100 



HENDERSONS HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



CON 



stiff, sometimes linear or needle-shaped, some- 

 times short and scale-like, or more rarely 

 broad, lobed, or divided. The flowers are uni- 

 sexual, either in cylindrical or short catlvins 

 with closely packed scales, or the females are 

 solitary. There are nearly 200 known species, 

 distributed over a great part of the globe, 

 several of them forming large forests in tem- 

 perate climates, or, more rarely, within the 

 tropics ; while some of them extend almost to 

 the limits of woody vegetation in high lati- 

 tudes, or at great elevations. Bentham and 

 Hooker, divide this large family into six 

 tribes, viz. : Abetineae, containing Abies, 

 Cedrus, Larix, Picea, Pinits, Pseudotsttga and 

 Tsuga; Araucarife, containing Agathis, Arau- 

 caria and Cunninghamia ; Cupressineae, con- 

 taining Arctinvstrobus, CalUtris, Cupressus, 

 Fitzroya, Jimiperus, Libocedrus and Thuja; 

 PodocarpesB, containing Microcnchrys, Podo- 

 carpus and Sa.i-egothea ; Taxes;, containing 

 Dacrydium, Ginkgo, Pherosphisra, PhyllocladitH, 

 Taxus and Torreya; Taxodiete, containing 

 Athrotaxus, Cephalotaxus, Cryptomeria, Sequoia 

 and Taxodiutn. 



The ConifersB are very useful and important, 

 yielding valuable timber and resin, oil, pitch 

 and turpentine. Some attain a vast height, 

 as Sequoia gigantea in California, specimens 

 having been measured more than 450 feet 

 high and 116 feet in circumference at the 

 base. Taxodium sempervirens also attains a 

 very great size. The Pines have their leaves 

 in clusters of two, three, four, five or six, 

 surrounded by a membraneous sheath at the 

 base. Pinus sylvestris, the common Scotch 

 Fir, abounds in cold climates, and supplies 

 timber, turpentine and pitch, as well as a 

 hemp-like fiber from its leaves, which is used 

 for stuffing pillows and cushions under the 

 name of pine wool. Pinus pinaster, or the 

 Bordeaux Pine, thrives well on the seashore. 

 Abies includes different species of Fir 

 and Spruce, in all of which the leaves come 

 off from the stem and branches singly. Abies 

 excelsa is the Norway Spruce, and A.balsamea is 

 the Balm of GileadFir; Picea pectinata the 

 Silver Fir; Pseudotsuga Canadensis is the 

 Hemlock Spruce ; C^rus comprises those 

 Cedars which have clustered persistent leaves. 

 Cedrus Libani is the Cedar of Lebanon, the 

 Eres of the Bible ; Cedrus Deodara is the 

 sacred Cedar of India. Larix includes the 

 species of Larch, which have clustered de- 

 ciduous leaves. Larix Europea is the Euro- 

 pean Larch ; L. Americana is the American 

 Larch, commonly called Hackmatack; L. 

 GriffUhii is the Himalayan Larch. The 

 Araucarias have single-seeded scales, with ad- 

 herent seeds and many-celled anthers. Arau- 

 caria imbricata is a Chilian species ; A. Bid- 

 willii is from Moreton Bay ; both have edible 

 seeds ; A. excelsa, which yields valuable wood, 

 is the Norfolk Island Pine. Cryptomeria 

 Japonica is the Japan Cedar, of which there 

 are several beautiful forms. Cupressus semper- 

 virens is the common Cypress. The Junipers 

 have a peculiar succulent fruit. Juniperus 

 Bermudiana and J. Virginiana furnish the 

 Cedar for lead pencils. The species of Thuja 

 are known by the name of Arbor Vitse. 

 Co'nium. Poison Hemlock. From konao to 

 whirl around; in reference to the giddiness 

 caused by eatmg the leaves. Nat. Ord. Um- 

 bellifercB. 



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This genus is almost identical with Cicuta, 

 or Water Hemlock. C. maculatum is a strong- 

 growing, branching herb, the juices of which 

 are very poisonous. Common in marshy 

 places. Naturalized from Europe. 



Connate. When the bases of two opposite 

 leaves are united together. Also when any 

 parts, originally distinct, become united in 

 after-growth. 



Connivent. Converging; having a gradually 

 inward direction. 



Conocli'nium. Mist-Flower. From konos, a 

 cone, and Mine, a bed ; from the conical 

 receptacle. Nat. Ord. Compositce. 



C. coBlestinum, the only species of much in- 

 terest, is a hardy herbaceous perennial, with 

 terminal corj^mbs of violet purple or blue 

 flowers, common in the Southern and Western 

 States. It is commonly called Eupatorium, 

 from which it differs only in the receptacle, 

 and is rapidly increased by division or from 

 seed. 



Cono'pholis. Squaw Root, Cancer Root. From 

 konos, a cone, and pholis, a scale ; resembling 

 a fir cone. Nat. Ord. Orobanchacem. 



C. Americana is a very singular little plant, 

 common in oak woods, growing in clusters 

 among fallen leaves. The plant is a fleshy 

 herb, chestnut-colored or yellowish through- 

 out, and as thick as a man's thumb. The stem 

 is without leaves, scaly and generally simple. 

 The flowers are in terminal spikes, and not 

 showy. In this country it is popularly known 

 as Cancer Root, from its supposed medicinal 

 properties. 



Conoste'phium. From feonos, a cone, and 

 Stephanos, a crown ; referring to the disposi- 

 tion of the flowers. Nat. Ord. Epacridacem. 



A genus of fruit bearing Epacridaceos, val- 

 ued for its beautiful flowers by gardeners who 

 delight in growing plants that can only be 

 grown with the greatest difficulty ; to which 

 class this plant belongs. The fruit, though 

 wholesome, is not generally liked. The Na- 

 tive Currant of New Holland belongs to this 

 section. Propagated by cuttings. Introduced 

 from Swan River in 1836. 



Cono'stylis. From konos, a cone, and stylos, a 

 style ; the style, or female organ, grows in the 

 shape of a cone at the bottom. Nat. Ord. 

 Hcemodoracece. 



A small genus of green-house herbaceous 

 perennials from New Holland, rather orna- 

 mental, but not of sufficient merit for general 

 cultivation. Propagated by division of the 

 roots. 



Conservatory. The term usually applied to a 

 green-house structure when attached to the 

 dwelling-house, or when it is used as a house 

 wherein specimen plants are grown or dis- 

 played ; it is usually of an ornamental char- 

 acter and of various sizes. When detached, a 

 convenient size is twenty feet wide by fifty- 

 feet in length, with side sashes and curvili- 

 near roofs sloping equally to east and west at 

 an angle of about 35 degrees. The height 

 from the floor to the ridge may be fi-om twelve 

 to flfteen feet, according to circumstances. 

 The height of the front, including three feet 

 of glass, from five to six feet. 



Constricted. Lightened, or contracted in some 

 particular place. 



