186 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



HEL 



well-known Heliotrope, a general favorite 

 from its delicious fragrance. It grows freely 

 in the open border. After the first of Septem- 

 ber, and until killed by frost, the plant is a 

 complete mass of bloom. It and its many 

 varieties are also largely grown in the green- 

 house for cut flowers in winter, and is easily 

 increased by cuttings or from seed. Intro- 

 duced from Peru in 1757. 



Heli'pterum. From helios, the sun, and pteron, 

 a wing. Nat. Ord. CompoaitcB. 



An extensive genus, separated from Helichry- 

 sum, with which it was formerly classed. The 

 species, commonly known as Everlasting 

 Flowers, are tender annuals from South Africa, 

 Australia, and Tasmania. The name "Ever- 

 lasting Flower " is promiscuously applied to 

 the plants of this genus and their allies. The 

 arrangement of them in bouquets and floral 

 designs is an extensive business in France and 

 Germany. They grow freely from seed, and 

 thrive best in a light, dry soil, made tolerably 

 rich. Introduced from Swan River in 1863. 

 Rhodanthe and Astelma are placed under this 

 genus by some botanists. 



Hellebore. See Helleborus. 

 White or Swamp. Veratrum nigrum. 



Helle'borus. Hellebore. From helein, to cause 

 death, and bora, food ; in reference to its 

 poisonous quality. Nat. Ord. Ranunculacece. 



This genus consists of hardy herbaceous 

 perennials, growing best under the shade of 

 trees. The "Christmas Rose," H. niger, is 

 one of the most interesting plants belonging 

 to this genus, on account of its flowering in 

 winter or veiy early in spring, before almost 

 every other flower. If grown in a frame, it 

 will be true to its name, and flower freely 

 during the Christmas holidays. It is increased 

 by division of the roots; introduced from 

 Austria in 1596. 



Helmet. The hooded upper part of some flow- 

 ers, as in the Monkshood. 



Helmet Flower. A common name applied to 

 AconUum, Coryanthes, and Scutellaria. 



He'lmia. In honor of Dr. C. Helm, a German 

 ecclesiastic. Nat. Ord, DioscorextcecB. 



A genus of handsome climbers, allied to the 

 Dioscorea or Yam, and requiring the same 

 treatment. 



Helo'nias. From helos, a marsh ; habitat of the 

 species. A genus of LiliacecB, the only species, 

 of which H. bullata is a pretty herbaceous 

 perennial, flowering early in spring, found 

 sparingly in boggy places from New Jersey to 

 Virginia. 



Hemero'calli'deae. A sub-division of the nat- 

 ural order Liliacecs. 



Hemeroca'llis. Day Lily. From hemera, a day, 

 and kallos, beauty ; alluding to the beauty and 

 duration of the flowers. Nat. Ord. Liliacece. 



Strong perennial plants, with yellow or cop- 

 per-colored flowers. They are perfectly hardy, 

 and thrive best in a moist, shady situation. 

 The more common sorts are unworthy of culti- 

 vation. H. flava, found from the south of 

 Europe to Siberia and Japan, has beautiful 

 clear yellow, very fragrant flowers, borne in 

 clusters on tall scapes. If in a shady 

 border they remain some time in flower. 

 Propagated by division of the root. 



HER 



Hemioni'tes. From hemionos, a mule ; supposed 

 to be barren. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 



A small genus of Ferns, with simple palmate 

 fronds, natives of the tropics of both the New 

 and Old Worlds. They are exceedingly inter- 

 esting plants for the hot-house, where they 

 must be grown. They are increased by divi- 

 sion ; introduced in 1798. 



Hemite'lia. From hemi, half, and telia, a lid ; in 

 reference to the shape of the indusium. A 

 genus of about thirty species of tree ferns, 

 belonging to the Nat. Ord. PolypodiacecB. 



Natives of South America, and the West 

 Indies. They are all strong growers making 

 beautiful specimens, but require a large green- 

 house or conservatory to give room for their 

 proper development. 



Hemlock. See Conium maculatum. 

 Water. Cicuta virosa, and C. maculaia. 

 Spruce. See Tsuga Canadensis. 



Hemp. The common name of Cannabis saliva, 

 also applied to various valuable fibres 

 employed for manufacturing purposes. 

 Bow-String of India. Sanseviera Zeylanica, 



and Calotropis gigantea. 

 Canada or Indian. Apocynum cannabinum. 

 East Indian. Cannabis saliva, and Hibiscus 



cannabinus. 

 Manilla. The fibre of Musa textilis. 

 Water. Eupatorium cannabinum, Acnida 

 cannabina, and Bidens tripartita. 



Hemp Nettle. Galeopsis Tetrahit. 



Hemp Weed. Climbing. Mikania scandens. 



Hen and Chicken Daisy. See Bellis perennis. 



Hen and Chickens. A popular name for one 

 of the Houseleeks, Sempervivum soboliferwn. 



Henbane. See Hyoscyamus. 



Henna Plant. Lawsonia alba. 



Hep, or Hip. The fruit of the Dog Rose, Rosa 

 canina, and other species of Rosa. 



Hepa'tica. From hepaticos, relating to the 

 liver ; referring to the lobed leaves. Nat. Ord. 

 Ranuncidacem. 



A small genus of hardy herbaceous peren- 

 nials, one of our earliest " wild flowers," and 

 very common in the woods throughout the 

 Eastern and Northern States. It succeeds 

 well in a shady border. 



Herac'leum. Cow Parsnip. From heracles, a 

 plant consecrated to Hercules. Nat. Ord. 

 UmbelliferoB. 



A genus of large, coarse-growing, hardy 

 perennials and biennials, bearing large umbels 

 of white flowers. They are all too weedy in 

 appearance for the flower garden, being suit- 

 able only for large masses in rocky places 

 diflicult to cultivate. 



Herb. A plant that does not possess a woody 

 stem. 



Herbaceous. Merely green, or thin green and 

 cellular, as the tissue of membraneous leaves. 

 Also producing an annual stem from a peren- 

 nial root. 



Herbaceous Plants, Hardy. W. Robinson in 

 " Hardy Flowers," London, 1888, says : " The 

 culture of the finest hardy perennials need 

 not interfere in the slightest degree with that 

 of bedding plants, or anything else— indeed it 

 would enhance the beauty of all, and in 

 almost every garden there is, goodness 

 knows, an abundance of room for improve- 



