221 



OXALB. 



Obnitho'galum. — Asplwdelece. 

 —The Star of Bethlehem.— Bulbous 

 plants with "white star-like flowers, 

 some of which are frequently kept 

 in the greenhouse, but all of which 

 may be grown in the open ground if 

 the bulbs are planted in a tolerably 

 dry soil, four or sis inches deep. 

 Some of the handsomest kinds are 

 0. x>y^'amidale, a native of Spain, 

 the unopened flower-stalks of which 

 are sold in the market at Bath and 

 other places in the West of England 

 for the table, under the name of 

 Prussian Asparagus ; 0. latifdliitm, 

 a native of Egypt ; and 0. caudd- 

 tu7)i, from the Cape of Good Hope. 

 The latter two are generally con- 

 sidered greenhouse plants, but they 

 only require protection from severe 

 frosts. 



Oroba'nche. — Orohanchece. — 

 Broom-rape. — Parasitic British 

 plants growing on the roots of other 

 plants, which they destroy. They 

 have erect stems, somewhat scaly 

 and bulbous at the base, and ter- 

 minating in a spike of rather large 

 purplish or brownish flowers. They 

 are almost incapable of culture, as 

 their seeds will lie dormant in the 

 soil for years, till they meet with a 

 l^lant to the roots of which they can 

 attach themselves ; but if it should 

 be wished to grow them, a few 

 seeds of 0. major may be sown on 

 the roots of any kind of broom or 

 furze, and of 0. caryophyllacece on 

 the roots of any kind of bramble or 

 of Gctlmm Molliigo, and they will 

 probably germinate. 0. rubra, 

 which is very fragrant, may in the 

 same manner be sown on the roots 

 of wild thyme ; and 0. eldfior on 

 those of the Centaurca Scabibsa, or 

 greater Knap-weed. 



'robus. — Legiiminbsa\ — The 

 Bitter Vetch. — Pea-flowered, pei'en- 

 nial plants, some of which are very 

 ornamental ; natives of Europe and 



North America, which should be 

 grown in peat and loam, and are 

 increased by dividing the root. 



Ory^za. — Gramhiece. — Rice. — 

 This plant is occasionally grown as 

 an object of curiosity in England, 

 though the climate is not hot enough 

 to ripen the grain. It is a marsh 

 plant, and requires to have its roots 

 constantly supplied with water. 



Osage Orange. — See Maclu'ra. 



Osbe'ckia. — Melastoviacece. — 

 Handsome stove plants, remarkable 

 j for their showy flowers, and strongly 

 I ribbed leaves. They should be 

 grown in peat, mixed with one- 

 third of sandy loam, and kept moist. 

 I They are propagated by cuttings. 



Osiiu'NDA. — Fllices.—lhQ Flow- 

 ering Fern. — This is by far the 

 handsomest of the Fern family. A 

 native of Britain, which produces a 

 fine effect in a shrubbery, or among 

 trees ; and which should be grown 

 in peat, or other light soil, and kept 

 moist. 



Osy'ris. — Os?/7vcZecB.— The Poet's 

 Cassia. — A pretty little shrub, with 

 white flowers, a native of the South 

 of Europe ; which should be grown 

 in loam and peat, and which is 

 propagated by cuttings, 



Otho'niva. — CompositcE. — Rag- 

 wort. — Coarse -growing greenhouse 

 or frame annuals, perennials, and 

 low shrubs, all with yellow flowei'S, 

 and all natives of the Cape of Good 

 Hope ; which are generally grown 

 in loam and peat, and which only 

 require the usual culture of their 

 respective kinds. 



u yira'xdr A. — Juncagmcece. — 

 A most remarkable aquatic plant, 

 the leaves of which are like open 

 net-work, consisting only of the 

 veins, without any of the fleshy 

 part. A native of Madagascar. 



O'xALis. — OxalldecB. — Wood 

 Sorrel. — Mostly perennial and tube- 

 rous-rooted plants, from the Cape 



