98 glenny's handbook. 



should be imported, getting them after flowering, when the 

 leaves begin to decay ; not, as it is to be feared is generally 

 the case, when they are in full bloom. They grow in boggy 

 places, in peat soil ; and this, with the dry hot atmosphere of 

 South Africa, should be borne in mind in making the attempt 

 to grow them. They appear to require less moisture when at 

 rest than at other times. 



DISOCACTUS. [Cactacese.] A pretty stove evergreen 

 succulent shrub, requiring the* general treatment of Epiphyl- 

 lum. The pretty purplish flowers are succeeded by blood- 

 coloured berries. Soil, turfy loam, with an equal proportion 

 of leaf-mould, brick or mortar rubbish, and sand. Pro- 

 pagated by cuttings, which should be dried a little before 

 planting. 



DISPERIS. [Orchidacese.] A genus of Cape terrestrial 

 orchids, for the culture of which see Disa. 



DISPORUM. [Melanthacete.] Half-hardy herbaceous 

 perennials. Soil, peat and loam. Increased by division or 

 by seeds. 



DITTANY OF CRETE. See Oeiganum dtctamnus. 



DODECATHEON. American Cowslip. [PrimulateEe.] 

 Very pretty early-flowering dwarf perennial herbaceous 

 plants, quite hardy, preferring to be planted in a soil where 

 there is a good proportion of loam and peat earth, and re- 

 quiring a cool situation. The flowers are in shape like a 

 half-opened inverted parasol. They are increased without 

 difficulty by dividing the roots. Seeds are also produced, 

 from which young plants may be raised by the same process 

 as in raising seedlings of the Auricula, except that, when 

 large enough, these may be planted out in the open ground. 

 There are several varieties of the common or Mead's Vir- 

 ginian Cowslip, differing in the size and colour of their 

 flowers. 



DOG'S BANE. See Apocynum. 



DOG'S-TOOTH VIOLET. See Erythronium. 



DOLICHOS. [Leguminosae, § Papilionaceae.] Climbing 

 plants of little interest. Soil, peat and loam. Best propa- 

 gated by seeds. 



DOODIA. [Polypodiacese.] Pretty greenhouse evergreen 

 ferns, of small growth. Soil, peat, loam, and sand. Propa- 



