440 



HENDEKSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



STY 



Sty'rax. Storax. From the Arabic. Nat. Ord. 

 Styracacece. 



A genus of handsome, flowering, hardy, 

 deciduous shrubs and low-growing trees, well 

 adapted for the shrubbery border. Several of 

 the species are common on the margins of 

 swamps from Virginia southward. The most 

 important species is S. Benzoin, a native of 

 Borneo and Sumatra. It yields the resin 

 called Benzoin, which is employed medicinally, 

 and also in tlie manufacture of perfumes. It 

 is used in the Roman Catholic churches in the 

 composition of incense. S. officinale, a native 

 of the Levant, yields a balsamic resin called 

 Storax. Among some of the species of recent 

 introduction is S. serrulata (syn. S. Japonica), 

 inown, from its white Giant Snow-drop-like 

 Talossoms, as '-Snow-flake Flower." It is a 

 shrub growing about four feet in height, 

 "blooming about mid-summer, and is hardy in 

 the vicinity of New York. S. Obassia is one 

 of the most attractive of the many hardy 

 shrubs introduced within late years from 

 Japan, where it is a native of the southern 

 mountains of Kiusiu and Sikok. Siebold, who 

 discovered it in Japan, attributes to it no 

 other property but its scent of Hyacinth. The 

 hardiness of this very ornamental shrub, or 

 small tree, in our Northern States has not 

 been entirely established yet. All are propa- 

 gated freely from cuttings. 

 Sub. As a prefix; about, nearly, somewhat; 

 as Sub-cordate, slightly cordate ; Sub-rotund, 

 roundish; Sub-axillary, just beneath the axil, 

 etc. 

 Suberose. Corky in texture. 

 Subsoiling. This is indispensable to the best 

 culture, either in the garden or on the farm. 

 On soils having a clayey or hard-pan subsoil, 

 the subsoil plow should be used at least 

 every two years. It accomplishes the work of 

 loosening and pulverizing, and thus admitting 

 air to a depth of eighteen or twenty inches, or 

 twice the usual depth turned up by the sur- 

 face plow. In our own practice in our stiff 

 clay soil, we use it nearly every alternate 

 year. The subsoiler now used stirs, loosens 

 and pulverizes the soil, but does not in- 

 vert it. following immediately behind in the 

 furrow made by the surface plow, of course, 

 or the necessary depth could not be attained.. 

 The implement is made for one and two 

 horses. On light sandy subsoils the one- 

 horse size is sufficient, but for clay or hard- 

 pan two powerful horses are necessary to get 

 to the proper depth (see Plowing). When sub- 

 soiling is done by the spade it is called 

 trenching (which see). 

 Sub-species. A term given to a rank lower 

 than that of Species, but higher than that of 

 Variety. 

 Sub-Tropical Garden. This term is applied 

 to a portion of a lawn or flower-garden devoted 

 during summer to plants arranged with the 

 design of representing tropical vegetation. 

 As many of the plants used are natives of 

 tropical countries, they are only available 

 during the warmest part of the season, but 

 there are others of tropical aspect which are 

 hardy, that are only valuable for associating 

 with their more tender brethren. Next to 

 location, the most important provision for 

 such a garden, is shelter, as many of the most 

 useful subjects would have their leaves torn 



SUG 



and disfigured if subjected to high winds. 

 Shade and moisture are also necessarj' fcft* 

 many Tree and other Ferns, Cycads and 

 Palms. 



If the size of the garden will allow it, pet- 

 haps the best effect is accomplished by group- 

 ing the various plants, rather than planting 

 them promiscuously, but individual taste 

 must regulate design in arrangement. Many 

 useful plants may readily be raised from seed 

 each spring and planted out in rich soil about 

 the first of June. Of these the various spe- 

 cies of Rici7ius, Solanums, Nicotianas, Albizzia 

 (Acacia) lophantha, Wigundias, and varieties of 

 Zea, are especially valuable, and as they are 

 all rapid growers they make large specimens 

 before autumn. Plants of Ailantus glandu- 

 losus, and Catalpa bignonioides, cut close down 

 every spring are excellent subjects either for 

 massing, or for single specimens. The vari- 

 ous sorts of Cannas are indispensable for 

 groups, or as solitary specimens Colocasias, 

 Amorphophallus and any of the Arum family are 

 all desirable. The most serviceable amongst 

 Palms are Livistona australis, L. chinensis, 

 PhoRnix dactylifera, Plychosperma Cunningham- 

 iana (syn. Seaforthea eleqanSj, Chumaarops hu- 

 viilis, C. excelsa and C. Fortujiei. Cycas circin- 

 alis and C. revolula, Musa Ensete, and M. 

 superba, are noble plants for this purpose, the 

 Tree Ferns, Alnophila aiistralis and A. excelsa, 

 Cyathea dealbata, Dickfionia antarlica, etc., may 

 also be placed in sheltei-ed and shady places 

 with good effect. The various ^rwndos, Arundi- 

 narias, Bambusas, Draccenas, Cordylines, Ery- 

 ihrinas, Aralias, Phoi'miums, Gynerium, Eula^ 

 lias, Ficus, etc., can also be used to excellent 

 advantage. 

 Subulate, Subuliform. Awl-shaped; linear, 

 tapering from a broadish base to a fine point ; 

 a long, narrow triangle. 

 Succise. Abruptly cut or broken off, or appear* 



ing to be so. 

 Succulent. Very juicy or pulpy. 

 Succulent Plants. Plants possessing thick, 

 fleshy leaves, including numerous genera, 

 very varied in habit. They are generally 

 plants requiring protection, especially in win- 

 ter, though a few are perfectly hardy. The 

 natural orders CaclacetB and Ficaidece include 

 -a- largo number of Succulents, many being 

 exceedingly curious, and others very beauti- 

 ful. For carpet-bedding purposes many of 

 the dwarf-i^rowing species are invaluable, and 

 are used in large numbers, more especially 

 various species of Scdum, Sempervivum,Agave, 

 Aloe, Cotyledon, Echeveria, Crassula, Opuntidf 

 Mesembryanthemum, etc. 

 Succory. Another name for Chicory. See Ci» 



chorium. 

 Sucker. A shoot thrown up by a plant trotii 



beneath the surface of the ground. 

 Sudorific. Having the power of causing per- 

 spiration. 

 Suffruticose. Half shrubby; having a some- 

 what shrubby habit. 

 Sugar Beet. See B^ta. 

 Sugar Berry. The fruit of Celiis occidentalia, 



which see. 

 Sugar Bush. A common name for Protea ituH- 



Ufera. 

 Sugar Cane. See Saccharum officinarum, 



