166 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



GES 



and from these put in small pots as they 

 grow, and let them grow there for the sum- 

 mer. Allow them to go to rest in the autumn, 

 and let them remain in the same pots during 

 winter. As soon as they show signs of life in 

 spring, repot in fresh soil, and many of them 

 will come into flower during the summer. 

 The first species were introduced in 1814. 



Gesnera'ceae. A natural order of herbs or 

 shrubs, often growing fi'om scaly tubers, with 

 wi'inkled, usually opposite leaves and showy 

 flowers. Tliey are natives of various parts 

 of the world, but chiefly the warmer regions 

 of America. The succulent roots are occa- 

 sionally edible, and some of the species yield 

 a dye. The leaves of some of them produce 

 buds when laid on the soil, similar to Begonias 

 of the Eex type. There are upward of eighty 

 genera and nearly 300 species. Gesnera, 

 Gloxinia, Achimenes, Streptocarpus, and Cyr- 

 tiindru are examples. 



Gethy'llis. From getheo, to rejoice ; referring 

 to the sweetness of the flowers. Nat. Ord. 

 AmaryllidacecB. 



A small genus of the most diminutive of 

 this noble family of plants. They are green- 

 house bulbs from the Cape of Good Hope, 

 producing small white, fragrant flowers in 

 July, singly on a scape not more than six 

 inches high, and are propagated by offsets. 

 Introduced in 1780. 



Ge'um. Avens. From geyo, to stimulate ; the 

 roots of some of them, and of allied species, 

 have the same properties as Peruvian Bark. 

 Nat. Ord. Rosacice. 



A genus of hardy herbaceous perennials, 

 containing some species of an oruami'ntal 

 character, well adapted for the shrubbery 

 border. G. montanum, bright golden yellow, 

 and G. coccineum, scarlet, are very showy. 

 Propagated by seeds or by root division. 



Gherkin. A small fruited variety of Cucumis 



saliva. 

 West Indian. The unripe fruits of Cucumis 



Angaria. 

 Giant FenneL See Ferula. 



Gibbous, Gibbose. More convex or swollen in 

 one place than another. 



Gi'Ua. Named in honor of P. 8. Gil, a Spanish 

 botanist. Nat. Ord. PolemoniacecB. 



Handsome hardy annuals from California, 

 ■with white, lilac, and rose-colored flowers. 

 Tliey are low-growing, and profuse bloomers, 

 suitable for borders or rock-work. Seed 

 should be sown in the fall, and the beds 

 lightly covered with leaves. Fenzlia, Ipo- 

 mopsifi, and Leplosiphon are by some botanists 

 included in this genus. 



Gille'nia. Named after A. Gillenius, a German 

 botanist. Nat. Ord. Rosacem. 



A genus of two species, natives of the United 

 States. G. trifoliata or Bowman's Root, is a 

 hardy perennial with white or rose-colored 

 flowers ; it is often cultivated under the name 

 of Spircea trifoliata. 



Gilliflow^er or Gillyflower. Dianthus CaryO' 

 phyllus, also the genus Matthiola. 



Gilliflower-Stock. See Matthiola. 



Gills. The lamellas or plates growing perpen- 

 dicularly from the cap or pileus of an Agaric 

 or Mushroom. 



GLA 



Ginger. See Zingiber. 

 Wild. See Asarum Canadenae. 



Gingerbread Tree. See Hyphcene. 



Gi'nkgo. Maiden-hair Tree. The Japanese 



name. Nat. Ord. Coniferm. 



This singular tree is better known in culti- 



A^ation under the name of Salisburia, which 



see. 

 Ginseng. See Panax. 

 Gipsies' Rose. Scabioaa arvenaia. 

 Gipsy-Flower. Cynoglosaum officinale. 

 Githa'go. A genus now included under Lychnis. 



Glabrous. Smooth ; without hair or other 

 covering, as the Camellia leaf. 



Gla'diolus. Sword Lily. The diminutive of 

 gladius, a sword ; referring to the sword- 

 shaped leaves. Nat. Ord. Iridacece. 



This extensive and well-known genus con- 

 tains about ninety species, many of which are 

 amongst the most popular of out-door sum- 

 mer and autumn-flowering so-called "bulb- 

 ous" plants. They are found in central 

 Europe, the Mediterranean region, western 

 Asia, and Africa, but the most of the species 

 are natives of southern Africa. They are 

 remarkable for their ease of culture, grace of 

 habit, and for the beauty and intense coloring 

 of the flowers, varying from the most bril- 

 liant scarlet to pure white, from clear rose to 

 pure yellow and bright purple. The habits of 

 the species are as varied as their colors ; 

 some delicate and light, others strong and 

 robust, with constitutions adapted to any 

 climate exceptii>g the most frigid. From 

 these species some of the most remarkable 

 hybrids have been produced. In no branch 

 of floriculture has the skill, the zeal, and the 

 perseverance of the hybridizer been so liber- 

 ally rewarded. A class with almost unlimited 

 numbers of varieties has been produced, that, 

 for the size of flower, beauty in form, size and 

 strength of plant, together with the enormous 

 length of flower spike, are entirely unknown 

 to the species. So popular have these hybrids 

 become that the species are only to be found 

 in botanical collections. It is a common 

 mistake to call our many varieties hybrids, 

 when in reality they are all, or nearly all, 

 cross-breeds ; and this is one of the most 

 interesting features in Gladioli culture, that 

 every cross between well-known varieties 

 tends, in almf ist every case, to improve, not 

 only the beauty of the flower, but the vigor of 

 the plant. We wish now to remove, as far as 

 possible, the prevalent erroneous idea, that it 

 is a difficult task to raise new and choice 

 varieties from seed. The only secret, the only 

 mystery is, that one can, with so little trouble 

 and expense, produce flowers that will give 

 such intense satisfaction and pleasure. It is 

 no more trouble to raise Gladioli from seed 

 than it is to raise the most common vegetable. 

 With the simplest garden culture, there is an 

 almost absolute certainty of success. Prepare 

 your bed in spring as for any hardy annual, 

 sow your seed, and cover to the depth of one 

 inch. Hoe as often as needed for other crops ; 

 keep them well weeded ; take up the bulbs 

 after a frost, or before, if thej' show signs of 

 ripening; store them in a dry cellar, free 

 from frost; plant them out again the next 

 spring, and the ensuing summer A'ery many of 



