80 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



CER 



Ceraceous. Wax-like. 



Cera'stium. Mouse-ear Chickweed. From 

 keras, a horn ; because many of the species 

 have capsules like an ox's horn. Nat. Ord. 

 Caryophyllacece. 



Of this somewhat extensive genus only a 

 few of the species are worthy of cultivation, 

 but none of the annuals. Some of the hard}' 

 trailing species are quite ornamental when 

 used for edgings or rock- work. C. tomentosiim 

 has greyish- white foliage, and is largely em- 

 ployed as an edging to summer flower beds, 

 and as a ground-work in carpet bedding. Pro- 

 pagated by division of the roots or by seeds. 



Cera'sus. Cherry. From Cera.sjts, a town of 

 Pontus, in Asia, whence the Cherry was 

 brought to Rome by Lucullus. Nat. Ord. 

 RosacecB. 



A genus of hardy deciduous trees and 

 shrubs, the species and varieties including 

 some of our most ornamental trees for the 

 lawn, as well as highly prized fruit trees for 

 the orchard. The numerous varieties of cul- 

 tivated Cherries are supposed to have origin- 

 ated from C. avium and C vulgaris. Those 

 belonging to C. avium are best represented by 

 the Bigarreau and Black Heart varieties; 

 those of C. vulgaris by the May Duke and 

 Morello. Both of these species appear to be 

 natives of Europe, although Pliny states that 

 there were no Cherries in Italy before the 

 victory obtained over Mithridates by Lucul- 

 lus, who was, according to the abt)ve author, 

 the first who brought them to Rome from 

 Cerosante about sixty-eight years before the 

 Christian era. It is also stated by the same 

 authority, that " in less than 120 years after, 

 other lands had Cherries, even as far as 

 Britain beyond the ocean." Theophrastus, 

 300 years B. C, mentions the Cherry as being 

 common in Greece, from which some writers 

 contend that the name of the city was de- 

 rived from the ti'ee, instead of the tree from 

 the town or city. The Cherry-tree begins to 

 bear usually in two or three years after plant- 

 ing trees of the size sold at the nurseries, 

 and continues to enlarge in growth and pro- 

 ductiveness annually, until it often attains a 

 larger size than most of our fruit-trees. It 

 grows freely in almost any soil that is free 

 from moisture, preferring, however, like most 

 other fruits, a deep loamy soil. The tree maj' 

 be trained as desired, either in pj-ramidal 

 form or with a round top, by pruning and 

 directing the shoots. They are now worked 

 extensively on the Mahaleb stock. Many 

 varieties being found to be more hardy on it, 

 and it is adapted to a greater variety of soil. 

 The following are good varieties (for descrip- 

 tion see nursery catalogues) : Black Tartarian, 

 Coe's Transparent, Downer's Late, May Duke, 

 Kirtland's Mary, Rockport, Yellow Spanish, 

 Late Duke, and Morello. The well-known Wild 

 Cherry of our woods is C. serotina. The 

 common double Cherry and the French 

 double Cheri-y deserve a place in every 

 garden ; and equally so do the Chinese Cherry, 

 C. pseudo-cerasus ; the All-Saints' Cherry, C. 

 semperjlorens ; the Bird Cherry, C. padus ; 

 and the Virginian Bird or Choke Chei-ry, C. 

 Virginiana. 



Cerato'nia. Carob Tree. From keras, a horn ; 

 in reference to the shape of the seed-pod. 

 Nat. Ord. LeguminoscB. 



CER 



C. siliqua, the only species, is a tree of 

 medium size, growing extensively in the south 

 of Europe, particularly in some of the Spanish 

 provinces, and produces a fruit known as the 

 Algoroba or Carob Bean, which is an import- 

 ant article of commerce. It is chiefly used 

 for the feeding of cattle, but is largely used 

 by the poor for food when there is a scarcity 

 of grain. This is generally considered the 

 Locust Tree of Scripture ; and in Spain, where 

 the seeds are eaten, it is called St. John's 

 Bread. Under this name the pods are often 

 sold on the streets in New York. It is now 

 generally supposed that the shells of the 

 Carob pod were the husks that the prodigal 

 son desired to partake of with the swine. 



Cerato'pteris. A peculiar genus of tropical 

 aquatic Ferns, found growing in quiet waters. 

 The fronds are much divided, membranaceous, 

 and succulent, the sterile ones being more 

 foliaceous and less divided, with evident 

 reticulated veins. C. thalictroides is the only 

 species, and when well grown in water, forms 

 a handsome plant and is not inaptly called the 

 Floating Stag's-horn Fern. 



Ceratoste'ma. From keras, a horn, and sterna, 

 a stamen ; the anthers are spurred. Nat. Ord. 

 VacciniacecB. 



A small genus of very pretty green-house 

 evergreen shrubs, natives of Peru. The 

 flowers are tubular, of orange, crimson, or 

 scarlet color, produced in terminal clusters 

 in May. Propagated by cuttings. Introduced 

 in 1846. 



Ceratosti'gma plutnbaginoides. This is now 

 given as the correct name of Valoradia plum- 

 baginoides, better known in cultivation as 

 Plumbago LarpentcB. 



Ceratoza'mia. A geniis of Cycadacece, deriving 

 its name from the presence of two horns on 

 the scales of its Zamia-like fruit. C.fusco- 

 viridis is a magnificent plant of recent intro- 

 duction from Mexico. It is a tree of moderate 

 size, with leaves from three to four feet long, 

 broadly pinnate, and of a fine arching habit. 

 The young leaves are of a rich, bronzy, choco- 

 late color, gradually changing to olive green, 

 and ultimately developing into deep green. 

 Young plants are obtained by suckers or 

 from seed. 



Cercidiphy'Uum. Japonicum. A late and valu- 

 able introduction from Japan. The leaves 

 are medium sized, heart-shaped and purple 

 when young, like those of the Judas Tree. 

 The flowers are inconspicuous. The shape of 

 the tree is pyramidal, bark smooth and as a 

 whole, is a stately and beautiful object. 



Ce'rcis. Judas Tree. From kerkls, a shuttle- 

 cock ; the name given by Theophrastus. Nat. 

 Ord. Leguminosce. 



A genus of handsome, low-growing trees, 

 with singular leaves and very showy flowers. 

 The flowers have an agreeable acid taste, and 

 are frequently used by the French in salads, or 

 made into fritters with batter, and the flower 

 buds are pickled in vinegar. It is an orna- 

 mental tree in spring as the flowers completely 

 clothe the branches and even the upper part 

 of the trunk with purple before the leaves 

 appear. C. siliquastrum is a native of the 

 south of Europe, and of which Gerarde, in com- 

 pliance with the popular notions of his time, 

 says : " This is the tree whereon Judas did 



