432 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



STE 



Stem. The ascending axis of a plant, from 

 which leaves, flowers and fruit are de- 

 veloped. 



Stena'ctis. Probably from stene, narrow, and 

 akfin, a sunbeam ; from the narrow and sun- 

 like rays of the expanded flower. Nat. Ord. 

 Composite. 



A small genus of erect-branched herbs, 

 natives of North America, Northern India, 

 etc., with showy white, violet or light pur- 

 ple flowers. This genus is now included as a 

 section of Eriyeron. 



Stenanthe'ra. From atenos, narrow, and anth- 

 era, an anther; the filaments are broader than 

 the anthers, which causes the latter to appear 

 narrow. Nat. Ord. Epacridacem. 



A genus of two species of beautiful ever- 

 green shrubs, both natives of Australia, with 

 almost sessile red flowers, often crowded at 

 the base of the branchlets. Like all other 

 plants of this order, the roots are veiy fine 

 and impatient of the application of much 

 water, consequently ample drainage must be 

 provided in the pots. Propagated by cuttings 

 of the half-ripened wood. Syn. Aslroloma. 



Ste'iiia. From stenos, narrow; in allusion to 

 the form of the pollen masses. Nat. Ord. 

 Orchidacem. 



A small genus of very handsome epiphytal 

 Orchids, natives of New Grenada, Columbia 

 and Peru. S.fimbriata is a very showj' plant. 

 The leaves are long, narrow and dark green ; 

 the flowers are bright yellow, with a paler lip, 

 beautifully spotted with carmine, and are pro- 

 duced on slender scapes. There are one or 

 two other species under cultivation. Propa- 

 gated by division. 



Stenoca'rpus. Fire-tree or Tulip-tree of 

 Queensland. From stenos, narrow, and karpos, 

 fruit; the fruit being long and thin. Nat. 

 Ord. Proteacew. 



S. Cunninghami, a tree but rarely met, ex- 

 cepting in botanical collections, is one of the 

 noblest and most interesting trees in culti- 

 vation. It is a lofty tree, producing its dark 

 yellow or orange-colored flowers in terminal 

 or axillary clusters, in the greatest profusion. 

 In general appearance it resemVjles the ever- 

 green Oaks. It requires considerable age be- 

 fore it will flower in the green-house, but 

 when that age is reached, there is no shrub 

 or tree more prolific or beautiful. Introduced 

 from Moreton Bay 1830. Syn. Stenocarpus 

 and Agnostus sinuatus. 



Stenochi'lus. From stenos, narrow, and cheilos, 

 a lip ; alluding to the narrow lip of the flower. 

 Nat. Ord. Myoporacem. 



A genus of green-house, evergreen Austra- 

 lian shrubs, with alternate leaves and red, 

 scarlet, or yellow flowers. They thrive best 

 in a compost of sandy loam and peat, and are 

 readily increased by cuttings. This genus is 

 placed by Bentham and Hooker under Eremo- 

 phila. 



Stenochlae'na. From stenos, narrow, and 

 chlania, a cloak ; in reference to the arrange- 

 ment of the sori. Nat. Ord. PolypodiacecB. 



A genus of Ferns having two-formed fronds, 

 the sterile ones pinnate, the fertile ones con- 

 tracted, and either pinnate or bi-pinnate, borne 

 on scandent rhizomes. They are natives 

 principally of India and the Pacific Islands. 

 Though very distinct looking, this genus is 



STE 



now included under Acrostichum and Lomaria, 

 by many botanists. 



Stenome'ssou. From stenos, narrow, and mej*- 

 son, the middle ; the flowers contracted in tlie 

 middle. Nat. Ord. A7naryllidaceaR. 



A genus of veiy pretty, haif-hardy South 

 American bulbs, with orange, scarlet and yel- 

 low flowers, in umbels on a slender scape. 

 The buU>s may be planted out in early spring 

 in a moist situation, and they will soon come 

 into flower. They are propagated by offsets 

 and require perfect rest during winter. In- 

 troduced from Peru in 1843. 



Stenorhy'nchus. A genus of terrestrial Or- 

 chids, now included under Spiranthes. 



Stenota'phrum. Australian Buffalo Grass. 

 From stenos, narrow, and taphros, a tren(;h ; 

 referring to the cavities in the rachis in which 

 the spikelets are seated. Nat. Ord. Gramin- 

 acecB. 



A small genus of creeping, radicant grasses, 

 inhabiting tropical regions, mostly near the 

 sea. S. Americanum, the only species in cul- 

 tivation, is a curious perennial grass, with 

 flattened stems and leaves. A variegated 

 variety has leaves two to four inches long, 

 freely strip^id with creamy white, and is an 

 excellent basket plant. It is known in culti- 

 Aation as Stephanophorum glabrum variegalum. 



Stephana'ndra. From Stephanos, a crown, and 

 aner, andros, a male ; alluding to the disposi- 

 tion of the stamens. Nat. Ord. Rosacete. 



S. flexuosa, the only described species, is a 

 hardy, deciduous shrub, with small white 

 flowers, in corymbose racemes or panicles, 

 introduced from Japan in 1870. It is closely 

 allied to the shrubby Spireas, and is propa- 

 gated by cuttings. 



Stepha'nia. Named in honor of Professor F. 

 Stephan, of Moscow. Nat. Ord. Menisperma- 

 cece. 



A small genus of climbing plants, natives of 

 tropical Asia, Africa and Australia. The spe- 

 cies are well worth cultivating on account of 

 the beauty of their yellow or orange-colored 

 flowers, which are disposed in simple or com- 

 pound umbels. They thrive in a compost of 

 sandy peat and loam, and are readily in- 

 creased by cuttings. 



Stephano'coma. From Stephanos, a crown, and 

 kome, hair ; referring to the crown-like pap- 

 pus. Nat. Ord. ComposUoB. 



S. carduoides, the only species, is a Thistle- 

 like herb, with yellow flower-heads. Intro- 

 duced from South Africa in 1864; known also 

 as SloboBa sphmrocephala. 



Stephanopho'rum. See Stenotaphyrum. 



Stephanophy'sum. From Stephanos, a crown, 

 and physa, a bladder ; alluding to the inflo- 

 rescence. Nat. Ord. Acanthacem. 



A genus of tropical herbaceous plants, 

 natives of Central America and Africa. The 

 flowers are mostly scarlet, produced in axil- 

 lary clusters. They are very rarely culti- 

 vated. This genus is often included with 

 Ruellia. 



Stephano'tis. Madagascar Chaplet Flower, 

 Madagascar Jasmine. From Stephanos,^, crown, 

 and Otis, eared ; the ear-like processes on the 

 crown of the stamens. Nat. Ord. Asclepia- 

 dncece. 



These noble green-house climbers grow 

 with great freedom when allowed sufiicieat 



