400 



HENDEKSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



SCH 



which has been called the prettiest of the 

 genus, and which succeeds either in a basket 

 or on a block. It was introduced from 

 Jamaica in 1863. 



Scho'tia. Kaffir Bean-tree. Named in honor 

 of Richard Van der Schot, a traveling compan- 

 ion and friend of Jacquin. 



A genus of Leguminosm, comprising four 

 species of shrubs, or small trees, confined to 

 southern and sub-tropical Africa. S. tama- 

 rindifolia {upeciosa) forms a scrubby bush 

 eight to ten feet high, having pinnate leaves 

 and terminal panicles of deep crimson blos- 

 soms. According to Dr. Atherstone, the 

 beans from the pods of this plant are roasted 

 and eaten in the Albany districts, where thej' 

 are called Boerboom, and the powerfullj- 

 astringent bark is used medicinally, as well as 

 in tanning. The species are all very hand- 

 some when in bloom. 



Schou'ia. Named in honor of J. F. Schouiv, a 

 celebrated Danish botanist. Nat. Ord. Cruci- 

 fercR. 



A genus of tall, branched, highly glabrous 

 herbs, natives of Arabia. S. Arabica is a 

 very pretty annual with rosj'-purplish flowers, 

 thriving well if sown in light sandy soil in the 

 open border in May. 



Schra'dera. Named in honor of H. A. Schradcr, 

 a German botanist, 1767-1836. Nat. Ord. Ru- 

 biacece. 



A genus of glabrous shrubs, with thick- 

 rooting branches, natives of Brazil, Guiana 

 and the West Indies. S. cephalotes, the only 

 species introduced, produces its white flowers 

 in compact, globose, terminal heads, and 

 thrives best in a compost of sandy peat and 

 loam. It was introduced from Jamaica in 1820, 

 and is propagated by cuttings in heat. Syns. 

 Fuchsia (of Schwartz) and tlrceolaria. 



Schra'nkia. Sensitive Brier. In honor of Fran- 

 cis Paula von Schrank, a famous German botan- 

 ist, and author of many botanical works. 

 Nat. Ord. Leguminosm. 



A small genus of green-house, herbaceous 

 perennials, common from Virginia southward. 

 The flowers are small, and not unlike those of 

 the Mimosa. These plants are very interesting 

 onaccountof their leaves, which, like those of 

 the Sensitive Plant, fall at the slightest touch. 

 A few of the species are under cultivation in 

 botanical collections. 



Schube'rtia. Named after M. Schubert, a Pol- 

 ish botanist. Nat. Ord. Asclepiadacem. 



A small genus of hairy, milky, twining 

 shrubs from South America, closely allied to 

 Physianlhus. The leaves are opposite, and 

 the flowers, produced in handsome umbels, are 

 cream-colored and white. They are funnel- 

 shaped, large and fleshy, and remarkable for 

 their fragrance. They require to be grown in 

 a warm house, in well-drained pots, and are 

 propagated by cuttings. 



Sciado'calyx. Derivation of name not given. 

 Nat. Ord. Gesneracece. 



S. Warscewiczii, the only known species, 

 was formerly known as Gesnera Regeliana. It 

 is a very ornamental, green-house plant, a 

 native of New Grenada, and conspicuous for 

 its bright pinkish-scarlet flowers, which are 

 produced freely during the winter. Like all 

 the plants of this natural order, it requires a 

 warm house, plenty of moisture, and partial 



SCI 



shade to grow it to perfection. It is increased 

 by cuttings or from seeds. This genus is now 

 placed by some authorities under Isoloma. 



Sciadophy'llum. From skiados, a shade or can- 

 opy, and phyllon, a leaf ; the leaves are large 

 and consequently afford much shade. Nat. 

 Ord. AraliacecB. 



A genus of trees or shrubs, natives of tropi- 

 cal America and Asia. They are worthy of 

 cultivation on account of their fine foliage. 

 Increased readily by cuttings in heat, or by 

 root cuttings. Syn. Actinophyllum. 



Sciado'pitys. Umbrella Pine. From Skyas, 

 a [)arasol, and ^ji<//.s, a Fir-tree ; referring to 

 the spreading whorls of the leaves. Nat. Ord. 

 Coni/ercB. 



A singular genus of Coniferm peculiar to 

 Japan, and closely allied to the Sequoia. S. 

 verticillata, a recently introduced species, has 

 been cultivated from time immemorial by the 

 Japanese around their temples. The trunk is 

 erect, from a hundred to a hundred and fifty 

 feet high, and of pyramidal habit; the 

 branches verticillate,the leaves are from two 

 to four inches long, and about a sixth of an 

 inch broad, in whorled clusters, which gives 

 it a very singular and beautiful appearance. 



Sci'Ua. Squill. From skyllo, to injure; the 

 bulbs of some of the species are said to be 

 poisonous. Nat. Ord. Liliacem. 



An extensive genus of very pretty bulbous 

 plants, nearly all of which are hardy, and 

 very desiraVjle on account of their early habit 

 of flowering. They should be planted in Oc- 

 tober, either in the open ground or in pots. 

 They prefer a light, rich soil. Among the 

 more desiraVjle species are S. cawpanulata 

 (syn. S.Hispanica), a native of Spain, with beau- 

 tiful blue flowers, of which there are varieties 

 with white and pink flowers ; S. ammna, with 

 blue flowers, from the Levant, a very early 

 flowering species ; S. bifolia. with red, blue, or 

 white flowers, and S. Sibirica, with intense 

 blue flowers, " a minute gem among the flow- 

 ers of earliest spring, so beautiful that no 

 rock-work, rock-garden, or garden of any 

 kind can be complete without its striking and 

 peculiar shade of porcelain blue, which quite 

 distinguishes it from the other species. It 

 may be used with good effect as an edging to 

 beds of spring flowers, or to paths in the 

 rock-garden." S. nutans, the Blue Bell, Hare 

 Bell, or Wild Hyacinth, with blue, purple, 

 white, or pink flowers, is another beautiful 

 and deservedly admired species. These are 

 all beautiful plants, and well adapted to the 

 open border. They come into flower with the 

 Crocus, and continue in bloom much longer. 

 They may remain undisturbed where planted 

 for a number of years, as crowding from their 

 natural increase does not seem to injure 

 them. S. Peruviana is one of the best for 

 pot culture. It is a native of Italy and Spain, 

 and not of Peru, as is generally supposed, 

 and as its name would imply. Its flowers are 

 dark-blue, produced in long racemes. S. cili- 

 aris, is also desirable for growing in pots. The 

 last two are not hardy. All the species are 

 well worth a place in the garden or green- 

 house, and are propagated by offsets. 



Scinda'psus. From skindapsos, an ivy-like 

 climber. Nat. Ord. Aroidem. 



A genus of climbing, herbaceous plants, na- 

 tives of tropical Asia, the Indian Archipelago, 



