AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 
Asphodeline—continued. | 
A. taurica (Taurian). fl. white, striped with green, in 
generally simple dense racemes, bin. to 12in. long, lin. to 
2in. wide. Stem simple, erect, 1ft. to 2ft. high, densely 
leafy at base of raceme, Asia Minor, &c. SYN, Aspho- 
delus tauricus. 
A. tenuior (slenderer). fl. Prat in simple lax-flowered 
racemes, šin. to 4in. long, Zin. wide. Stem simple lower 
half leaf, upper naked, lft. Orient. SYN. Asphodelus 
tenuior. 
ASPHODELUS (from a, not, and sphallo, 
to supplant; in allusion to the beauty of the 
flowers), Asphodel. ORD. Liliaceœ. Very pretty 
hardy herbaceous perennials, with fleshy fascicu- 
lated roots. Perianth white or yellow, of six equal 
spreading segments; stamens six, hypogynous, 
alternately long and short. Leaves usually radi- 
cal, tufted, narrow, or triquetrous. All the species 
enumerated thrive in good deep sandy loam, and 
are very suitable for borders and shrubberies. 
Propagated by division of the root, which is best 
done in early spring. 
A.estivus (summer). f. white. Summer. h.2ft. Spain,1820, 
A. albus (white).* jl. white; peduncles clustered the 
length of the bracts. May. J. linear, keeled, smooth, 
Stem naked, simple. A. 2ft. South Europe, 1596. 
A. creticus (Cretan).* fl. yellow. July. l filiform, 
striated, toothed, ciliated. Stem leafy, naked above, 
branched A, 2ft. Crete, 1821. 
A. fistulosus (pipe-stalked). jf. white. July, August. J. upright, 
striated, subulate, fistular. Stemnaked. A. 18in. South Europe, 1596, 
A. luteus (yellow). A synonym of Asphodeline lutea. 
A. ramosus (branchy). /. large, white, with a reddish-brown 
line in the middle of each segment, springing from the axils of 
ovate-lanceolate bracts, and in very long dense racemes. Summer. 
i. sword-shaped, stiff, sharply keeled below, channelled above. 
Stem much branched. A. 4ft. to 5ft. South Europe, 1829. 
) Pe 
Fic. 164. ASPHODELUS ¥ILLARSII, showing Habit and Flower, 
yhite; race se, elongated; bracts dark | 
ge Ogg rl fort gl satay yon oil h. lft. to 2ft. Eastern 
France. See Fig. 164. 
ASPIDISTRA (from aspidiseon, a little round | 
shield; in reference to the form of the flower). ORD. Liliacee. 
Hardy, or nearly hardy, evergreen, perennial, foliage plants. 
The flowers are insignificant, produced close to the ground, 
and are remarkable for the curious mushroom-like stigma, 
by which this genus is characterised. They thrive in 
almost any ordinary garden soil, but are best grown in rich 
loam, leaf soil, and sand; plenty of moisture being allowed. 
Propagated by suckers. 
A. elatior (taller).* J. oblong, large, on long petioles, leathery ; 
plant ste . h. lift. to 2it. Japan, 1835. This very easily 
cultivated and quite hardy foliage plant is much grown for window 
gardening and other decorative purposes, for which itis well suited, 
A. e. variegata (vari d).* A fine variety with alternately- 
striped green and white leaves. Poen 
* 
Aspidistra—continued. 
Fic. 165. ASPIDISTRA LURIDA, 
1. obl 
China, 1822. 
species, with Jong evergreen leaves, It is an effective plant for 
the outdoor garden during summer, and is nearly, if not quite, 
hardy. See Fig. 165 
ctata (dotted). 
This is very closely allied to A. elatior, but of inferior 
-lanceolate, on 
A. lurida (lurid). fl. purple. 
very graceful 
July. 
long petioles. A. Ift. to lift. 
l. lanceolate, on long stalks. A. 1ft. 
China. 
value. 
ASPIDIUM (from aspidion, a little buckler; in 
allusion to the form of the involucre). Shield Fern. 
ORD. Filices. Including Cyclodium, Cyclopeltis, Cyrtomium, 
and Polystichum. Stove, greenhouse, or hardy ferns. Sori 
sub-globose, dorsal or terminal on the veinlets; involucre 
orbicular, fixed by the centre. They thrive in a compost of 
sandy peat with alittle loam. Several species are admirably 
cdapted for the indoor fernery. The hardy species are 
best grown in the shade; a little sandstone should bo 
incorporated with the soil. For general culture, &c., sec 
Ferns. : 
a 
sf, = 
Fic. 166. ASPIDIUM ACULEATUM, 
acrostichoides (Acrostichum-like).* sti. 6in. to Sin. long, 
“ee scaly below. fronds lft. to 2ft. long, 2in. to: 6in. broad, 
pinne of the lower half barren, 2in. to din. long, jin. broad, i 
