74 



HENDEKSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



CAS 



clusters, which though pretty, are not enough 

 to recommend the plant for general culture ; 

 but its golden coat which suffuses the back 

 of the leaves, and still more densely the entire 

 young stems, will always make it an object of 

 interest. It is perfectly hardy, and is readily 

 increased by cuttings. 



Casta'nea. Chestnut. From a town of that 

 name in Thessaly. Nat. Ord. Corylaeew. 



The Chestnut Tree is well known 

 because of the nuts, which ai'e universally 

 esteemed. There are two species indigenous 

 to this country, the common Chestnut, C. ves- 

 ca, found throughout the States, and C. pianila, 

 a low-growing tree or shrub, common south- 

 ward, which produces a smaller nut, known 

 as the Chinquapin. The Spanish Chestnut, a 

 variety of C. vesca, differing from our native 

 Chestnut mainly in the size of the fruit, is a 

 native of Asia Minor, introduced at a very 

 early date. This tree grows to an immense 

 size. A tree near Queens, L. I., planted 

 nearly one hundred years ago, has a trunk 

 almost twelve feet in circumference, and is 

 about fifty feet high, with immense spreading 

 branches. It is one of the noblest shade trees 

 to be found in this country. A species of 

 late introduction from Japan promises to 

 become one of our most useful as well as 

 most ornamental trees, or, more properly, tall 

 shrubs. The fruit of this species was 

 received in New York a few years since in a 

 consignment of goods from Japan. The 

 merchant receiving the same, seeing tlie nuts 

 were of such excellent quality, fully equal to 

 those of our native species, and as large as the 

 Spanish Chestnut, attempted the growing of 

 them, and with remarkable success. In five 

 3'ears they commenced to fruit, and are now 

 bearing profusely. The shrub is of an orna- 

 mental character, suitable for the lawn. The 

 fruit or nuts are borne within two feet of the 

 ground. Those who have had a favorable 

 opportunity to judge of its character, predict 

 its earh' adoption as a hedge plant, for which 

 purpose it seems well adapted. In addition 

 to its value as an ornamental hedge, it would 

 undoubtedly prove valuable for its yield of 

 nuts. 



Castille'ja. Painted-Cup. Named in honor of 

 Don CaMiUrja, a Spanish botanist. Nat. Ord. 

 Scrojyh ulariaceoB. 



This genus consists of about forty species, 

 nearly all of which are American, a few being 

 found in northern Asia. They are i-emarkable 

 for their brightly colored floral leaves or 

 bracts, the most of which are more showy than 

 the flowers, which are commonly yellowish or 

 greenish. C. indivisa, a beautiful perennial 

 species, has recently been introduced into 

 our gardens from Europe, although it is a 

 native of Colorado. It is one of our most 

 desirable hardy plants, producing its brilliant 

 scarlet bra<5ts in great profusion. This 

 species is so entirely distinct from most other 

 plants, and at the same time so showj', and 

 can be grown with as little difficulty as most 

 other herbaceous plants, that Ave cannot but 

 consider it a great acquisition. 



Castillo'a. A Mexican tree belonging to the 

 Nat. Ord. UrticacecB, and having male and 

 female flowers alternating one with the other, 

 on the same branch. C. elastica, contains a 

 milky juice yielding Caoutchouc. 



CAT 



Castor Oil Bean. See Ricinus. 

 Casuari'na. Beef- wood. Supposed to be named 

 from the resemblance the leaves bear to the 

 feathers of the Cassowary. Nat. Ord. Casuri- 

 nacece. 



A genus of very curious trees, constituting 

 of themselves a distinct family. They have 

 very much the appearance of gigantic Horse- 

 tails {Equisetaceoe), being trees with thread- 

 like, jointed, furrowed branches, without 

 leaves. The flowers are not of a showy char- 

 acter. These plants are met most abundantly 

 in tropical Australia, and occasionally in the 

 Indian Islands, New Caledonia, etc. In Aus- 

 tralia, from their somber appearance, they 

 are planted in cemeteries. The timber fur- 

 nished by these trees is valuable for its ex- 

 treme hardness and its red color, it is called 

 in the islands Beef-wood. The several species 

 are highly esteemed for their uses in the me- 

 chanic and useful arts. A few of them have 

 been introduced into green-houses for their 

 singular appearance. 



Cata'lpa. Indian Bean. Cigar Tree. The 

 Indian name of the first discovered species. 

 Nat. Ord. Bignoniacece. 



A small genus of ornamental trees, natives 

 of North America, the West Indies, Japan 

 and China. C. bignonioides (syn. SyringcEfolia), 

 a native of the Southern States, and one of the 

 most beautiful shade trees, has bright, yellow- 

 ish-green, heart-shaped leaves, and is remark- 

 able for its numerous loose panicles of white 

 flowers, spotted with orange and purple. C. 

 b. aurea, a golden-leaved variety, is slower 

 growing than the parent and is golden over the 

 entire leaf on the young growths in June, and 

 the second growth in August and September. 

 C. speciosa, the Western Catalpa, cultivated 

 and now widely naturalized in southern 

 Arkansas, western Louisiana, and eastern 

 Texas, has white flowers, in rather large pan- 

 icles and in general appearance is similar to 

 C. bignonioides, but may be easily distin- 

 guished from that species by its much larger 

 flower, fruit, and seed. C. Bungeii, generally 

 known as C. Kcempferi, is probably a small 

 form of C. bignonioides, and is a remarkable 

 shrub, growing from six to eight feet high, 

 with a diameter fiom eight to ten feet. The 

 trees when young make a rapid growth, and 

 are particularly valuable for lawn or street 

 decoration, being, so far, entirely exempt 

 from the ravages of insects and caterpillars. 



Catana'nche. From katanangke, a strong in- 

 centive ; in reference to an ancient custom 

 among the Greek women of using it in love 

 potions. Nat. Ord. CompositcB. 



A small genus of annuals and hardy her- 

 baceous perennials. C. cwrulea, a perennial 

 species, with slender stalks, long, narrow 

 leaves, and large heads of sky-blue flowers, 

 is a native of the south of Europe. From 

 this species several varieties have been pro- 

 duced with white and double flowers, all very 

 desirable for the open border and for cuttings. 

 They are increased by division or from seeds. 

 C. lutea, an annual species with yellow flowers, 

 is a native of Candia. 



Catase'tum. From kata, downward, and seta, a 

 bristle ; referring to the position of the two 

 horns of the column. Nat. Ord. Orchidac&B. 



An extensive genus of strong and rapid 

 growing, terrestrial orchids, common in the 



