AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



223 



LEU 



planted in the borders the bulbs should be set 

 rather closely together to insure a display. 

 Introduced from Chili in 1851. 



Leuchtenbe'rgia. Named after Prince Leuchten- 

 berg. Nat. Ord. CactacecB. 



L. principis, the only species, has glaucous- 

 green, succulent, triangular leaves, truncated 

 at the apex, and there bearing six or seven 

 long, chaffy, almost horny scales, of which 

 the center one is almost as long as the mami- 

 Ife, and the others form a whorl round the 

 center. The stem is about as thick as a man's 

 arm, hard and woody, and the flowers are a 

 rich, clear yellow, large, usually solitary, and 

 produced at the top of the plant, among the 

 3'ounger mamilae. It was introduced from 

 Mexico in 1847, and requires the same treat- 

 ment as Mamillaria. 



Leucoca'rpus. Fi'om lencos, white, and Kar- 

 pos, a fruit ; alluding to the color of the ber- 

 ries. Nat. Ord. Scrophulariacece. 



L. alatus, the only species, a native of 

 Mexico, is a tall, puberulous or glabrous 

 green-house plant, with yellow bi-abiate flow- 

 ers and large opposite-spreading leaves. It 

 grows from two to two and a half feet high, 

 and is very oi'namental when laden with its 

 white fruits. Syn. Mimulus perfoliatus. 



Le'ucojum. Snowflake. From leukos, white, 

 and ion, a violet ; in reference to the color of 

 the flower, whence the English name Snow- 

 flake. Nat. Ord. AmaryllidacecB. 



Hardy bulbs, growing to the height of 

 twelve and eighteen inches, and producing 

 spikes of pretty white flowers like the Snow- 

 drop. They increase by offsets from the 

 bulbs. L. vernum, Spring Snowflake, one 

 of our best early flowering bulbs, is a 

 native of Germany and Switzerland, where it 

 is found wild in the woods and other shady 

 places. It was introduced in 1596 ; is dedi- 

 cated to St. Agnes, the patron saint of young 

 virgins, from its loveliness and purity, and 

 hence is called St. Agnes's Flower. In Park- 

 inson's time it was also known by the name 

 of the Great Early Bulbous Violet. It is said 

 to have become naturalized in the neighbor- 

 hood of Bridgeport, Dorsetshire, England. 

 These very elegant and delightfully fragrant 

 flowers greatly resemble the Snowdrop, but 

 they are much larger, and are about a month 

 later. There is a yellowish green spot on each 

 petal near the point. They are among the most 

 desirable of early flowering bulbs, and are 

 suitable for rock-work or borders. A shel- 

 tered situation should be chosen, and the 

 soil should be well-drained. Syn. Erinoama. 



Leucophy'ta Brownii. A synonym for Caloce- 

 phalus Brownii, which see. 



Leucopo'gon. From leukos, white, and pogon, 

 a beard ; referring to the hairs on the flowers. 

 Nat. Ord. Epacridacece. 



An extensive genus of evergreen shrubs, 

 with handsome white flowers, produced in 

 terminal or axillary spikes. The species are 

 widely scattered over Australia, Tasmania, 

 and New Zealand. But few of the species are 

 under cultivation. 



Leucospe'rmum. From leucos, white, and 

 uperma, a seed ; in allusion to the downy 

 seeds. A genus of ProteacecB, consisting of 

 evergreen shrubs, or small trees, natives of 

 south Africa. The flowers are solitary under 



LHO 



each bract, sessile, and capitate, and the 

 leaves are sessile and coriaceous, generally 

 covered with silky hairs. Several species are 

 in cultivation. 

 Leucoste'gia. A genus of Ferns now incor- 

 porated with Davallia. 



Leucotho'e. The name of a sea-goddess in the 

 Greek Mythology. Nat. Ord. Ericacem. 



A genus of handsome hardy evergreen 

 shrubs, natives of North America and Japan. 

 The flowers are white, and are disposed in 

 terminal and axillary racemes. They are 

 among the most desirable of hardy Ericaceous 

 shrubs, and are propagated by seeds, layers, 

 or divisions of established plants early in 

 spring. L. Davisice is a handsome evergreen 

 shrub, a native of California, whei-e it grows 

 from three to five feet high. It has rather 

 small deep green foliage, and bears at the 

 tops of each branch, clusters of small white 

 blossoms, which being abundant, are very 

 effective. 



Levi'sticum. From leva, to assuage ; the plant 

 is said to relieve flatulency. Nat. Ord. Um- 

 belliferm. 



L. officinale, the only species in cultivation, 

 is a hardy herbaceous perennial, with yellow 

 flowers and ternately-decompound leaves. It 

 is seldom seen except in botanic gardens. A 

 variety with variegated leaves has been 

 recently introduced. 



Lewi'sia. Bitter Root. Named after Captain 

 M. Lewis, the American traveler and compan- 

 ion of Clark. Nat. Ord. Portulacacece.. 



L. rediviva, the only species, is a succulent 

 perennial, with a fleshy, tapering root. Its 

 leaves are quite succulent, and from their 

 centre arises a strong stalk bearing a solitary 

 rose-colored flower, surrounded by an invo- 

 lucre of five to seven scales. As soon as the 

 flower appears the leaves begin to wither and 

 dry up, usually lasting only a few days, the 

 entii'e period of the plant's existence above 

 ground not exceeding six weeks. This ex- 

 ceedingly curious plant is a native of the 

 upper Oregon Territory, and its roots, which 

 are largely collected by the Indians, afford a 

 wholesome, though bitter-tasted food, being 

 composed almost entirely of starch. The 

 specific name, rediviva, was given to the plant 

 in consequence of the growth of some dried 

 and apparently dead roots, taken from an her- 

 bai'ium specimen. 



Leyceste'ria. Named after William Leycester, 

 of the Indian Civil Service. Nat. Ord. Capri- 

 foliacew. 



L.formosa, the only species, is a very hand- 

 some hardy or half-hardy deciduous shrub, of 

 a rather rambling habit. It is a distinct and 

 interesting plant, bearing its purplish-tinged 

 white flowers in fascicles disposed in whorls 

 of fives and sixes, the whole forming short, 

 leafy, drooping racemes, which terminate the 

 branches and branchlets. It is a native of 

 the temperate Himalayas, whence it was in- 

 troduced in 1824. It is propagated by cut- 

 tings of the young shoots in spring or by 

 seeds. 



Lho'tzkya. Named after Dr. John Lhotzky, a 

 Viennese botanist who traveled in Australia. 

 Nat. Ord. Myrtacece. 



A genus of evergreen, Heath-like shrubs, 

 natives of Australia. O. acutifolia (white) and 



