272 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



NEJ 



Ne'ja. A small genus of Compoaitm, consisting 

 of about six south Brazilian perennials, or 

 under-shrubs, with yellow flower-heads. N. 

 gracilis is a compact, free-flowering little 

 plant, and has a. very neat appearance in the 

 borders. Propagated by seeds or division. 



Neli'tris. From ne, privative, and elytron, a 

 seed case ; in reference to the berry being 

 without any partitions. Nat. Ord. Myrtacece. 

 A genus of shrubs or small trees, natives of 

 tropical Asia and Australia. Only one or two 

 species are in cultivation. 



Nelso'nia. Named in honor of D. Nelson, the 

 botanist who accompanied Captain Cook. Nat. 

 Ord. AcanthacecB. 



A small genus of plants distribvited over 

 tropical and sub-tropical regions m both the 

 Old and New Worlds. The species consist of 

 diffuse tomentose herbs, and are but little cul- 

 tivated. 



Nelu'mbium. Nelumbo, Sacred Bean. From 

 Nelumbo, the Cingalese name of N. speciosum. 

 Nat. Ord. Nymj^hmcem. 



This genus contains several beautiful spe- 

 cies, all aquatic plants growing in ponds 

 and slow-running streams. N. speciosum 

 is the Sacred Bean or Sacred Lotus of 

 India. It is a native of both the East and 

 West Indies, China, Japan, Persia, and Asiatic 

 Russia. According to Thunberg, it is es- 

 teemed a sacred plant in Japan, and pleasing 

 to their deities, the images of their idols be- 

 ing often represented as sitting on its large 

 leaves. The worship of the Lotus was com- 

 mon with the ancient Egyptians ; it is not 

 now, however, to be met with on the Nile. 

 Herodotus descriV)ed the plant with tolerable 

 accui-ac.y, comparing the receptacle of the 

 flower to a wasps nest. Sculptured repre- 

 sentations of it abound among the ruins of 

 Egyptian temples, and many other circum- 

 stances prove the veneration paid to this 

 plant by the votaries of Isis. The Chinese 

 have several varieties, the most beautiful be- 

 ing the rose-colored flowering one. They 

 have always held it in sacred regard. That 

 character has not, however, limited it to 

 merely ornamental purposes, for the roots 

 are not only served up in summer with ice, 

 but they are also laid up with salt and vine- 

 gar for the winter. The leaves are covered 

 with a fine microscopic down, which, by re- 

 taining a film of air over the upper surface, 

 prevents it from being wetted when water is 

 poured on it, the water rolling off in drops ; 

 this has a very pretty appearance, the drops 

 of water looking like drops of molten silver. 

 The Hindoos have a proverb founded on this 

 peculiarity of the leaves, to the effect that 

 the good and virtuous man is not enslaved by 

 passion nor polluted by vice ; for though he 

 may be immersed in the waters of temptation 

 yet, like a Lotus leaf, he will rise uninjured 

 by them. N. luteum ( Yellow Nelumbo or Water 

 Chinquapin) is a very beautiful species, with 

 yellow flowers from six to ten inches in diam- 

 eter, common in the Western and Southern 

 States. It has been introduced, probably by 

 the Aborigines, into the Delaware near Phila- 

 delphia, and also in some parts of New Jersey 

 and Connecticut. It may be grown in a large 

 tub, or in a tank, in the same manner in 

 which the white Pond Lily is often grown. 



Nelu'mbo. See Nelumbium. 



NEP 



Nemasty'lia. From nema, a thread, and stylos, 

 a column ; referring to the slender .style. Nat. 

 Ord. IridaceoB. 



A genus of half-hardy bulbs, natives of 

 Mexico and the southern United States. They 

 can be grown quite successfully, if treated in 

 the same manner of Ixias and Sparaxis. 

 There are three species in cultivation — N. 

 geminiflora (syn. N. acutus) and N. purpureus, 

 from Texas, and N. ccelestinus, from Florida. 

 All are of dwarf growth with showy blossoms, 

 which, however, are fugacious, though pro- 

 duced continuously. 



Nemata'nthus. From nema, a thread, and 

 anthos, a flower ; in allusion to the pendant, 

 thread-like peduncles on which the flowers 

 are suspended. Nat. Ord. GesneracecB. 



A genus of green-house evergreen trailing 

 plants, with large scarlet flowers, singly, in 

 the axils of the leaves. It requires a warm, 

 humid atmosphere, in which it is a rapid 

 grower. It is a native of Brazil. Introduced 

 in 1841. 



Neme'sia. A name applied by Dioscorides to 

 denote an allied plant. Nat. Ord. Scroph'w- 

 lariacecR. 



A small genus of low-growing annuals from 

 the Cape of Good Hope. They have opposite 

 or whorled leaves, and terminal lacemes of 

 white and purplish tinted flowers. They are of 

 but little interest. 



Nemopa'nthes. Mountain Holly. From nemos, 

 a grove, and anthos, a flower; it being gener- 

 ally found in groves. Nat. Ord. Aquifoliacete.. 

 N. Canadensis, the only species, is a beau- 

 tiful hardy shrulj, indigenous to the moun- 

 tains from Virginia to Maine, Wisconsin and 

 northward. It was formerly called Ilex Cana- 

 densis, and is poi)ularly known as Mountain 

 Holly. It forms a handsome, much-branched 

 shrub, from four to six feet in height, with 

 small white flowers, which are succeeded in 

 autumn by large, beautiful crimson berries. 

 It is increased by seeds or by layers. 



Nemo'phila. From nemos, a glove, and phileo, 

 love ; the plants delight in a shady situation. 

 Nat. Ord. Hydrophyllacem. 



A small genus of very beautiful hardy 

 annuals from California. N. insignis, is a 

 beautiful border plant with lovely blue flow- 

 ers, and should be grown in a moist, partly 

 shaded situation. The seed should be sown 

 A'ery early in spring. The Nemophilas make 

 fine pot plants for flowering in the green- 

 house in winter ; and for this purpose the 

 seed should be sown early in the fall, and the 

 plants kept rather cool in winter. 



Neo'ttia. From neottia, a bird's-nest ; refer- 

 ring to the interlacing of the numerous roots. 

 Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A genus of hardy and green-house terres- 

 trial Orchids of but little interest and rarely 

 cultivated. 



Neotto'pteris. From neottia, a bird's-nest, and 

 pteris, a fern ; founded on the Bird's Nest or 

 Spleenwort Fern. Linn. Nat. Ord. Poly- 

 podiacem. 



A genus of very interesting Ferns from New 

 Zealand and the East Indies, found in all good 

 collections, now included under Asplenium. 



Nepentha'ceae. A natural order of curious 

 shrubs or sub-shrubs inhabiting tropical 

 Asia, Madagascar, tropical Australia, New 



