AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



369 



RHE 



obtainable in the open ground in the Northern 

 States. Many of our market gardeners and 

 florists, who, once having a supply of Rhubarb 

 roots, pacli them under the benches of the 

 green-house, where vegetable or flowering 

 plants are grown, realize nearly as much 

 profit from the space under the stage (usually 

 useless) as on it. It is also forwarded in 

 another way by those who have no green- 

 house. The roots are taken up in the fall and 

 packed closely together, as is done in forc- 

 ing, in what is known as a cold pit or 

 frame, which is covered with leaves thick 

 enough to keep out the frost. By March 1st 

 the leaves are all removed, except two or 

 three inches, when sashes are put on the 

 frame or pit. By this forwarding process 

 Rhubarb may be had from three to four weeks 

 earlier than that grown out of doors. We 

 have in this article recommended raising Rhu- 

 barb from seed, as it is the cheapest and 

 quickest way ; and experience has shown us 

 that the varieties raised from seeds of either the 

 "St. Martin's," "Victoria" or "Linneeus," 

 come true enough to the originals for all 

 practical purposes. Those, however, who are 

 particular to have these kinds exactly correct, 

 can obtain them by division. 

 Rheumatism Root. See Jefferaonia. 



Rhe'xia. Deer Grass, Meadow Beauty. From 

 rhexis, a rupture ; from its astringent qualities 

 it is supposed to cure ruptures. Nat. Ord. 

 MelastomacecB. 



A small genus of very pretty hardy herba- 

 ceous perennials, common in sandy swamps 

 from New York west and south. The flowers 

 are bright pink, large and showy. The plants 

 do not grow above six inches to one foot in 

 height, but, from their branching habit, com- 

 pletely cover the ground with foliage and 

 flowers. 



Rhinaca'nthus. From rhis, rhinos, the nose, 

 and Acanthus ; alluding to the curious shape 

 of the Acanthus-like corolla. Nat. Ord. Acan- 

 thacem. 



A small genus of dwarf shrubs, natives of 

 Africa, Madagascar, the East Indies, and the 

 Malayan Archipelago. R. communis, the best 

 known species, forms a neat bush bearing 

 panicles of white flowers and oblong lanceo- 

 late leaves. It is sometimes cultivated under 

 the name of Justicia naauta. 



Rhina'nthus. Yellow Rattle. From rhis, rhinos, 

 the nose, and anthos, a flower ; alluding to the 

 form of the corolla. Nat. Ord. Scrophulari- 

 acecB. 



A genus of hardy annuals, natives of Europe, 

 northern Asia, and North America. They are 

 interesting only as growing generally in poor 

 wet land, and as being more or less parasitical 

 on the roots of grasses. R. Crista-galli is one 

 of our rare native plants, being found only on 

 the White Mountains, the alpine regions of 

 the Rocky Mountains, and the shores of Lake 

 Superior, and northward. It has also been 

 found at Plymouth. Mass., and in meadows 

 near East Haven, Conn., probably introduced 

 in both localities. 



Rtainope'talum. From rhis, rhinos, a nose, and 

 petalon, a petal ; base of the upper sepal. Nat. 

 Ord. lAliacem. 



R. Karelini, the only known species, is a 

 small bulbous plant from the Ural Mountains. 



RHI 



Its flowers are pale pink, spotted, somewhat 

 resembling the Fritillaria, though inferior in 

 beauty to the majority of its allies. It grows 

 freely if cultivated in the same manner as the 

 Lily, and is propagated by offsets. It was 

 introduced in 1834. 



Rliipido'pteris. From rhipis, a fan, and pteris, 

 a fern ; referring to the formation of the 

 fronds. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 



A small genus of Ferns allied to Polybotrya, 

 but differing in habit. The species are curi- 

 ous little creeping plants, with small fronds 

 from one to three inches high. They are con- 

 fined to the West Indies and South America. 

 They are grown in the hot-house. 



Rhipo'gonum. From rhips, a rod, and gonu, a 

 knee or joint ; in allusion to the jointed 

 stalk. Nat. Ord. LiliacecB. 



Ornamental green-house evergreen climbers 

 from New Holland. The flowers are white, 

 disposed in axillary clusters, not unlike Myr- 

 siphyllum. R. album, was introduced in 1820, 

 and is propagated by cutting. 



Rhip'salis. Coral Cactus. From rhips, a wil- 

 low branch ; referring to the flexible branches. 

 Nat. Ord. Cactacece. 



Very curious succulent plants, which are 

 natives of South America and the West In- 

 dies. As the Opuntias may be said to be all 

 leaves, and the different kinds of tree Cereus 

 all stem, so the Rhipsalis may be said to be 

 all branches ; for the whole plant consists of 

 a series of short, round, articulated branches, 

 spreading in all directions. The flowers of 

 this genus differ from those of Cacti gener- 

 ally, in being small and not very handsome ; 

 they are generally pale yellow. They are 

 propagated by cuttings, and require the same 

 soil and treatment as other Cactaceous plants. 

 The species are all natives of the West Indies 

 and South America. Introduced in 1818. 



Rhizome. A prostrate, more or less subterra- 

 nean stem, producing roots and leafy shoots. 



Rhizo'phora. Mangrove. From rhiza, a root, 

 and phoreo, to bear ; the branches send down 

 roots like the Banyan Tree. Nat. Ord. Rhi- 

 zophoracecB. 



The best known species of this genus is a 

 large tree inhabiting the muddy swamps close 

 to the sea-shore in tropical climates. Its in- 

 teresting character is thus described by Dr. 

 Hamilton: "In the economy of Nature the 

 Mangrove performs a most important part, 

 wresting annually fresh portions of the land 

 from the dominion of the ocean, and adding 

 them to the domain of man. This is effected 

 in a twofold manner ; by the progressive ad- 

 vance of their roots, and by the aerial germi- 

 nation of their seeds, which do not leave their 

 lofty position till they have assumed the form 

 of actual trees, and drop into the water with 

 their roots ready prepared to take possession 

 of the mud, in advance of their parent stems. 

 The progression by means of the roots is 

 effected by fresh roots, which issue from the 

 trunk at some distance above the surface of 

 the water, and arching down, penetrate the 

 mud, establishing themselves as the pioneers 

 of fresh invasions of the retiring element. In 

 this manner the plants, after their descent 

 from the parent trees, continue during their 

 early years to advance steadily forward, till 

 they have obtained a height of about fifteen 



