AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 8 
©  Abobra—continued. 
tuberous roots may be stored during winter in a green- 
house or frame. See also Gourds. 
een-flowered). ale green, f nt; femalés 
ed by Ans oval scarlet rier which are about tas large asa 
> Ey l. dark green, glossy, much divided into narrow segments, 
~ South America. A rapid growing plant, admirably adapted for 
- training over arbours or trellis-work. It isa very pretty form of 
ornamental gourd. ë 
ABORTION. An imperfect formation, or the non- 
formation of an organ; any fruit or produce that does not 
come to maturity, or anything which fails in its progress 
before it is matured, frequently from a defect in the male 
or female flowers. 
ABRAXAS GROSSULARIATA. See 
berry or Magpie Moth. 
ABRICOCK. A former mode of writing r 
ABROMA (from a, not, and broma, food ; from its un- 
wholesomeness). ORD. Sterculiacew. Handsome, free- 
Sonaria evergreen trees, with hairy lobed leaves, and 
extra axillary or terminal few-flowered peduncles. Of easy. 
i alihi a dlrs temperature, in loam and peat soil. 
Propagated or cuttings, the former sown in March, 
latter sale tai anaes Lalt-ipened wood, and placed 
gy s bel 
th-stalked).* fl. purple, drooping. 
A. (smoo' 
‘augue Weer cordate, three to five lobed; upper, ovate- 
lanceolate, undivided. h. oft. East India, 1770. 
A. fastuosa (prickly-stalked). jl. dark purple. June. J. lower, 
4 cordate, acutely five lobed; upper, ovate, entire. h. 10ft. New 
a. Holland, 1800. 
_ ABRONIA (from abros, delicate; referring to its in- 
volucrum). Sand Verbena. ORD. Nyctaginacee. A small 
genus of seven species, mostly natives of California, four 
of which only are known in general cultivation. They are 
Goose- 
Fic, 1. ABRONIA guns iatiihowing Flower and Habit. 
dwarf trailing habit, producing showy blossoms in 
} verbena-like clusters. Corolla funnel- shaped ; limb 
They succeed best in light sandy soil, in a posi- 
; if well drained, the rockery is perhaps 
Increased by seeds, the outer skin of which 
off before sowing; sow during autumn in 
and keep in a frame until the follow- 
be placed in their flowering 
set in spring, and also in 
_ A. arenaria (sand-lovin acl 
p> ers a Rg oean 
yeas ta e aa f. pale purple, bu 
Abronia—continued. 
fragrans ( (fragrant).* ure white, in terminal and axilla 
clusters, very delicately Ea am inh expanding in the andin. 
May. 1865. A perennial, more or less erect in growth, taming 
large branching tufts from lft. to 2ft. high. Imported seeds 
only of this species will grow. 
A. latifolia (broad-leaved). A synonym of A. arenaria. 
A. pulchella (pretty). Jl. pink. July. A. 6in. 1848. 
A, rosea (rose-coloure: ñ. rose-coloured, June. &. 6in, 1847, 
An unimportant specie 
A. umbellata (umbel- flowered).* fl. rosy me in mem terminal 
clusters, slightly scented. April. l oval or oblong h. bin, to 
24in. 1823. An elegant prostrate half-hard ; but under 
eg a culture it isa perennial. SYN. Epiru p akar ag 
ABRUPT. Suddenly terminating, as abruptly pinnate; 
when pinnate leaves are without a terminal or odd leaflet. 
ABRUS (from abros, soft, in reference to the extreme 
softness of the leaves). ORD. Leguminosæ. A very orna- 
mental and delicate much branched deciduous stove climber, 
whose roots have the virtues of the common liquorice. 
Leaves abruptly pinnate, bearing many pairs of leaflets. 
Requires a strong heat to keep it in a growing, healthy 
condition, and to flower it well; and thrives best in sandy 
loam. Increased by cuttings under a hand glass, in sand, 
or seeds raised in heat. 
-shaj 
anean 
Pn black s spot at the base, ‘od i by the dhi: o 
rig rosaries, whence the name. March to : 
l. leaflets ligulate, ong. h. 12ft. East Indies, 1 : 
Varieties are now then met with having rose coloured 
or white flowers. 
ABSORPTION. The action by which liquids and 
gases become incorporated with various bodies, 
molecular or other invisible means, to which function all 
parts of a growing plant contribute, the roots more 
especially. 
ABUTA (native name). ORD. AS ~ E 
strong growing ornamental stove evergreen climber. Used 
medicinally in Cayenne. Flowers diccious, | 
males racemosely panicled; females loose sar simply 
racemose. It grows freely in a mixture of loam and 
peat. Cuttings will root readily if planted in a pot of — 
sand, with a hand glass placed ofan thom, in heat. 
About half-a-dozen species are known, — 
the oute 
og Aido dark perp Hepp hae ag 
h. 10ft. Cayenne, 1820. ae 
ABUTILON (Arabic name for a paint aua to 
the Marsh Mallow). ORD. Malvacee. Very showy, de- 
corative, and free-growing shrubs, both for the greenhouse 
and outside culture. Calyx naked, five-cleft, usually — 
angular; style multifid at apex. The many beautiful 
hybrids (of which Fig. 2 represents a group) now 
in cultivation, far supersede the true species. Culti- 
vation: Few plants are more easily grown, and worthy 
of liberal treatment than these. The best soil for them 
is equal parts turfy loam, peat, and leaf mould, with — 
some gritty sand. They may either be grown in pots or 
planted out; but in all cases thorough drainage is indis- 
pensable, as they require an abundance of water, and stag- 
nancy must be guarded against. At the end of May the 
may be planted outside, when they will flower p: 
through thesummer. Ina free growing and flow i 
they enjoy weak manure water. From the latte 
autumn till early spring they may be kept al 
conservatory 
out injury, though in a warm ; : 
struck plants will go on flowering th ae pes 
part of the winter; or plants may be specially prepared 
for winter flow They are admirably adapted for 
forming standards ‘of various heights, iin 2ft. to 6ft. 
Some of the taller sorts are very useful for taie andi 
