An Encyclopedia of Horticulture. 



31 



iEgCiphila — en n t in ued. 



cillute ottloii;;, uiitire, sub-cordate at l)!ise. h. 3ft. Ifavaiiiiali, 

 1843. 'I'he otiif r species are probably nut now in uiiltivaiion, aiul 

 this one is not j;;eueraUy so. 



.SGIiIS (from .Egle, ono of the Hesperides). Bonfral 

 Quince. Orij. Rufaceiv. A stopo ovoryrecu troo, prodiiuiug- 

 very largo fruit, wliich much resembles an orange in general 

 appearance, very delicious to the taste, and exiiuisituly 

 fragrant. This genus differs principally from CUnis by its 

 numerous disunited stamens. The pulp of the fruit is an 

 aperient, ami a valuable remedy in dysentery, the tliick 

 rind and the dried unripo fruit are astringent. It thrives 

 best in a, rich loamy soil. Propagated by ripe cuttings, 

 which, if not deprived of any of their leaves, will rout in 

 saiul under a hand glass, in heat. 



JE, Marxnelos (Mannelos). jl. white, very frngraiit ; piuiicles 

 axill.irv, terniinal. April, ft: tiftecu-celled. l. trUuliato ; luatiets 

 tiinthlettfii. /(. 10ft. India, 175J. 



i&OIiANTHUS (from aiollo, to vary, and anlhofi, a 

 flower ; referring to the variableness of tlie flowers). Oud. 

 Lnbiaice. A genus of few horl^s, witli tiiickish leaven. 

 Flowers loosely panicled. They thrive in sandy loam, and 

 increase freely from seeds sown in a simihtr compost. 

 JE, Itivingstonii (Livingstone's), jl. brown. I-liv-st Africa, 1859. 

 JE», suaveolens (sweet-scented), fl. lilac, st'cmid ; cynios axillary 

 and termiM;il, erect, usually trifid, witii Horai leave.s under the 

 divisiuns. July. I. nearly sessile, obovate, olisoletely denticu- 

 lated, thickish, pale green. /*. 1ft. Urazil, 1859. A pretty stove 

 amuial. with a sweet odour. 



A£RANTHUS (from aer, air, and antlios, a flower ; 

 referring to the habit). Okd. Orcltideoi. A genus of a 

 couple of species of remarkable stove orchids, requiring 

 treatment similar to Angfuloa, to which they are allied. 

 JB, arachnitis (spiderdike). fl. green. I. linear, h. 4in. Mada- 

 gascar, 18^0. 

 JE, grandiflora (large-flowered).* Jl. yellowish-green, large, 

 solitary, terndtiaL h. Sin. Madagascar, 18ci3. 



AERATION. The exposure of the soil to the free ■ 

 action of the air, as essential to the growtli of plants. 



AZSIMDHS (from aer, the air; iu i*eference to the 

 power the species have of deriving their sustenance from 

 the atmosphere). Ord. Oyi-liidetr. An extensive genus of 

 epijihytal orchids, confined to the tropics of the Old Wiu'Id, 

 including many largo and showy-flowered species. Tlie 

 majority of them are extremely handsome. The thick fleshy 

 leaves are noteworthy for their characteristically <listichous 

 arrangement —that is to say, they are arranged in two 

 opposite rows. They are usually truncate at the apex, and 

 for tho most part deeply channelled down the centre, l>ut in 

 some species terete or nearly cylindrical. All of them throw 

 out large fleshy roots from various parts of their stems, by 

 which they absorb the moistui-e from the atmosphere ; an<l, 

 in order to grow them successfully, they must be fixed ujion 

 blocks of wood. But this method should bo adopted only 

 whilst the jdants are young, as it is almost an impossiliility 

 for tho cultivator to maintain a sufficient amount of atmo- 

 spheric moisture to meet theii* renuirements ; and, unless 

 this is managed, the leaves will shrivel and fall off, leaving 

 only a few at the extremity. Therefore, as soon as the 

 plants are established upon tho blocks of wood, lot them 

 bo removed and jjotted. Fill tho pot three parts full of 

 broken potsherds and lumps of charcoal, and then use 

 nothing but clean, living sphagnum, placing a few roots in 

 the muss aiul leaving tho others free. IJy this means a 

 greater amount of moisture can be supplied to thorn, and 

 thus beautiful and symmetrical specimens obtained. The 

 Aerides are easily grown into handsome plants, which 

 usually bloom profusely, and thiis recommend themselves 

 to all who cultivate orchids. From early spring until 

 the end of September they shouhl be treated liberally with 

 water, at the same time taking care never to wet the 

 flowers. After the above-named time, a graduid diminu- 

 tion in the water supply to the roots shoiild take place ; and 

 the atmi>sphere, too, should be less densely cliarged with 

 moisture. But drought should never be carried far enouuh 

 to cause the leaves to shrivel, for, if this is lUniu, the uni- 



Aerides 



rvnl in nt'd. 



