AND GENEBAL HORTICULTURE. 



279 



OAK 



with but little expense, in which the Nympheea 

 may be grown with less trouble even than in 

 tubs. Dig out a basin-shaped pond of any de- 

 sired size, to the depth of two and a half feet 

 in the centre, cement in the same manner as 

 for a cistern, put in some earth, and plant 

 the same as in a tub. Cover over with boards 

 upon the approach of cold weather, and then 

 cover all with leaves or coarse litter sufficient 

 to protect the cement from frost. This will 

 not only furnish beautiful aquatic flowers, 

 but will attract thousands of birds, particu- 

 larly robins, daily for their baths. Many of 

 the rarer exotic species, such as N. gigantea, 

 N. Zanzibarensis, N. coerulea, N. rubra, N. 

 scutifolia, N. Devoniensis, N. Lotus, etc., are 

 now grown in this way, and are exceedingly 

 attractive during the summer. The Water 

 Lily, when expanded, towards evening has 

 the'peculiarity of enticing myriads of insects 

 to light on its petals, the petals gradually 



OCH 



close as evening falls, and the insects 

 are imprisoned. They are propagated by 

 seeds, which, in most cases, ripen freely, and 

 should be sown in small pots of soil and sub- 

 merged in shallow warm water in spring. 

 The seedlings will grow freely, and if prop- 

 erly treated, will flower well the same season. 



Ny'ssa. Tupelo, Pepperidge, Sour Gum. From 

 Nyssa, a water nymph ; because of the habitat 

 of the species. Nat. Ord. Cornacew. 



A genus of beautiful low-growing trees, 

 common in moist woodlands and low grounds 

 throughout the United States. The wood is 

 very tough and difficult to split, and on that 

 account it is valued for hubs of carriage wheels, 

 hatter's blocks, and similar work. The foliage 

 of this genus is remarkable for its fine glossy 

 verdure during oumraer, and its rich crimson 

 tints in autumn, when it is one of the brightest 

 ornaments of the forest. 



o. 



Oak. The popular name for the trees of the 

 genus Quercus, which see. 

 Oak. Black. Quercus Robur. 



Chestnut. Quercus sessiliflora. 



Chestnut, American. Quercus Prinua. 



Cork. Quercus Suber. 



Evergreen. Quercus Hex. 



Indian. Tectona grandis. The Teak tree. 



Japanese. Quercus glabra. 



Jerusalem. Chenopodium Botrys. 



Live. Quercus virens. An important ship- 

 building wood. 



Nut-gall. Quercus infectoria. 



Pin. Quercus palustris. 



Poison. Rhus toxicodendron. 



Scarlet. Quercus coccinea. 



Scrub. Qitercus Catesbcei and Q. ilicifolia. 



Swamp. Quercus Prinus. 



Turkey, American. Quercus CatesbcBi. 



White, American. Qusrcus alba. 



Willow. Quercus Phellos. 



Yellow. Qtiercus Castanea. 

 Oak-Fern. Polypodium Dryopteris. 

 Oak-leaved Geranium. See Pelargonium. 

 Oat or Oats. See Avena. 

 Oat-Grass. See Arrhenantherum, also Avena 



pratensis and Bromus mollis. 



Oat. Water. A name given to Water Rice. 

 Zizania aquatica. 



Obelisca'ria. From obeliskos, obelisk, in allu- 

 sion to the elevated disk of the flower. Nat. 

 Ord. CompositcB. 



A small genus of half-hardy, showy peren- 

 nials, common in Texas. They, too, closely 

 resemble their allied species, the Rudbeckia, 

 to become favorites in the garden. 



Obero'nia. So called after Oberon, the Fairy 

 King, in allusion to the quaint and variable 

 forms of the plant. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A genus of Orchids, all epiphytal, having 

 terminal spikes of minute flowers, of but 

 little interest except to botanists. In refer- 



ence to the genus Dr. Lindley says : ** The 

 resemblance to insects and other animal forms, 

 which have been perceived in the Orchidace- 

 ous plants of Europe, and which have given 

 rise to such names as Fly Orchis, etc., may 

 be traced so plainly in the genus Oberonia, in 

 every species, that it alone would furnish a 

 magazine of new ideas for the grotesque pen- 

 cil of a German admirer of the wild and 

 preternatural. If the Brahmins had been 

 botanists, one might fancy they took their 

 doctrine of metempsychosis from these pro- 

 ductions." They are chiefly natives of India 

 and Africa. 



Obscure. Of a dark, dingy color. 



Obtuse. Blunt or rounded. 



Oca. The tubers of 0.valis tuberosa and O. 

 crenata are so called in Brazil, where they are 

 cooked and used like potatoes. 



Occidental. Coming from or relating to the 

 west, as Platanus Occidentalis. 



O'chna. From Ochne, the old Greek name for 

 the wild Pear, to which the foliage of this 

 genus bears some resemblance. Nat. Ord. 

 OchnacecB. 



A genus of about twenty-five species of ever- 

 green shrubs, natives of tropical Asia and 

 Africa, only a few of which are in cultivation. 

 O. multiflora, is a most remarkable as well as 

 handsome plant. The fruit is about the size 

 of a Strawberry, but less conical, and upon it 

 are placed black seed-like bodies about the 

 size of Peas. These are really the carpels, 

 and present a striking contrast to the bright 

 crimson I'eceptacle and calyx. It is a native 

 of Sierra Leone, and was reintroduced in 

 1882. 



Ochna'ceae. A natural order of trees and 

 shrubs scattered over the whole of the tropics, 

 but mostly in America. Some of the species 

 possess tonic properties, and the berries of 

 Gomphia Jabotapita, are edible. The order 

 contains twelve gt^nerti, including Gomphia, 



