An Encyclopedia of Horticulture. 



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AFRICAN LOTUS, sv* Zizjrplius. 



AFRICAN" MARIGOLD. Nv Tag-etes erecta. 



AFRICAN OAK OR TEAK. N > Vitex Doniana, 



AFRICAN SATIN-BUSH. -sVe Fodalyria sericea. 



AFZELIA (named after Adam Afzeliu>'. M.D., Pro- 

 fessor of Botany in the University of Upsal, and for many 

 years resident at Sierra Leone). Ord. Leguminostv. A 

 pretty stove evergreen tree. For culture, see JEgfipliila. 



A. afVicana (African).* ./f. crimson, disposed in racemes: petals 

 four ^furnished with claws), upper one largest. June, legume 

 ligneus, many-celled ; seeds black, with scarlet aril. I. abruptly 

 pinnate. A. 30ft. Sierra Leone, 1821. 



AGALMYLA (from agalma, an ornament; and hule, 

 a wood ; the species are great ornaments to the woods in 

 which they grow wild). Ord. Gesneracecr. A small but 

 very handsome genus of climbing or radicant herbs, with 

 simple alternate leaves and axillary fascicles of flowers, 

 something" like the blooms of a Gesnera. Corolla limb 

 oblique, five-lobed, scarcely two-lipped. A. staminea, the 

 most generally cultivated species, is best gi-own in a basket, 

 planted in a compost of rough peat, a little leaf soil, fresh 

 sphagnum moss, and nodules of charcoal. Give an abund- 

 ance of moisture when growing, which should be lessened 

 after flowering, and allow the plant to rest during winter. 

 It may be planted out on rockwork in the stove. Half- 

 ripened cuttings will root freely in heat under a glass. The 

 temperature in summer should not be less than 75deg. by 

 day, and 65deg. by night. 



A. longlstyla (long-styled). Ji. crimson. Java, 1873. 

 A. staminea (long-stamened).* rf. scarlet, disposed in axillary 



fa:scicles; corolla tubular, incurved, with a dilated throat. Summer. 



I. alternate, oblong, acuminated, denticulated, nearly equal at the 



base, downy beneath, and on the edges. Stem and petioles hairy. 



A. 2ft. Java, 1846. Stove species. 



AGANISIA (from aganosj desirable ; in reference to 

 the beauty of these neat little plants). Ord. Orchidacecc. 

 A small genus of epiphytal orchids, requiring to be grown 

 upon a block of wood suspended from the rafters of the stove. 

 A damp atmosphere, syringing the roots and leaves freely 

 when in a growing state, and shade during very bright 

 sunshine, are primary points to be observed in their culti- 

 vation. Increased by dividing the pseudo-bulbs just pre- 

 vious to starting into new growth. 



A. coemlea (dark blue).* Jl. peduncles axillary, few flowered. 

 ** The colour is the well known one of Vanda carulea. There are, 

 however, darker blue blotches quasi-tesselated over the flower. 

 The lip is veiled, and has two very small basilar teeth, and then a 

 veiled middle lacinia, that is sacciform, bordered with most 

 remarkable long bristles, and with a deep violet blotch on its 

 middle part beneath. The white column has two cartilaginous 

 quadrate arms close to the stigmatic hollow." I. cuneate, oblong, 

 acuminate. Pseudo-bulbs distichous, depresso-ovoid. BrazU, 

 1876. 



A. flmbrlata (fringed).* j?. white; lip blue. Demeraia, 1874. 

 This species has also a sacciform, fimbriate lip, but, when com- 

 pared with the foregoing, its flowers, leaves, and bulbs are nmch 

 smalk-r, and the lip is not slit up to the apex, but the sac Is 

 ruuud. 



A. graminea (grass leaved). A weedy looking species, of no garden 

 value. Liuiaua, 1836. 



A. lonoptera (violet-winged). The flowers, not very much larger 

 than those of the lily of the valley, are white, with violet petals, 

 and violet tips and streaks on the sepals. Peru, 1871. 



A. pulchella (pretty).* Jl. white, with a blotch of yellow in the 

 centre of thu lijj ; the spike is produced from the bottom of the 

 bulb. h. Sin. Demerara, 1858. It blossoms at different times of 

 the year, and lasts two or three weeks in perfection. This species 

 is very rare and pretty, and is best grown in a pot, with peat, and 

 good drainage ; requires a liberal supply of water at the roots, and 

 the hottest house. 



