42 



The Dictionary of Gardening, 



Agfave — cuiitinaed. 



ensiform, diverging irreffularly and often curving, lift, to 3ft. long, 

 2in. to 3in. (rarely 4in.) broad at the middle, narrowed gradually 

 upwards, a slightly glaucous dead green, marked mth a few 

 darker green lines on the back, furnished with a broad continuous 

 homy border and a few very large irregular booked teeth, often 

 united or collected in pairs, |in. to 3in. long, and |in. to ;^in. broad ; 

 terminal spine brown, punf>ent, lin. long. Mexico. A long- 

 known, widely-spread, and distinct species. Syns. A. amurejisis 

 and A. Vandei'ilondcH. 

 A. X. hybrida is a striking dwarf variety with vittate leaves, 

 and smaller, more crowded deltoid-cuspidate prickles than in 

 the type. It is also commonly known as A. x. vittata and A. 

 fterbeila. 



Fig. 48. Agave yucc.cfolta. 



A. yuccsefolia (Yucca-leaved).* Jl. greenish yellow, IJin. to l^in. 

 long, in a dense spike 6in. to 15in. long, about 14in. in diameter, 

 sessile, solitary, or in pairs ; scape 12ft. to 20ft. high. l. twenty 

 to forty in a dense, shortly-stt-nnned rosette, linear, much re- 

 curved, Uft. to 2ift. long, 2in. to lin. broad at the middle ; face 

 deeply channelletl, dull, rather glaucous gi-een, with a pale band 

 down the centre, the tip not at all pungent, the back broadly 

 rounded, edge entire, or obscurely serrulate. Mexico, 1816. A 

 most distinct species. See Fig. 48. 



AGERATUM (from a, not, and geras, old ; in reference 

 to the flowers being always clear). Stn. CcBlestina. Ord. 

 Compositce. This genus includes several American species, 

 for the most part half-hardy annuals and biennials ; or, if 

 the seed is not allowed to ripen, they become perennials. 

 Involucre cnp-shaped, of many imbricated linear bracts; re- 

 ceptacle naked. Leaves oppos^ite. A light rich soil is most 

 suitable. Very easily increased by cuttings or seeds ; if 

 required true, the former is the only sure method of pro- 

 pagation. To grow large plants for greenhouse decora- 

 tion, sow the seeds in January, in heat, in sandy soil, 



Ageratum— co/ihnued. 

 barely covering them. As soon as the young plants are 

 large enough, prick them off into thumb pots, and keep 

 in heat till they grow freely, then place them into a 

 cooler house. Transfer into larger pots as soon as the 

 other.^ are full of roots, until they are finally shifted into 

 lOin. or 12in. pots. When these are full of roots, the 

 plants should be watered with liquid manure twice a week, 

 and they soon flower well, making fine specimens. During 

 hot weather especially, they should be well syringed 

 with clear water daily, to keep down red spider. The 

 plants required for bedding (for which purpose the dwarf 

 garden varieties are mostly used) should be raised about 

 the same time, kept in small pots, gradually hardened off, 

 and planted out in the middle or end of June. Cuttings 

 of all the varieties strike readily in heat, treated like most 

 soft-wooded plants, and, when rooted, may be managed as 

 recommended for the seedlings. 



A. Xjasseauxii (Lasseaux's). Jl. -heads rose-coloured, small, dis- 

 posed in corymbose heads. Summer. /. lanceolite-elliptic. A. lift, 

 to 2ft. Moiite Video, 1870. A much-branched plant, requiring 

 gi-eenhouse protection in winter, and suitable for planting out 

 in summer. 

 A latifoliuxn (broad-leaved). A synonym of Piqueria latifolia. 



A. mesloannm (Mexican).* The commonest and most useful 

 species, with a profusion of lilac-blue flowers, h. 2ft. Mexico, 

 1822. ^\'lien used for bedding purposes it may be pegged down like 

 the Verbena, or be allowed to grow its full height. Several very 

 dwarf varieties of it have originated under cultivation, which 

 supersede the species for beddinfi, the best of which are :— 

 Cupid,* rich blue, very dwarf and noriferous ; Imperial Dwarf, 

 about 9in. high, with porcelain blue flowers ; Lady Jane, of the 

 same colour, very free ; QuEEN,* silvery gi'ey, about Din. high ; 

 Snowflake,* white, very free and sho^vy ; Swanley Blue,* very 

 deep blue, 6in. to Sin. high. There is also a white-flowered 

 variety of MeTicanum, which is very showy; and a variegated 

 form, sometimes grown for the sake of its pretty foliage. 



ACK^LOMEBATi:, AGOLOMERATEB. Col- 

 lected into a heap or head. 



AGGLUTINATED. Glued together. 



AGGREGATE, AGGREGATED. Gathered to- 



gether ; usually applied to the inflorescence. 



AGIiAIA (mythological : from Aglaia, the name of one of 

 the Graces, and given to this genus on account of its beauty 

 and the sweet scent of the flowers), Ord. Meliaceas. Stove 

 evergreen trees or shrubs having very small flowers, dis- 

 posed in branched axillary panicles. Leaves alternate, tri- 

 foliate, or im pari -pinnate. There are several species, but 

 the undermentioned is the only one worth growing yet 

 introduced. It thrives well in a mixture of turfy loam 

 and peat. Young cuttings ripened at the base, and taken 

 off at a joint, will root in sand under a band gla,ss, in 

 heat. 



A odorata (sweet-scented). Jl. yellow, small, in axillary racemes, 

 very sweet-scented, said to be used by the Chinese to scent their 

 teas, February to May. L pinnate, with five or seven glossy 

 leaflets, h. 8ft. to 10ft. China, 1810. 



AGIiAOMORFHA. See Folypodinzn. 



AGIiAONEMA (from aglaos, bright, and nema, a 

 thread ; supposed to refer to the shining stamens). Ord. 

 Aroidecp. Stove perennials, allied to Arum, and requiring 

 similar treatment to the stove species of that genus. 



A. oommatatnm (changed).* Jl white. / greyish-blotched. 

 li. 1ft. Philippines, 1863. Syn. A. mannitce/olium macidatum. 



A. TWa.«ii» (Mann's).* Jl., spathe 2in. long, whitish, with a spadix 

 one-third shorter, bearing white anthers and scarlet ovaries. 

 /. elliptic-oblong, dark gi-een. Stems thickish, erect, h. l^ft. 

 Victoria Moujitains, 1868. 



A marantfiBfolium maculatum (Marauta-leaved, spotted). 

 A synonym of ,1. coinmtitatuiii. 



A, pictnm (painted).* Jl., spathe pale creamy yellow, folded round 

 so as to appear globular-oblong, opening at top ; spadix projecting, 

 white. August. /. eUiptic-acuniinate, light green, blotclied iiTe- 

 gularly with broadisb angulate patches of grey. Stems slender, 

 erect, h. 1ft. to 2i't. Borneo. 



AGXOSTUS. See SteuocarpuB. 



AGRAPHIS. Included under Scilla (which see). 



