430 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



SQU 



and the West Indies ; their parentage, how- 

 ever, is entirely unknown. A large number 

 of varieties are grown under distinctive 

 names, many of which are cross-breeds. The 

 popular summer varieties ai-e White and Yel- 

 low Bush and Summer Crookneck. For fall 

 and winter, Hubbard, Essex HyVjrid, Marble- 

 head and Mammoth Chili. Most of the win- 

 ter varieties, if kept in a dry atmosphere at a 

 temperature of about forty degrees, will keep 

 until May. They require well manured ground 

 to succeed well, with generally some special 

 manure in the hills. For the bush sorts three 

 to four feet apart is sufficient, but the run- 

 ning sorts require to be from six to eight feet 

 apart. 



Squaw Root. See ConophoUs. 



Squav^r Weed. Senecio aureua. 



Squill. See Scilla. 



Squill, Striped. A common name for Pusch- 

 kiniu ficiUioides. 



Squirrel Corn. See Dicentra Canadenain. 



Squirrel Tail Grass. See Hordeum. 



Squirting Cucumber. EchalUum Elaterium. 



Staa'via. Named after Martin Staaf, a corre- 

 spondent of Linneeus. Nat. Ord. BruniacecB. 



A genus of green-house shrubs, much re- 

 sembling Heaths or Epacris, natives of the 

 Cape of Good Hope. The flowers intermixed 

 with chaffy scales are arranged in showy 

 heads with numerous white bracts. S. glu- 

 tinosa, the best known species, thrives best in 

 a compost of sandy peat and loam, and is in- 

 creased by cuttings of the young wood. 



Sta'chys. Hedge Nettle. From s<ac/i2/.s, a spike ; 

 their manner of flowering. Nat. Oi'd. Labi- 

 al(£. 



A genus of shrubby and herbaceous plants, 

 common throughout the United States and 

 Europe. None of the species has any special 

 merit, except S. lanata, which is used to a 

 considerable extent in the formation of white 

 lines for ribbon borders or massing; it is 

 propagated by cuttings. 



Stachytarphe'ta. From stachys, a spike, and 

 tarphys, thick ; alluding to the form of the in- 

 florescence. A genus of VerbenacecB, consist- 

 ing of aromatic herbs, shrubs, or sub-shrubs, 

 natives for the most part of tropical or sub- 

 tropical America. S. Jamaicensis is possessed 

 of remarkable medicinal virtues, according to 

 the Brazilians, and the leaves of this species 

 and S. mutabilis are used to adulterate tea, 

 and in Austria they are sold under the name 

 of Brazilian Tea. The shrubby sorts are 

 easily increased by cuttings, and the annual 

 species by seeds. 



Stachyu'rus. From stachys, a spike, and oura, 

 a tail ; in allusion to the shape of the Catkins. 

 Nat. Ord. TernstrcBmiacecB. 



A genus consisting of only two species of 

 half-hardy, glabrous shrubs, one being Japan- 

 ese, the other Himalayan. S. prcecox pro- 

 duces its yellowish-green flowers in great pro- 

 fusion before the leaves are unfolded, and is 

 readily propagated by cuttings of the half- 

 ripened wood. Introduced from Japan in 1864. 



Stadma'nnia. In honor of M. Stadmann, a 

 German botanical traveler. Nat. Ord. Sap- 

 indacece. 



A genus of lofty-growing trees, with large, 

 showy leaves, natives of Australia. The 



STA 



species have been united with Cupania by 



modern botanists. 

 Staflf Tree. See Celastrus. 

 Stage. See Table. 



Stagger Bush. Andromeda Mariana. 

 Stag's Horn Fern. See Platycerium alcicome 

 Stags Horn Sumach. A common name for 



Rhus typhina. 

 Stalk. The stem or support to an organ, as 



the petiole of a leaf, the peduncle or pedicel 



of a flower, etc. 

 Stamen. That organ of the flower which con- 

 tains the pollen. 

 Standard. The fifth petal of a papilionaceous 



flower. 

 Standing Cypress. See Ipomopsis. 



Stange'ria. Named after William Stanger, Sur- 

 veyor-General of Natal, who died in 1854. A 

 remarkable genus of Cycudacew, quite distinct 

 from any other of the order in its Fern-like 

 foliage. S. paradoxa, the only species, a 

 Natal plant with a thick, napiform trunk, 

 is closely related to Encephalurtoa in struc- 

 tural characters, but differs remarkably in 

 habit and foliage. 



Staaho'pea. In compliment to Earl Stanhope. 

 Nat. Ord. Orchidacew. 



A very beautiful genus of epiphytal Orchids, 

 remarkable for their extraordinary flowers, 

 curious in form and richly colored, and also for 

 their singular habit of throwing the flower- 

 stem from the base of the psuedo-bulbs in a 

 downward direction. When first introduced 

 (1830) the plants were placed in pots in the usual 

 manner, and were supposed to be difficult to 

 flower, until the accidental breaking of a pot 

 exposed the flowers perishing in the soil be- 

 neath the plants. This circumstance led to 

 the prevalent method of growing them in 

 baskets made of small sticks of Cedar, Locust, 

 or other woods not liable to decay, which, 

 being open at intervals, allows the flower- 

 spikes to protrude in their natural position. 

 Baskets about' a foot and a half in diameter 

 and six inches deep are sufficiently large for 

 well-grown specimens. The soil should be 

 leaf-mould and sphagnum moss, about one- 

 fourth of the latter, with small pieces of char- 

 coal intermixed for perfect drainage. Some 

 successful growers use only the moss and 

 charcoal or potsherds. Stanhopeas require 

 plenty of water while growing. The moss 

 should be thoroughly soaked every day, and a 

 slight syringing, or what is better, a dense 

 application of steam every night and morning. 

 Most of the species make two growths in a 

 year, and with proper management, will also 

 bloom twice ; but some care is required to 

 have the latter growth duly formed before 

 the winter sets in, or there is much danger of 

 their rotting. If an active growth can be 

 started about the first of Februai-y, the first 

 pseudo-bulbs will be formed, and the flowers 

 fully perfected in May, which leaves good 

 time to complete the second flowering. A 

 temperature of from 70° to 85° will grow 

 them best, and for the winter, or resting period, 

 from 55° to 60° is sufficient. They do not re- 

 quire to be frequently shifted, but when this 

 is done the plant should be put, basket and 

 all, into a larger one, as it is impossible to re- 

 move them without serious injury to the 



