256 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



MIT 



The flowers are white, tinged with purple, 

 and fragrant, the fruit is scarlet and edible, 

 but nearly tasteless, and remains on during 

 the winter. The Partridge is very fond of it, 

 whence the local name. It is a pretty little 

 plant for rockeries, hardy ferneries, and such 

 like places. 



Mite'lla. Mitre-Wort. Bishop's Cap. A diminu- 

 tive from mitra, a cap or mitre ; alluding to 

 the form of the young pod. Nat. Ord. Saxi- 

 fragacem. 



A genus of hardy, perennial herbs, with 

 stalked, roundish, cordate crenated leaves, 

 and greenish-white flowers, often nodding, 

 in slender many-flowered racemes. One 

 species, M. nuda, occurs in Siberia, and this 

 and the other species are natives of this 

 country. They are admirable subjects for the 

 rock-garden. 



Mitraca'rpum. From mitra, a mitre, and karpos, 

 a fruit; in allusion to the fruit being cut 

 round about in the middle. Nat. Ord. Rubia- 

 cem. 



A genus of erect or prostrate herbs, often 

 with perennial roots, natives of tropical 

 America and southern Africa. The small 

 white flowers are produced in dense -flowered 

 heads; the leaves are linear-lanceolate or 

 ovate. M. stylosum, the only species in 

 cultivation is a plant-stove annual. None of 

 the other species so far as known, are of any 

 horticultural merit. 



Mitra'ria. From mitra, a mitre ; referring to 

 the seed pod. Nat. Ord. Gesneracem. 



M. coccinea, the sole representative of this 

 genus, is a low-growing shrubby plant, 

 native of the Island of Chiloe. Its leaves are 

 small, opposite, or sometimes trifoliate. The 

 flowers are solitary, and of a bright scarlet 

 color. It is a very beautiful plant for the 

 green-house, or for planting out during the 

 summer. It was introduced in 1848, and is 

 propagated by cuttings. 



Mitriosti'gma. From mitra, a mitre, and 

 stigma; in reference to the shape of the pistil. 

 A genus of two species, closely related to 

 Gardenia with which they are usually classed. 

 M. axillare, forms a compact spreading shrub 

 with white, very fragrant, single axillary 

 flowers. It was introduced from Natal in 

 1856, and is often cultivated under the name 

 of Gardenia citriodora. 



Moccasin Flower. The popular name of our 

 native Cypripediums, from the fancied resem- 

 blance of the flower to a moccasin or slipper. 



Mock Orange. See PhiloAielphus. 



Mock Orange G-ourd. Cucurbita aurantia. 



Mock Privet. See Phillyrea. 



Mode'cca. The East Indian name. Nat. Ord. 

 PassifloracecB. 



A genus of evergreen climbing shrubs, re- 

 sembling Passiflora in habit, but by no means 

 so handsome. Natives of tropical Asia and 

 Africa. The flowers are small and greenish- 

 white. Propagated by cuttings. 



Modi'ola. From modiolus, the nave of a 

 wheel ; referring to the formation of the seed- 

 vessel. Nat. Ord. Malvacece. 



A genus of annual and herbaceous peren- 

 nials allied to the Mallow. They are mostly 

 uninteresting plants, with low, creeping habit, 



MOL 



and purple or crimson flowers. Natives of 

 the Southern States, and Brazil. 



Mo'hria. Named after M. Mohr, a German 

 botanist. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 



A genus of South African Ferns, consisting 

 of but one species, AI. thurifraga, a beautiful 

 Fern with the general appearance of Woodsia 

 obtusa. It makes a splendid specimen plant, 

 and may be grown in a cool green-house. 

 Pi'opagated by spores. 



Moldavian Balm. See Dracocephalum. 



Moles. The common Mole [Talpa), is found 

 in most parts of the country, and is well 

 known for its curious cylindrical form, and 

 the blackness of its velvet-like coat. The 

 eyes are so small as to be practically useless 

 to the animal, which is. however, possessed 

 of acute hearing and smell. The teetli prove 

 them to be carnivorous, and observation 

 proves that Moles feed on insects, chiefly as 

 lai'vee, and on earth-worms. Occasionally a 

 little vegetable matter may be swallowed along 

 with this food. The home of the Mole is usually 

 situated in some secure situation under a 

 large stone or the root of a tree, and there are 

 usually several passages diverging from it, 

 into any of which it may retreat when danger 

 threatens. It is probable that Moles do more 

 good than harm when they confine their 

 operations to the fields, but in gardens they 

 do much damage by cutting the roots of the 

 plants in flower borders, upheaving the soil 

 in seed-beds, etc., and their earth-heaps render 

 lawns very unsightly-. They are unwelcome 

 visitors to the garden, and it is necessary to 

 remove them by the use of traps set in their 

 burrows or runs. As they are very wary, it is 

 needful to take special precautions against 

 the smell of one's hands remaining about the 

 traps. 



Moli'nia. Named in honor of J. Molina, a 

 writer upon Chilian plants. Nat. Ord. Gram- 

 inacece. 



M. coRrulea is a tall, tufted, hardy, perennial 

 grass, with stems one to three feet in height, 

 the variegated form of which forms an excel- 

 lent decorative and bedding plant. 



Mollis. Soft. 



Molopospe'rmum, From Molops, a stripe, and 

 Sperma, a seed ; the fruit has the appearance 

 of being striped. Nat. Ord. Umbelliferce. 



M. Cicutarium, the only species is a large 

 vigorous-growing, handsome perennial plant, 

 producing beautiful, finely cut, fern-like leaves, 

 often four feet in diameter. It forms an ex- 

 cellent plant for large shrubberies and is very 

 effective as a solitary plant on lawns. It is a 

 native of central and southern Europe and 

 is propagated by division, or by seeds sown 

 when ripe. 



Mo'ltkia. Named after Count Gadske Moltke, 

 a Danish noble. Nat. Ord. Boraginacece. 



M. cmrulea, is a hardy herbaceous perennial, 

 with beautiful blue flowers. It is a native of 

 Persia, grows freely with ordinary garden 

 culture, and is propagated by seeds or root 

 division; introduced in 1829. 



Moluce'Ua. A genus of Lalnatm, of hardy, or 

 half-hardy annuals, inhabiting the Mediter- 

 ranean region. M. Icevis, is remarkable on 

 account of the singular form of the calj'ces, 

 which are shallowly bell-shaped, and densely 

 arranged on erect r^tems. It forms an excellent 