AGANOSMA (from aganoti, mild, and osme, a smell ; 

 scent of flowers). Ord. Apocynacea:. A genus of showy 

 stove or warm greenhouse shrubs, with opposite leaves 

 and terminal corymbs of large funnel-shaped flowers, the 

 coronet of which is cup-shaped or cylindrical, '' having its 

 parts so united that they appear only as lobes around the 

 mouth of the cup." AU the species mentioned are well 

 worth cultivating. They thrive best in a mixture of loam, 



Ag'anosma — conh"n ued. 

 sand, and peat, in equal proportions. Propagated by cuttings 

 in sand, under glass, and with bottom heat. 



A. acuminata (pointed leaved).* jf. large, white, fragrant ; 

 petals linear, falcate, curled ; panicles axillary, longer than the 

 leaves, scattered. I. from oblon;^ to broad-lanceolate, acuminated, 

 glabrous. Sylhet. Shrubby climber. 



A, caryophyllata (clove-scented).* Jl. pale yellow, tinged with 

 red, deliciously cluve .•^ceiitntl ; corymbs terminal. October, t. oval, 

 ncutish :it both ends, tuuientose beneath as well as the branches. 

 India, 1S12. Shrubby twiner. 



A. cymosa (cymose-flowered).* fl. small, whitish, fragi-ant; calyx 

 and corolla hoary outsiile ; cymes terminal, shorter than the 

 leaves, t. elliptic, acuminated. Sylhet. Shrub. 



A. elegans (elegant)." jl. small, purple ; corolla downy outside, as 

 well as the calyces, bracteas, and pedicels ; sepals lon.ser than the 

 tube of the corolla ; corymbs terminal, crowded. I. elliptic, short- 

 acuminated, glaljrous. India. Shrubby twiner. 



A. mar^inata (bordered).* Jl. numerous, large, white, fragrant ; 

 petals linear, falcate; panicles terminal, loose, corymbose, glabrous. 

 (. lanceolate, smooth. Sylhet. Shrubby climber. 



A. Roxbnrghii (Roxburgh's).* /f. pure white, large, fragrant; 

 calyx and corolla hoary outside ; petals triangular ; corymbs 

 terminal. October. I. ovate-cordate, acimiinated; petioles and 

 veins red, glabrous, pale beneath, and shining above. India, 1812. 

 Shrubby twiner. 



A. Wallichil (Wallich's).* Jf. white, fragrant ; calyx and corolla 

 downy outside ; corymbs terminal. I. elliptic-acuminated, shining 

 above and pale beneath, glabrous. India. This species differs 

 from the last in the veins of the leaves being parallel, not longi- 

 tudinal, from the base to the apex. Shrubby twhier. 



AGAFANTHUS (from agape, love, and anthos, a 

 flower). Ord. Liliacece. African Lily. A genus, with 

 numerous varieties, of very handsome greenhouse or con- 

 servatory herbaceous plants. Flowers large, scapose ; 

 perianth tubular, tube short; stamens six, having the 

 filaments somewhat declinate. Leaves linear or lorate, 

 arching, radical. They aro of easy culture, and thrive 

 best in strong turfy loam, leaf mould, decomposed manure, 

 and river sand. They may be grown in large pots or tubs 

 outside, to be removed in autumn, and placed under the 

 stage in the greenhouse, or where they will be protected 

 from frost, and kept moderately dry. If planted and left 

 outside, the erowTis should be well covered with cocoa-nut 

 fibre in winter. During the summer, and especially in dry 

 weather, the plants can hardly be over watered. They 

 thrive admirably on the margins of lakes or running 

 streams, and few plants, alike in flower and foliage, are 

 more effective. Clear manure water may be given pre- 

 vious to or when the plants are in flower, and, after 

 flowering, gradually lessen the quantity of water, until 

 they are stowed away for the winter. They increase very 

 rapidly, by offsets, and, if necessary, the old plants may be 

 divided in early spring, to any extent required. In the 

 more southern parts of this country they are quite hardy. 



Fig. 39. Agapanthus umbellatus. 



A, nmbellatus (umbelled).* Jl. bright blue ; perianth funnel- 

 shaped, regular, tleejtly six-parted ; tube short; scape tall, naketi, 

 bearing a many-flowered umbel. Summer and autumn. I. 

 numerous, radical, linear, somewhat fleshy. A. 2ft. to 3ft. Cape 

 of Good Hope, 1692. See Fig. 39. 



