AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



431 



STA 



roots. S. Bucephalus, S. tigrina superba, S. 

 Marliana, S. grandijlora and S. Wardiana, 

 are among the finest species of this genus. 

 They are increased by division. 



Sta'nnia formosa. A native of the Caraccas, 

 is a highly ornamental stove-house plant with 

 white fragrant flowers three to four inches 

 in length. The genus is now placed by many 

 botanists under Posoqueria. 



Stape'lia. Named by Linnaeus after Boderiis 

 Stapel, a physician of Amsterdam and commen- 

 tator on Theophrastus. Nat. Ord. Asclepia- 

 dacew. 



This is a genus of very curious green-house 

 plants, with showy, star-like flowei's proceed- 

 ing from the base, which smell so much like 

 carrion that flies have been known to lay their 

 eggs upon them. As these plants are veiy 

 succulent, they are apt to damp off if they are 

 grown in rich soil or receive too much water. 

 They are propagated by cuttings, which 

 should be laid on the shelf for two or three 

 days to shrivel before they are planted. All 

 the Stapelias are natives of the Cape of Good 

 Hope. The flowers are very singular as well 

 as showy, and would be highly prized were it 

 not for their offensive odor ; but notwithstand- 

 ing, they are very interesting plants, and the 

 odor is of no long continuance. They were 

 first introduced in 1710. 



Staphy'lea. Bladder Nut. Abridged from 

 Staphylodendron, its ancient name, from 

 ataphyle, a bunch, and dendron, a tree ; the 

 flowers and fruit are disposed in clusters. 

 Nat. Ord. Sapindaeece. 



A genus of deciduous shrubs, which are 

 widely dispersed. One species, S. trifoliata, 

 indigenous in the United States, is a hand- 

 some shrub, with terminal panicles of white 

 flowers, produced in May. S. Colchica is an 

 excellent subject for early forcing ; plants in 

 small pots producing a dozen or more spikes 

 of beautiful white, fragrant flowers, which will 

 last in perfection at least three weeks. 



Staphylea'ceae. A sub-order of Sapmdacece. 



Star-Apple. The genus ChrysophylluTn. 



Star Flower. Trientalis Americana ; the name 

 is also applied to several species of Aster, 

 Sternbergia and Tritelia. 



Star Grass. See Hypoxis. 



Star Hyacinth. Scilla amoena. 



Star of Bethlehem. See Ornithogalum. 



Star of Night. A common name for Clusia 

 rosea. 



Star Thistle. Centaurea Calcitrapa. 



Star-Tvort. A common name for Aster and Stel- 

 lar ia. 



Staphy'leae. A tribe of Sapindaeece. 



Sta'tioe. Sea Lavender, Marsh Rosemary. 

 From statikos, astringent; in allusion to the 

 powerful astringency of some of the species. 

 Nat. Ord. Plumbaginacem. 



Singular plants, the foot-stalks of the flowers 

 of which are colored so as to resemble flowers, 

 while the real flowers are the white part at 

 the extremity of the purple. The handsomest 

 species belonging to the g^nus is S. arborea, a 

 native of the Canaries, which is quite shrubby. 

 This splendid plant should have plentj"^ of 

 room for its roots, and thus, when there is 

 not a conservatory for it to be planted in, it 



STE 



does better in the open border with a slight 

 protection during winter, than in a pot in a 

 gceen-house. S. macrophylla and its variety, 

 S. Halfordi, are exceedingly useful in the 

 conservatory or green-house, their clear white 

 flowers contrasting well with the deep blue 

 bracts. They are very free flowering, and 

 succeed well in good turfy loam with a little 

 well- rotted cow manure and sand mixed with 

 it. They may be increased by cuttings during 

 the early spring months. 8. Suworoivi, a 

 recent introduction from Turkestan, is a 

 strikingly beautiful, hardy annual, with pretty 

 lilac-colored flowers, produced in dense 

 branched spikes. The common kinds of 

 Statice are generally increased by seeds or 

 by dividing the root, and they should be 

 allowed plenty of space, as they are easily 

 killed when crowded by other plants. S. Lim- 

 onium, Sea Thrift, the only species that is a 

 native of this country, is common in salt 

 marshes along the southern coast, and is 

 gathered in considerable quantities for making 

 winter bouquets. 



Stau'ntonia. In honor of Sir George Staunton, 

 Bart., who introduced numerous plants from 

 China. Nat. Ord. Lardizabalacece. 



This genus consists of but two known 

 species, both woody climbing shrubs, from 

 China and Japan. The flowers are produced 

 from the axils of the leaves, and are white 

 and fragrant. The plants are of easy culture, 

 but of no special interest, excepting in botan- 

 ical collections. 



Staura'nthera. From stauros, a cross, and 

 anthera, an anther ; the anthers cohere in the 

 form of a cross. Nat. Ord. Gesneracece,. 



A small genus of stove-house plants, natives 

 of the East Indies and the Malayan Archipel- 

 ago. S. grandifolia, the only species intro- 

 duced, has very pretty flowers about an inch 

 long, the corolla tube white, tinged with 

 purple and pale yellow. It thrives in a mix- 

 ture of loam and sandy peat, and is propagated 

 by cuttings. Introduced from Moulmein in 

 1862. 



Staurosti'gma. Fx'om Stauros, a cross, and 

 stigma, a stigma ; in allusion to the cross, or 

 star-shaped stigmas. Nat. Ord. Aroidem. 



A small genus of tuberous, stoloniferous, 

 stove-house plants, natives of tropical America. 

 Their leaves-are much divided and are borne 

 on long petioles. They require a season of 

 rest, during which the plants should be verj' 

 sparingly watered. There are over six species 

 introduced, but they are seldom found in 

 cultivation. 



Stavesacre. The acrid, emetic-purgative seeds 

 of Delphinium Staphysagria. 



Steeple Bush. A common name for SpircBa 

 tomentosa. 



Stella'ria.. Chickweed, Star Wort. From stella, 

 a star ; the flowers are star-like. Nat. Ord. 

 Ca ryophyllaeeoE. 



With the exception of S. Holostea, a pretty 

 little white, early spring flower, this genus ia 

 a family of weeds of the most troublesome 

 character. There are several species indige- 

 nous in this country, all well known. S. media, 

 common Chickweed, is the most troublesome 

 weed of the garden, particularly in the fall 

 months. 



Stellate. Star-shaped. 