formity of the specimen is marred ; and, although wo are 

 quite willing to admit tho possibility of the plants pro- 

 ducing a greater (piantity of flower spikes after a thorough 

 shrivelling, we prefer to advocate the system that gives a 

 fair amount of flower coupled with good leafage. As before 

 remarked, tho Aerides are peculiarly eastern, and therefore 

 are usually classed amongst the orchid.'^ which refpiire tho 

 hottest houses. This is, in one sense, correct ; yet they do 

 not require tlie great amount of heat whicli many imagine, 

 and which has, until recently, been given them. They 

 must not, therefore, be extihnled from the amateur's collec- 

 tion of orchids. During the winter season many of the 

 species may be kept in a temperature of 58deg. to 60deg. ; 

 whilst during tlie growing season the temperature may rvin 

 up by sun heat withuut limit, so long as a free circulation 

 of air and a sufficiency of moisture are secured. Tho 

 following status of temiierature may he observed : In spring, 

 from 65deg. in the night, to 70dcg. or SOdeg. by day ; in 

 summer, from VOdeg. in the uight, to 80dcg. or 85deg. 

 through the day ; in winter, about (50deg. night, and 65deg. 

 day. 



A affine (rolatetl).* Jl. delicate rose, produced, in ^reat profusion, 

 on linuicliini; spikes, wlucli are sometimes 2ft. in lengtli, and 

 continue in bNioni two (ir three weeks ; the sepals and jHtals 

 eipiul, rounded at tlie apex; the lip is sharply rhomboid and 

 three-lobcd, with a short spur. I. light green, about 1ft. long. 

 /(. 3ft. A very Iiatidsome species from India, forming an 

 excellent exhibitioTi plant. 



A. a. superbum (superb).* An improved variety, with larger 

 and richer cnloined (lowers, and more compact habit, 



A. Brookii (Sir A. Urooke's).* jl. purple and white ; labelbnn 

 bright i)nrple ; sepals and petals white, very fraj;rant. l. very 

 ornamental, of a i;laucims (nnlky green) hue. l>ombay. This 

 species, alth()iii;li nne of the handsomest, is very rare. 



A. crassifolium (thick-leaved).* This is a dwarf , densely-habited 

 plant, with Inoad, thick, purple-dotted obliquelyd)iIobed leaves. 

 The flowers, winch are borne <in lung and (hunpin-; spikes, ate 

 bare— larger than those of A.l'alritfinii,\\h\c]i tliey resmiliU- in 

 form, and have the segments tipped with rich purple or anietliyst, 

 the centre or throat of the flower being ivory-white. Compared 

 ■with A. Jalcafu HI, the spur is here bent under at an angle, while 

 iu tliat plant it is straight; the slile larinia^ of the lip are nnich 

 bii'atlcr and shnrtii' in the prcscid plaid, and the tw<i keels oil the 

 lip here stand close ti.^etln-r at Me- base, and I)econu- divermiit, 

 wliiUtiu /'(/nit II III they arc distant at tlie base, and become on- 

 viT-riit near the middle of the lip. Tliis species is described as 

 beiii;; the best in the ^enus. It may be grown near the glass, 

 suspended in a basket. Uurmah, 1877. 



Fic. 34. r(.(»wi;it OK AkkiiH'-s crispum. 



A. crispum (curled)." Jl. wlnte, suffused with purplish rose, nearly 

 2in. iu diameter ; sepals and petals ovate, acute ; Mp three-lohed, 

 the nnddle lobe being very large, toothe<l at the base, and fringed 

 at the marjiin ; the horudike spur is slightly incurved ; racemes 

 ascending, more than d<»uble the length of the leaves, many- 

 Howered. I, deep Ri'een, flat and broad, blunt at the ends, and 

 tuo-lohed, about 4in. or Sin. long, iiomhay, 1840. Lasts a long 

 time iu beauty. See Kit;. 34. 



A. c. liindleyanum (biudley's). A robust-growing variety, 

 prnducinj: a Iar';e. much liramiifd panicle of flowers ; sepals and 

 petals ^\hite; lip huge, liright lich ro->e-coloured. 



A. c. Warneri (Warner's).* 'i'he leaves are smaller, and more 

 .slender than iu the species ; the sepals and petals are white, with 

 a soft, iii.ii, rose-col. iiu'ed lij). 



A cylindricum (cyliudiic). " /. white and pink, as large as those 

 of .1. t-rii^piiiii \ srpals and [letals crispy. I. elongate, subulate, 

 terete, 4in. tn Oin. long. Kast Indies. A very rare and distinct 

 species. S\.\, A. nnitlarum. 



A. dasycarpum (thick-fruited). Jl. brownish, rosy. India, 1865. 

 I A dasypogon. .Sec Sarcanthus erinaceus. 



