AND GENERAL HOETICULTURE. 



81 



CER 



hang himself ; and not upon the Elder Tree, 

 as it is said." (Herbal, 1596.) C. Canadensis, 

 a native species, is common on the banks of 

 streams from Canada to Louisiana. C. Japon- 

 ica, from Japan, is a very dwarf tree or shrub, 

 w^ith bright I'osy-pink flowers, much larger 

 than C. Canadensis, and exceedingly beautiful 

 in early spring. 



Ce'reus. Torch Thistle. From cereus, waxy; 

 referring to the shoots of some of the species 

 being easily bent. Nat. Ord. Cactacece. 



An extensive genus, the species of which 

 are remarkable for their singularity of form, 

 and for the beauty of their flowers. Few 

 classes present greater contrasts. Some are 

 round, some angular, some smooth, and 

 others fluted. Some are climbers or creepers, 

 while others grow like huge trees, attaining a 

 height of sixty feet, with a diameter of two or 

 three feet. The night-blooming section is 

 very interesting and beautiful, C grandifiorus, 

 the tj^pe, usually requires age to flower well. 

 A strong plant will frequently have six to ten 

 exceedingly large and beautiful sweet-scented 

 flowers open in an evening. They are very 

 transient, lasting only a few hours, neither do 

 they open again when once closed. They 

 begin to open between six and eight o'clock in 

 the evening, are fully expanded bj' eleven, 

 and by three or four in the morning they are 

 closed ; but during their short continu- 

 ance there is scarcely any flower of greater 

 beauty, or that makes a more magniflcent 

 appeai-ance. The flowers of the night-bloom- 

 ing section vary in size from six to fourteen 

 inches in diameter, according to the species, 

 C. MacDonaldi, being the lai'gest, and some- 

 times measuring fourteen to sixteen inches. 

 The sepals in some are brown, in others 

 brownish-yellow, and in others again pinkish- 

 brown. The petals in some are pale, yellow- 

 ish-white, and in others pure white. The 

 stamen are usually a bright yellow. Some 

 are sweet-scented, others the reverse, while 

 some are odorless, but all are beautiful. The 

 flowers of the day-blooming section are 

 usually small, but very bright and pretty. 

 For other night-blooming kinds, see Phyllo- 

 cactus. 



Ceriferous. Bearing, or producing wax. 



Ceri'nthe. Honeywort. From keros, wax, and 

 anthos, a flower ; referring to its being a 

 favorite flower with bees. Nat. Ord. Boragin- 

 acecB. 



A small genus of hardy annuals, common in 

 Central Europe. One species, a native of the 

 south of France, 'is a hardy perennial. The 

 annuals have long been cultivated in gardens, 

 under the name of Honej'wort. They have 

 tubular, yellow flowers, in one-sided di'oop- 

 ing racemes. They sow themselves when 

 once planted, and require but little care. 



Cernuous. Inclining a little from the per- 

 pendicular; generally applied to drooping 

 flowers. 



Cerope'gia. A genus of AsclepediacecB, contain- 

 ing over fifty specijs. usually twining, some- 

 times erect perennial plants, often with 

 tuberous roots ; remarkable for the peculiar 

 shape and marking of the flowers. C. elegans, 

 has been long in cultivation, but is surpassed 

 by C. Gardnerii, with creamy white and purple 

 flowers, and C. Thwaitesii, with yellow flowers 



CHA 



beautifully sprinkled with dark blood-red 

 spots. The two latter are comparatively late 

 introductions from Ceylon, and are elegant 

 green-house twiners. 



Cero'xylon. Wax Palm. From keros, wax, and 

 xylon, wood ; the trunk being coated with wax. 

 Nat. Ord. Palmacece. 



A small genus of Palms, consisting of three 

 species, two of which are handsome trees of 

 great size. C. andicola, the Wax Palm of 

 New Grenada, was discovered by the cele- 

 brated traveler, Humboldt, who describes the 

 tree as attaining the prodigious height of 

 160 feet, while it differs from other species of 

 Palms in flourishing under a much colder 

 temperature, it being found on elevated moun- 

 tains, extending as high as the lower limit of 

 perpetual snow. Its tall trunk is covered 

 with a thin coating of a whitish waxy sub- 

 stance, giving it a marbled appearance. This 

 substance, which forms an article of com- 

 merce, consists of two parts resin and one of 

 wax and is obtained by scraping the trunk. It 

 is mixed with tallow and made into candles, 

 which are of superior quality. The trunk 

 yields a valuable timber, used for building 

 purposes, and the leaves are used for thatch- 

 ing roofs. Propagated from seed. 



Ce'strum. From Kestron, an ancient Greek 

 name. Nat. Ord. SolanacecB. 



Green-house shrubs, natives of the East 

 Indies and South America. C. Parqui, syn. 

 C. nocturnum, frequently called the Night- 

 Blooming Jasmine, is a much esteemed 

 species, which flowers abundantly all sum- 

 mer, if planted in the open air in May, and 

 fills the whole garden with its fragrance at 

 night, though perfectly inodorous during the 

 day. It should be taken up in autumn, and if 

 kept in a box or pot, rather dry, may be easily 

 preserved in a warm cellar until spring. C. 

 aurantiacum, with large panicles of orange- 

 colored flowers, is an excellent plant for early 

 winter green-house decoration. Some au- 

 thors include Habrothamniis under this genus. 



Ce'terach. From Chetherak, the Arabic name. 

 Nat. Ord. Polypodiacem. 



A small genus of Ferns, somewhat resem- 

 bling the Aspleniums. C. offidnarum, the 

 Scale Fern, is an interesting species, suitable 

 for rock-work, but impatient of much water, 

 as are all of the species. Both the hardy and 

 green-house species are valuable in collec- 

 tions. They are natives of Great Britain and 

 the Canary Islands. 



Chasno'stoma. A considerable genus of herbs 

 and under-shrubs, belonging to Scrophula- 

 riaceoB, and natives of South Africa. C. hispida 

 is a dwarf shrubby species with white axillary 

 flowers produced in great abundance all the 

 season. Propagated by seeds or cuttings. 



Chaerophy'llum Bulbosum. Bulbous rooted 

 Chervil. See Anthriscus. 



Chasrophy'llum Sativum. A synonym of An- 

 thriscus cerefolium (Chervil). 



Chain Fern. See Woodwardia. 



Chamaeba'tia. From chamai, on the ground, 

 dwarf, and hatos, a bramble ; referring to its 

 low growth and bramble-like flowers. Nat. 

 Ord. Rosacece. 



C. foliosa, the only representative of this 

 genus, is a beautiful Californian shrub, about 

 three feet high. The leaves are very finely 



