TO THE FLOWER GAEDEN. 



205 



OPHRYS. [Orchidaceje.] Hardy orchids of difficult 

 culture. The tubercles should be taken up as the plants 

 decay, and planted in loam with chalk intermixed : neither 

 tlie tubercles nor the surface of the soil should be disturbed 

 after planting. 



OPORAXTHUS. [AmaryllidaceaB.] A pretty hardy bulb, 

 whose yellow Crocus-like flowers are very welcome additions 

 to the flower-border in autumn. Being dwarf, it is adapted 

 for the formation of autumn-blooming margins to flower-beds 

 or grass, the tint of whicli would contrast well with the yellow 

 of its flowers. It is quite hardy, and of the easiest culture, 

 preferring, like most of the iVmaryllis family, a good rich 

 loam, but growing without difficulty in any good garden soil. 

 It is increased, like other bulbs, most readily by offsets. For 

 bulb gardens, this being an autumn bloomer, may be con- 

 sidered quite essential. 



OPUNTIA. Indian Fig Cactus. [Cactacese.] A curious 

 family of greenhouse succulent shrubs of the Cactus group, 

 remarkable from the singular appearance of the broad flattened 

 oval branches or divisions of the stem growing end to end : 

 these are variously clothed with clusters of spines, which are 

 mostly much shorter than those of. the Echinocacti. The 

 Opuntias are mostly tall or massive-growing plants. 0. vul- 

 garis is nearly hardy, and, together with 0. Tuna, often ripens 

 a crop of agreeable pulpy fruit. 



ORANGE. See Citrus. 



ORBEA. See Stapelia. 



OPlCHIS. [Orchidaceae.] Hardy perennials, like Ophrys, 

 difficult of culture, and requiring similar treatment. 



ORIGANUM. Marjoram. [Lamiacese.] In this genus 

 of hardy aromatic herbs are included two pretty greenhouse 

 dwarf shrubs, which are excellent window plants. They in- 

 crease by cuttings, and grow in sandy loam. 0. dictamnus^ 

 half-hardy sub-shrub, flowers purple. 0. Sipyleum, half-hardy 

 sub-shrub, flowers purple. 



ORNITtlOGALUM. Star of Bethlehem. [Liliaceae.] 

 An extensive genus of bulbous plants, containing about a 

 score of hardy species, and about twice that number of half- 

 hardy ones. The flowers are star-like, and, in the majority 

 of instances, white, often streaked inside or out with green. 



