22 



HENDEKSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



ANA 



Anaca'rdlum. From ana, like, and kardia, the 

 heart; in reference to the form of the nut. 

 Nat. Ord. Anacardiaceoe. 



Ornamental evergreen trees, natives of the 

 East and West Indies, remarkable for their 

 beautiful, fragrant flowers, and for their fruit, 

 known as the Cashew-nut. The trees are too 

 large for introduction into the green-house. 



Anacy'clus. A genus of Composites comprising 

 about ten species of hardy or half-hardy annual 

 herbs, natives of Southern Europe and Nortli- 

 ern Africa. A. radiatus purpureus, a very 

 pretty and free-flowering hardy annual, is the 

 only species in general cultivation, and thrives 

 well imder ordinary cultivation. 



Anaga'llis. Pimpernel. From anagelao, to 

 laugh ; fabled to possess a virtue to I'emove 

 sadness. Nat. Ord. PrimulacecE, 



A genus of pretty dwarf annual and 

 biennial plants. The former have given place 

 to the many seminal improvements of the 

 the latter, insomuch as to be rarely met with. 

 They are universal favorites for planting in 

 the beds of the flower garden, where their 

 numerous blue or red flowers, expanded when- 

 ever the sun shines, are very effective. They 

 are propagated by seeds or cuttings. When 

 seed is desired, the branch or plant on which 

 it is growing should be taken entire, a little 

 before the autumn frosts begin, and hung up 

 in a di"y, sunny place, such as before the 

 Avindows of a shed, allowing the pods to 

 remain upon it until wanted in the spring for 

 sowing as it requires a long time to become 

 properly ripened ; afterwards it vegetates 

 freely if sown in a gentle hot-bed. The garden 

 varieties are hybrids. The species under 

 cultivation were introduced from Southern 

 Europe in 1830. A. arvensis, the common 

 Pimpernel, is plenty in waste, sandy places in 

 the United States, having been introduced 

 from Europe and become thoroughly natural- 

 ized. 



Analogy. Kesemblance to a thing in form, but 

 not in function, or in function, but not in 

 form. Corresponding with a thing in many 

 points, but differing in more, or in points of 

 more importance. Thus the flowers of Potent- 

 ilia and Ranunculus are analogous. 



Anami'rta. A genus of plants inhabiting Ceylon, 

 Malabar, and the Eastern Isles of India, and 

 belonging to the natural order MenispermacecE. 

 The most important, if not the only plant of 

 this genus, is the A. cocculus, the plant which 

 produces the seeds know-n as Cocculus Indicus, 

 which were formerly used in the adulteration 

 of malt liquors ; it is also used to poison fish. 

 It is a climbing plane, with ash-colored corky 

 bark ; not in cultivation. 



Anana'ssa Pineapple. From nanas, the Guiana 

 name. Nat. Ord. Bromeliacece. 



A. sativa, the common Pineapple, is 

 universally acknowledged to be one of the 

 most delicious fruits in existence. More than 

 three hundred years ago it was described by 

 Jean de Lery, a Huguenot priest, as being of 

 such excellence, that the gods might 

 luxuriate upon it, and that it should only be 

 gathered by the hand of Venus. It is a 

 native of Brazil, and was first introduced into 

 Europe in 1555, having been sent there by 

 Andre Thevet, a monk, from Peru. The 

 plant is perennial, not unlike the Aloe, but the 



AND 



leaves are much thinner, and of a hard fibrous 

 texture, with numerous short, sharp spines 

 on the edges ; the variegated form is highly 

 prized as one of the most valuable plants for 

 decorative purposes. The fruit varies like 

 most other species, there now being nearly 

 fifty varieties in cultivation. 



Anasta'tica. From ayiaMatis, resurrection, in 

 reference to its hygrumetrical property. Nat. 

 Ord. Cruciferce. 



An annual plant, indigenous to the Egyptian 

 deserts, and called the llose of Jericho. When 

 full grown it contracts its rigid branches into 

 a round ball, and is then tossed about by the 

 w^ind. When it alights in water, or damp 

 ground, the branches relax and open out, as if 

 Its life were renewed ; hence its name of 

 Resurrection Plant. Among the superstitious 

 tales told of it is, that "it first bloomed on 

 Christmas Eve, to salute the birth of the 

 Kedeemer, and paid homage to His resurrec- 

 tion by remaining expanded until Easter. " This 

 curious annual can readily be grown from seed, 

 but will not stand the severity of our winters ; 

 they can, however, be taken up and kept dry 

 in a house. When wanted to expand, put 

 them in a saucer of water. 



Anceps. Two edged, as the stem of an Iris. 



Ancho'manes. A remarkable and beautiful stove 

 aroid allied to Amorj)hophalliis. A. Hookeri, has 

 a pale purple spathe appearing before the leaf 

 which when fully developed is much divided 

 and toothed. Introduced from Fernando, Po., 

 in 1832. 



A'nchovy Pear. See Grias. 



Auchu'sa From anchousa, a cosmetic paint 

 made from one of the species ; used for stain- 

 ing the skin. Nat. Ord. Boraginacece. 



Hardy herbaceous plants, suitable for deep 

 shrubbery borders or any unfrequented place. 

 Most of the species have purple flowers. 



Ancylo'gyne. From ankylos, curved, and gyne, a 

 female ; the pistil is curved. Nat. Ord. 

 Acanthacece. 



A small genus of tropical under-shrubs, 

 with terminal spikes or racemes of showy 

 flowers. A. longiflora. from Guayaquil, is a 

 valuable species for the green-house. It 

 produces large, drooping panicles of rich 

 purple, tubulose flowers, two inches long, and 

 of a most attractive character. Propagated 

 by cuttings. Introduced in 1866. 



Audrevp-'s (St.) Cross. Ascyrum CruxAndrem. 



Andro'gynous. Producing male and female 

 flowers on the same plant, or on the same spike 

 or head. 



Andro'meda Kill Calf. A classical name, after 

 the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiope, king 

 and queen of .Jithiopia. Nat. Ord. EricacecB. 



A. Mariana, Stagger-bush, so common on the 

 plains of Long Island, is a beautiful represen- 

 tative of this genus, one much sought after in 

 Europe, where it is considered one of the 

 finest American plants. They are beautiful 

 shrubs, growing about two feet high, with 

 leaves similar to those of the privet ; flowers 

 white, in spikes or racemes three to eight 

 inches long, produced in June. They are 

 conspicuous throughout the season on account 

 of their form and foliage. The foliage is said 

 to poison lambs and calves. 



