502 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



ZEB ' 



Zebra "Wood. A name given to Myrlus fra- 

 grans and Guettarda speciosa ; also to the genus 

 Omphalobium, which see. 



Zebri'na pendula. A name proposed for the 

 plant, best-known as Tradescantia tricolor, T. 

 Zebrina or Cynanotis vittata. 



Zehne'ria. A sj'nonym of Pilogyne, which see. 

 The correct name is now given as Melothria. 



Zenobi'a. Named after the famous Empress of 

 Palmyra wlio lived in the third century. Nat. 

 Ord. EricaceoR. 



Z. apeciosa is a dense growing shrub, 

 about three feet high when fully grown. The 

 flowers, white and wax-like, are in form like 

 those of Lily of the Valley, and are produced 

 abundantly in loose, drooping clusters in sum- 

 mer. It is a native of the Southern States, 

 and, consequently, not quite hardy. It is 

 known in cidtivation as Andromeda CasHinke- 

 folia and A. speciosa. 



Zephyra'nthes, Zephyr Flower. From zephyro», 

 the west wind, and anthos, a flower. Nat. Ord. 

 Araaryllidacp(B. 



A very beautiful genus of hardy and half- 

 hardy bulbous plants, natives of the Southern 

 States, South America, and the West Indies. 

 The flowers are white, pink and rose-colored, 

 and are produced singly on slender scapes 

 about six inches high. One of the best species 

 is Z. Atamasco, generally known as Amaryllii 

 Atamasco, and in our gardens as Fairy Lily. 

 This species has beautiful pink flowers, 

 which are produced in great abundance 

 during the entire summer. The bulbs may 

 be planted in the open border early in spring, 

 and, with slight protection during winter, they 

 may remain undisturbed a number of years. 

 The bulbs are about one and a half inches in 

 diameter and two inches long, and increase 

 rapidly by offsets. It is a native of the south- 

 ern and southwestern States. Z. Candida, a 

 species with pure white flowers and small, 

 rush-like leaves, is a native of Lima and 

 Buenos Ayres. The bulbs are quite small, 

 and grow in large clusters. It is very free 

 flowering and nearly hardy, and was intro- 

 duced in 1822. 



Zephyr-Flower. See Zephyr anthes. 



Zi'chya. In honor of Countess Molly Zichy, a 

 noble Austrian lady, fond of botany. Nat. 

 Ord. LeguminoscB. 



These are handsome green-house climbers, 

 closely related to Kennedya, from which they 

 are chiefly distinguished by having their 

 flowers arranged in whorls on the end of an 

 attenuated foot-stalk. They require plenty of 

 water, both at the roots and over the foliage 

 in dry, hot weather, and a support for their 

 flexile stems. The trellis should be as large 

 as may be conveniently attached to a pot, as 

 they extend over a considerable space. In the 

 autumn the branches should be pruned 

 closely back, and the plants kept torpid 

 through the winter. The several species that 

 constitute this genus are natives of Swan 

 River, and were introduced in 1834. Propa- 

 gated by seeds or cuttings. 



Zi'ngiber. Ginger. The Indian name. Nat. 

 Ord. Scitaminem. 



The most important species of this genus 

 is Z. officinale, the roots or rhizomes of which 

 furnish the well-known Ginger of commerce. 

 This plant is believed to be a native of Asia. 



ZIZ 



It was naturalized in the West Indies soon 

 after their discovery by the Spaniards; 

 indeed, at so early a period that it is scarcely 

 believed to be an exotic, and is supposed to 

 have been found indigenous on the islands. 

 Acosta relates that a person named Francisco 

 de Mendoza first transplanted it from the East 

 Indies into New Spain, where its cultivation 

 was diligently pursued by the Spanish Ameri- 

 cans to a considerable extent, as, from the 

 testimony of the same author, 22,053 cwt. 

 were exported thence to Europe in 1547. This 

 plant is now extensively cultivated in the 

 West Indies, especially in Jamaica, from 

 whence we receive our main supply. There 

 are several varieties of Ginger known in 

 commerce ; they are, however, of the same 

 species, as the white and black ginger simply 

 indicate a different method of preparation. 

 Ginger is also largely grown in the East 

 Indies and Africa, but not of so good a quality 

 as that of the West Indies. 



Zingibera'ceae. A tribe or sub-order of Scita- 

 minecB. 



Zi'nnia. Named in honor of John Godfrey Zinn, 

 a Professor of Botany at Gottingen. Nat. 

 Ord. Composite^. 



An extensive genus of hardy annuals, na- 

 tives of Mexico. When first introduced the 

 Zinnia received but little attention, as the 

 flowers were single, the colors not so bright, 

 nor the plant so effective as the double varie- 

 ties now under cultivation. The double vari- 

 eties were first exhibited by Messrs. Vilmorin 

 in Paris, in 1861. They originated in India 

 from the common single Mexican varieties, 

 and the seeds were sent to France in 1858. 

 Great improvement has been made within the 

 last ten years in this flower, and our own flo- 

 rist and seed-growers have been foremost in 

 this work. The finest strains of this flower 

 are now to be had of the seed-growers near 

 New York. Some of the varieties are truly 

 magnificent ; the dull, dingy colors have given 

 place to bright scarlet, clear rose, pure white, 

 orange, canary yellow, etc., and the flowers 

 are perfect in shape, and evenly imbricated 

 like a Camellia. Zinnias require but little at- 

 tention, and will grow well almost anywhere. 

 For perfection of flower, the seed should be 

 sown early in a hot-bed or the green-house, 

 and once or twice pricked out before planting 

 in the open border. Set the plants two feet 

 apart each way, and they will completely 

 cover the ground early in summer. They 

 will commence to flower in June, and remain 

 until killed by frost. The flower lasts a long 

 time, looking cheerful until the seed is quite 

 ripe. The fact of the flowers remaining so 

 long perfect has given the plant one of its 

 common names, " Youth and Old Age." 



Ziza'nia. The Greek name of Darnel. The mod- 

 ern plants have no relation to the ancient, 

 being natives of America. Nat. Ord. Grami- 

 nacecB. 



These are native plants. Z. aquatica, a 

 large, reed-like, aquatic plant, is quite 

 common in marshes and on the margins of 

 waters at the South and West, and was for- 

 merly largely collected by the Indians for 

 food. It is a favorite food with wild ducks 

 and other aquatic birds during the fall and 

 winter months, and is a familiar object to 

 sportsmen. A correspondent of the "American 



