Africa, Natal, and Madagascar. They are 
allied to Modecca, but kave a deeply five-parted calyx, 
. obscure corona, and sessile stigma. The undermentioned, 
the only species in cultivation, thrives in well-drained 
sandy loam and leaf mould, and does best when planted 
out in a border inside the house, and its shoots trained 
near the glass. Care must be taken to guard against 
excess of moisture, particularly during the dull winter 
months. For propagation, see P. ; 
Fic. 746, OPHIOGLOSSUM VULGATUM, showing Creeping Rhizome, and 
Ophiocanlon—continued. 
O. cissampeloides (Cissampelos-like). fi., male ones numerous, 
in stalked, terminal, and axillary, trichotomously divided, 
many-flowered cymes. l. orbicular or cordate, glaucous, marked 
with black dots beneath, deep green, often mottled with white 
above, Zin, to Jin. long. Branches slender, cylindrical. West 
tropical Africa, 1869. SYN. Passiflora marmorata, of gardens, 
(G. C. 1871,-234.) 
OPHIODERMA. Included under Ophioglossum 
(which see). x ; 
OPHIOGLOSSACEH. A sub-order of Ferns, 
characterised by the capsules being deeply two-valved, 
and opening down the side nearly to the base without 
a ring. There are three genera—Botrychium, Helmin- 
thostachys, and Ophioglossum — and about a score 
species. 
Barren and Fertile Fronds. 
OPHIOGLOSSUM (from ophios, a snake, and glossa, 
a tongue; referring to the shape of the spike of fructifi- 
cation). Adder’s Tongue. Including Chetroglossa and 
Ophioderma. Orp. Filices. A small genus (about ten 
species) of pretty, stove, greenhouse, or hardy ferns. 
Sporangia sessile, arranged in two rows, so as to form 
flad 3d spike, which forms a branch of the barren 
s entirely distinct from it. About five species 
en introduced. For general culture, see Ferns. 
. bulbosum (bulbous). Rootstock tuberous. fronds in. to Ain. 
long, the sterile division placed considerably below the middle, 
Sica tiie: to Yaar long wine. aliy aia Hank AONI: 
uncle l}in. to 2in, long when velo) 0 
Ge. Hait bardy, N oa 
