114 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



CYA 



propagated readily by cuttings. Introduced 

 in 1770. 



Cya'thea. From kyatheion, a little cup ; in ref- 

 erence to the appearance of the spore or seed 

 cases on the back of the leaves. Nat. Ord. 

 JPolypodiacecB. 



An extensive genus of arborescent Ferns, 

 abundant in South America and in the West 

 Indies, in India, the Eastern Islands, and in 

 the Pacific Islands ; a few are also met with 

 in New Zealand and South Africa. In some 

 the trunk is short, but in others it reaches a 

 height of forty to sixty feet, and is 

 crowned with a magnificent head of fronds, 

 which are in many cases of gigantic size, and 

 are always large. C. viedullaria, a native 

 of New Zealand and the Pacific Isles, and 

 known in gardens as a noble Tree Fern of 

 comparatively hardy character, forms in its 

 native country a common article of food with 

 the natives. The part eaten is the soft me- 

 dullary substance, which occupies the center of 

 the trunk, and which has some resemblance to 

 Sago. C. dealbata, another beautiful species 

 of New Zealand, is said to be eaten in the 

 same way. This has a trunk from ten to fif- 

 teen feet high, crowned with a noble tuft of 

 fronds, which are white beneath with a silvery 

 powder. Propagated by spores. First intro- 

 duced in 1793. 



Cyatho'des. From Jcyathos, a cup, and eido.^, 

 like ; because the nectary resembles that ves- 

 sel. Nat. Ord. Epacridacem. 



An interesting and somewhat extensive 

 genus of green-house evergreens, natives of 

 Australia, and occasionally met in New Zea- 

 land and the Pacific Islands. They produce 

 small axillary white or yellow flowers. They 

 are propagated by cuttings and require the 

 same treatment as recommended for the 

 Epacris. 



Cycadaceae. A natural order of small, palm- 

 like trees or shrubs, with unbranched stems 

 and pinnate leaves, usually rolled up like a 

 crosier while in bud. They are chiefly natives 

 of the tropical and temperate regions of 

 America and Asia, but are also found in 

 southern Africa and in Australia. The plants 

 are mucilaginous and starchj*. Cycas revoluta, 

 one of the best known, is a native of Japan, 

 and supplies a kind of starch which is used as 

 Sago ; and a similar kind of false Sago is sup- 

 plied by C. circinalis in the Moluccas. Caffre 

 bread is made from the starch of a Cape spe- 

 cies of Encephalartos. In the West Indies a 

 kind of Arrow-root is obtained from some 

 species of Zamia. There are seven known 

 genera and about fifty species. Cycas, Zamia, 

 Encephalartos, and Dion are examples of the 

 order. 



Cy'cas. The Greek name of a Palm said to grow 

 in Ethiopia. Nat. Ord. Cycadacem. 



A remarkable genus of ornamental plants, 

 consisting of low-growing trees, with cylin- 

 drical, usually unbranched stems, terminated 

 at the top by a crown of handsome, deeply- 

 cut, pinnate leaves of thick texture. C. revo- 

 luta, the finest of the species, is grown exten- 

 sively in China and Japan, its native countries, 

 for the pith contained in its trunk, and which 

 is prepared by the natives into an article of 

 food similar to the Sago, upon which they live 

 wholly for several months in the year. They 

 are commonly, but erroneously, called Sago 



CYC 



Palms, as they furnish none of the Sago of 

 commerce. Their cultivation in our houses is 

 the same as is required for all the Palm tribe; 

 plenty of pot room, and a strong, moist heat. 

 C. revoluta, however, may be wintered in a low 

 temperature, and its new growth retarded for 

 the lawn. After the leaves have perfected 

 their growth and are thoroughly hardened, 

 the plants can be placed upon the lawn during 

 summer, where they are most appropriate 

 ornaments. Young plants are usually obtained 

 from suckers, but as it takes many years to 

 grow these to any useful size, large numbers 

 of the trunks, minus leaves and roots, vary- 

 ing in height from one to seven feet, are 

 annually imported from Cuba and the West 

 Indian Islands, which being placed in heat, 

 soon make good plants. Several large con- 

 signments have also been received of late 

 years from Japan. This genus was first intro- 

 duced into England from China in 1737. 



Cy'clamen. From kyklos, circular ; referring to 

 the round leaves. Nat. Oi'd. Primulacem. 



This genus contains some of our most pop- 

 ular and desirable plants for fall, winter, and 

 early spring flowering. They are all neat and 

 dwarf in habit ; all have foliage of pretty form 

 and beautiful markings, and the flowers, in 

 every case, are beautiful, some exquisitely 

 so. C. persicum stands at the head of the 

 family, and is the one in most general culti- 

 vation. The Cyclamen should be grown from 

 seed, which should be sown as soon as ripe, 

 in gentle heat, in pans filled with a compost of 

 well-rotted manure, leaf mould, and coarse 

 sand thoroughly incorporated. As soon as 

 the plants have made two leaves, prick out 

 into thumb-pots filled with the same compost, 

 and place upon the shelf in the green-house, 

 near the glass, and shade from direct sunlight. 

 Carefully water; to dry them or drown them 

 is equally fatal. As soon as the pots are filled 

 with roots, shift into a three-inch pot, observ- 

 ing the same instructions in all respects. By 

 the first of September they will require a 

 five-inch pot. With proper care and attention, 

 they will be in flower in December and Janu- 

 ary following planting. They require a more 

 even temperatui-e than is usually given to 

 green-house plants, not above 60*^ nor below 

 50°; with it bulbs two inches in diameter can 

 be groA\Ti in one year. After flowering, they 

 should be gradually ripened off, but never 

 allowed to become thoroughly dry. During 

 summer keep them in a frame, shaded, and 

 give occasionally a little water. They should 

 be repotted again about the first of September, 

 reducing the old ball considerably and giving 

 them similar treatment to that previously 

 advised for young plants, but the flowers are 

 generally earlier and smaller a second year. 

 It is not advisable to save plants after this 

 age, as seed sown every year will keep up a 

 stock, and young plants are much to be pre- 

 ferred. This species is a native of Persia. 

 All the species are famous for their acridity, 

 yet in Sicily the Cyclamen is the principal food 

 of the wild boars ; hence the common name of 

 Sow-bread. 



Cyclantha'ceae. A natural order of perennial 

 herbs or shrubs, all natives of tropical 

 America. It is very closely allied to Pandan- 

 acem, and embraces four genera and about 

 thirty-five species. Carludovica pahnata, which 



