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HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



ERI 



white or pinkish, produced singly at the axils 

 of the leaves. They require plenty of air and 

 light, and are propagated by cuttings of the 

 young shoots in April. Introduced in 1821. 



Eritri'chium. From erion, wool, and thrix, 

 trichoa, hair ; plants woolly. Nat. Ord. Bora- 

 ginacem. 



A genus of handsome dwarf annual or per- 

 ennial herbaceous plants, found throughout 

 the temperate regions of the northern hem- 

 isphere, South Africa and Australia. E. nanum, 

 the one most generally cultivated, has flowers 

 of a brilliant sky-blue color, with a yellowish 

 eye, not unlike those of Myosotis alpeslris, 

 but larger. It has been enthusiastically 

 termed "The Glory of the Alpine Flora." 

 E. barhigerum, introduced to cultivation from 

 California in 1886, is a very pretty white-flow- 

 ered annual species, the whole plant covered 

 with long, spreading hairs. Increased by 

 seeds or division. 



£ro'diuni. Heron's-bill. From erodios, a heron ; 

 referring to the resemblance of the style and 

 ovaries to the beak and head of the heron. 

 Nat. Ord. GeraniacecB. 



The genus Erodium differs from the Gerani- 

 um and Pelargonium in the shape of its seed 

 vessel. In all the three the seed-pod resem- 

 bles the head and beak of a bird ; in Geranium 

 it resembles a crane's bill, in Pelargonium it 

 is a stork's bill, and in Erodium a heron's bill. 

 The species are dwarf annuals and perennials 

 producing mostly lilac and purple flowers. 

 Every part of the plant, when bruised, emits 

 a strong peculiar odor. They form admirable 

 plants for the rock-garden, particularly in dry, 

 sunny situations and in sandy soil. Increased 

 by division, or by seeds. 



Erose, Eroded. Having the margin irregularly 

 toothed, as if bitten by an animal ; a term 

 used to express a particular kind of denticu- 

 lation, as in Salvia pinnala. 



Erubescent. Eeddish, blush-colored. 



E'rvum. Lentil. From enc, tilled land, in 

 Celtic ; some of the species are pests in culti- 

 vated ground. Nat. Ord. Leguminosm. 



A genus justly classed as weeds, the only 

 species of interest being E. Lens, the common 

 Lentil, a plant of the greatest antiquity. It 

 was from the seed of this that the pottage 

 is supposed to have been made, for which 

 Esau sold his birthright. It is held in high 

 esteem in Egypt and Syria, and is considered 

 an indispensable diet by the natives, who 

 undertake long journeys. It is largely sold 

 by druggists under the name of Ervalenta. 

 This genus is now merged by " Hooker and 

 Bentham " into Vicia. 



Ery'ngium. Erv-ngo. From Eryngion, a name 

 adopted by Pliny from Dioscorides. Nat. 

 Ord. UmhelliferoR. 



A very extensive genus of hardy annuals 

 and herbaceous perennials, the latter being 

 common throughout Europe. E. maritimum, 

 Sea Eryngo, or Sea Holly, is a conspicuous 

 plant along the English coast ; the flowers are 

 thistle-like, of a bright blue color. E. ame- 

 thystinum, a native of Dalmatia, is one of the 

 best of the perennial species ; the flowers, as 

 well as the bracts and upper part of the stems, 

 have a beautiful blue tint. Some of the an- 

 nual species are very beautiful border plants, 



EEY 



and if cut early, are useful as dried flowers in 

 winter bouquets. 



Eryobo'trya. Japan Evergreen Plum. From 

 erion, wool, and botrys, a bunch of grapes ; 

 referring to the downy flower-racemes. Nat. 

 Ord. Pomacece. 



E. Japonica, the only species, is a half-hardy 

 evergreen shrub closely allied to Pholinia, 

 having large wrinkled leaves, downy beneath. 

 The whitish flowers are borne in October and 

 November, consequently it will not ripen its 

 excellent, pale orange-red fruit in our north- 

 ern States, neither will it endure the rigors of 

 our northern winters. There is a variegated 

 leaved variety, which is exceedingly orna- 

 mental. 



Ery'simum. Hedge Mustard. From eryo, to 

 draw; it is considered a powerful cure for 

 sore throat; it is also said to draw and pro- 

 duce blisters. Nat. Ord. Cniciferm. 



An extensive genus, mostly biennials. All 

 of but little merit. One or two cultivated 

 species of hardy annuals make rather eff'ective 

 clumps in the border. E. Arkansanum, the 

 western Wall-flower, grows about two feet 

 high, the stem being crowded with bright 

 orange yellow flowers as large as those of the 

 "Wall-flower. Propagated by seed. 



Erythe'a. A small genus of green-house palms 

 from southern California, with fan-shaped, 

 plicate, flliferous leaves much resembling 

 the Latania; excellent for lawn decoration 

 or for cool-house culture. E. edulis, forms a 

 handsome tree with a slender trunk thirty or 

 more feet high. Each tre<i bears one to four 

 panicles, blossoming late in March ; the fruit 

 clusters are said to weigh forty to fifty 

 pounds. Syn. Brahea edulis. 



Erythrae'a. Centaury. From ery^/iros, red ; the 

 color of the flowers ot some of the species. 

 Nat. Ord. Gentianacece. 



A somewhat extensive genus of biennials 

 and annuals. The latt(ir are of easy culture, 

 and produce freely small pink flowers. Seed 

 should be sown in autumn in the open border. 

 The biennials require the protection of the 

 frame, which their merits do not deserve. 

 The annuals are natives of Europe, and have 

 been long known in the garden. 



Erythri'na. Coral-tree. From erythros, red ; 

 the color of the flowers. Nat. Ord. Legumi- 



n08CB. 



A genus of ornamental flowering green- 

 house shrubs, commonly known as Coi'al- 

 trees, found pretty generally distributed 

 throughout the tropics of both hemispheres. 

 They all produce scarlet or crijnson pea- 

 shaped flowers in pairs at the axils of the 

 leaves. E. Crista-galli and laurifolia, natives of 

 Brazil, succeed well planted out in a warm sit- 

 uation in the open border, producing flowers 

 in the greatest abundance ; being rank grow- 

 ers, they requii'e considerable room. As a 

 shrub for the lawn they have few, if anj-, 

 superiors, their showy flowers contrasting 

 finely with their bright glossy foliage. E. 

 Hendersonii, a variety of recent introduction, 

 is one of the very finest flowers, a bright 

 scarlet, smaller than the other species, but 

 produced in greater abundance. As it flowers 

 earlier it seeds freely, so that it can be grown 

 as an annual plant. The only care required 

 is to take the plants up, after the tops are 



