AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



93 



COB 



Cobu'rgia. Named after Prince Leopold of Saxe- 

 Coburg, now King of Belgium. Nat. Ord. 

 AmaryllidacecB. 



An interesting genus of half-hardy bulbs 

 from South America, (mostly from Peru), 

 requiring the same treament as Sprekelia 

 formosissima. The flowers are mostly scarlet 

 and very showy. They require a strong, rich 

 soil. Propagated by offsets. Introduced in 

 1826, but rarely seen except in botanical col- 

 lections. 



Coca. See Erythroxylon. 



Cocci'neus. A pux-e carmine color, slightly 

 tinged with yellow. 



Cocci'nia. Derivation of name not given. Nat. 

 Ord. Cucurbitacece. 



C. Indica, the only species and formerly called 

 Momordica tnonadelphia, is a climbing shrub, 

 common in the hedges of India. It has large 

 white flowers. The fruit is oblong, marked 

 with ten white lines. When ripe it is of a red 

 color, and is used by the natives in their 

 sauces. The leaves and other parts of the 

 plants are used in medicine. 



Coccocy'pselum. From kokkos, fruit, and 

 kypsele, a vase ; referring to the form of the 

 berries. Nat. Ord. Rubiacece. 



A small genus of soft-wooded trailing plants 

 from the West Indies and Central America. 

 C. repens is interesting from its bluish-purple 

 berries. As a genus, they do not occupy a 

 prominent place either as ornamental or use- 

 ful plants. 



Coccolo'ba. Sea-side Grape. From kokkos, a 

 berry, and lobos, a lobe ; in reference to the 

 fruit. Nat. Ord. Polygonacece. 



Most of this genus are tropical evergreen 

 trees, interesting and beautiful, but too large 

 for ordinary green-house culture. C. platy- 

 clada is a dwarf species, with curious flat 

 stems, growing frona five to ten feet high. 

 It succeeds well planted in an ordinary flower 

 border, and is useful in filling large vases and 

 rustic tubs, or for planting in rock-work. It 

 is propagated freely by cuttings. The flowers 

 are small and white, produced at the axils of 

 the leaves. The correct name of this plant is 

 now given as Muehlenbeckia x>latyclada, which 

 see. 



Co'cculus. Derived from kokkos, the systematic 

 name of the Cochineal ; given to this genus 

 because most of the species bear scarlet 

 berries. Nat. Ord. Menispermacece. 



An extensive genus of climbing shrubs, re- 

 markable for their medicinal properties. 

 With one exception the species are all natives 

 of the East Indies. C. Carolinus, common in 

 "woods and thickets from North Carolina to 

 Florida, is a very handsome climber, remai-ka- 

 ble for its racemes of white flowers, which are 

 succeeded by clusters of bright scarlet ber- 

 ries, that remain on the vine all winter. This 

 is one of the most beautiful climbers under 

 cultivation, and will succeed well whei'e there 

 is not more than ten or twelve degrees of 

 frost. It is increased by cuttings or from 

 seeds. Syn. Wendlmidia. 



Co'cculus Indicus, Plant. See Anamirta {Me- 

 nispermmn) cocculus. 



Co'chlearia. From cochlear, a spoon ; the 

 leaves of most species ai-e hollowed, like the 

 bowl of a spoon. Nat. Ord. CrudfercB. 



COC 



A genus of annual or perennial herbs, usu- 

 ally smooth and fleshy. There are about 

 twenty-five species widely distributed over 

 the temperate and cold regions of the northern 

 hemisphere. C. officinalis is the Scurvy Grass, 

 valuable as an anti-scorbutic. C. Armoracea 

 is the Horse Radish, which see. 



Cochleate. Twisted in a short spire, resem- 

 bling the convolutions of a snail-shell, as 

 the pod of Medicago cochleata, or the seed of 

 Salicornia. 



Cochlioste'ma. From cochlios, spiral, and 

 sterna, a stamen. Nat. Ord. Commelynacem. 



A genus of green-house perennials allied to 

 Tradescantia, natives of Brazil. They are 

 rather curious in form, having contracted 

 stems and tufted leaves, like those of a 

 Bromelia. The flowers are blue, and borne 

 on branched clusters. Of the two species in 

 cultivation, one is small and the other, C. 

 Jacobianum, is very large and showy, equally 

 valuable from a horticultural point of view, 

 as it is interesting from its peculiar structure. 

 They are increased by division. Introduced 

 in 1866. 



Cockle. The common name of Lychnis Githago, 

 a troublesome weed in grain fields. Intro- 

 duced from Europe. 



Cocklebur or Clotbur. The popular name of 

 Xanthium, a coarse annual weed, common on 

 the sea-coast, especially southward. 



Cockscomb. See Celosia. 

 Cock's-Foot Grass. Dactylis glomerata. 

 Cock's-Spur Thorn. Crataegus Criis-galli. 

 Cocoanut. The nut of Cocos nucifera, which 

 see. 



Cocos. Cocoanut Tree. From the Portuguese 

 word, coco, a monkey ; in reference to the end 

 of the nut resembling the head of the monkey. 

 Nat. Ord. Palmacece. 



C. nucifera, the well-known Cocoanut Tree, 

 is the type of this genus of Palms, to which, 

 in addition, about a dozen other species be- 

 long. They mostly form tall, graceful trees, 

 and the majority of them are natives of the 

 tropical regions of America, one only, the 

 common Cocoanut, being found in Asia or 

 Africa. The trees grow to a great height, 

 with a straight trunk, and, like almost every 

 species of the Palm tribe, without branches. 

 The leaves are from twelve to fifteen feet 

 long. The flowers come out round the top of 

 the trunk in large clusters, inclosed in a 

 sheath, and the nuts succeed them, commonly 

 ten or twelve together. There are few trees 

 more extensively or variously useful. The 

 leaves are employed as thatch to cover houses, 

 and to make mats either for sitting or lying 

 upon. The leaf, when reduced to fine fibers, 

 is the material of which beautiful and costly 

 carpets are made for those in the higher 

 ranks ; the coarse fibers are made into brooms. 

 After these useful materials are taken from 

 this leaf, the stem still remains, which is 

 about three inches thick, and furnishes fire- 

 wood. The wood of this Palm, when fresh 

 cut, is spongy, but becomes hard after being 

 seasoned, and assumes a dark brown color. 

 On the top of the tree a large shoot is pro- 

 duced, which, when boiled, resembles Broc- 

 coli, but is said to be of a more delicate taste ; 

 and though much liked, is seldom used by 



