38 THE DICTIONARY 
OF GARDENING, 
Alpinia—continued. 
A. zingiberina (Zingiber-like). l. erect, lin. long; calyx about 
sin. long; lateral and dorsal lobes of the corolla pale green; 
lip white, veined crimson, broadly ovate, obtuse ; panicle nearly 
erect, 10in. to 12in. long. July. J. 10in. to 12in. long, Jin. broad, 
oblanceolate-oblong, acute and abruptly cuspidate, glabrous. 
Stems 4ft. to 5ft. high, Rhizomes lin. in diameter, resembling 
ginger. Siam, 1884. (B. M. 6944.) 
ALSEUOSMIA (from alsos, a grove, and euosmia, a 
grateful odour; the powerful fragrance of the flowers 
scents the woods in their native haunts). Orp. Capri- 
foliacez. A small genus (four species) of highly glabrous, 
polymorphous, greenhouse shrubs, confined to New Zealand. 
Flowers greenish or reddish, axillary, solitary or fascicled, 
sweetly scented; calyx tube ovoid, the limb four- or five- 
lobed ; corolla tubular or funnel-shaped, the tube elongated, 
the limb of four or five equal, spreading lobes; stamens 
qe 
We 
Aa, 
of . 
cS 
Sy 
é 
Ros 
ALSINE. Included under Arenaria (which see). 
ALSOMITRA (said to be derived from alsos, a 
grove, and mitra, a mitre; probably in allusion to the 
plant crowning the trees). Orp. Cucurbitacee. A small 
genus (three to five species) of large, stove, climbing 
shrubs, extending from Nepaul through Malaya to North 
Australia. Flowers white, small, dicecious, in compound 
panicles; calyx and corolla both rotate and five-parted; 
stamens five. Fruit often large, elongated. Leaves 
having three oblong, entire leaflets. Tendrils simple or 
bifid. Only one of the species has been introduced. It 
thrives in a rich loamy compost and requires an abundance 
of water during the period of growth. It may be pro- 
pagated by seeds, or by cuttings inserted over bottom- 
heat. 
Reo SSK 
4 {£55 8D 
Fic. 37. ALSOPHILA ATROYIRENS. 
four or five; pedicels bracteolate at base. Fruit a purple, 
ovoid, many-seeded berry. Leaves alternate, rarely oppo- 
site, petiolate, membranous, linear-lanceolate, ovate, or 
rhomboid, entire or toothed, with minute tufts of hairs in 
the axils of the nerves beneath. A. macrophylla is the 
only species introduced to cultivation. It thrives in well- 
drained, peaty soil, and likes plenty of air and light. Pro- 
pagated by cuttings of half-ripened growths, inserted under 
a bell glass. 
A. macrophylla (large-leaved).* fl. in small, axillary clusters, 
drooping ; corolla dull red, or creamy-white with dull red streaks, 
the tube cylindric, funnel-shaped above, the lobes ovate, re- 
curved, toothed. February. J. 3in. to 6in. long, elliptic-lanceolate 
or oblanceolate, acute, entire or serrated, narrowed into petioles 
toy in. long. A. 6ft. to 10ft. 1884. Plant glabrous. (B. M. 
A. sarcophylia (fleshy-leaved), i. very numerous, in nodding 
anicles. Winter. jr. 1gin. long, gin. broad. J. very fleshy, 
4in. long, 1zin. broad, obtuse; petiolules scarcely din. long. 
Birma, 1870. Syn. Zanonia sarcophylla. 
ALSOPHILA. Including Lophosorus, Trichopteris, 
and Trichosorus. Upwards of ninety species have been 
referred to this genus; they are found in Australia, New 
Zealand, South America, India, tropical Africa, Eastern 
Asia, &e. 
Nearly all the Alsophilas are found inhabiting moist 
glens, and have a tendency to assume large proportions. 
Some of them, such as A. australis, A. conjugata, 
A. contaminans, A. Cooperi, A. Leichardtiana, A. pycno- 
carpa, &c., are frequently seen in their native habitats with 
stems varying between ?Oft. and 20ft. in height; while 
iJ aoe 
