An Encyclopedia of Horticulture. 



51 



Alocasia — continued. 



A* zebrina (zebra).* I. erect, broadly sagittate, rich dark green 

 burni? upi'ii stout footstalks, whiL-h are pale green, mottled and 

 striped with zigzag bands of dark green, k. 4ft. or more. Philip- 

 pine Isles, 1862. 



AIiOE (from Alloeh, its Arabic name). Allied genera : 

 Apicra, Hawortliia, P ach id end ro 7i, Phylloma, Including- 

 Rhiyodendron. OrT). Liliacecp. Thig hitherto much confused 

 genus, and its allies, have been completely revised by Mr. 

 J. G. Baker {vide "Journal of the Linnean Society," 

 vol. xxviii. pp. 152 — 182), to whose account we are in- 

 debted for many of the following particulars: — Plant with 

 or without stems ; shrubs or (rarely) trees ; leaves thick, 

 fleshy, frequently in a rosette ; peduncles simple or racemed, 

 endowed with few or many empty bracts. Flowers racemed ; 

 pedicels bracteated at base, solitary ; perianth-tube straight 

 or slightly recurved ; segments elongated ; stamens hypo- 

 gynous, as long as the perianth, or longer. Mr. Baker 

 describes over eighty species, many of which, for various 

 and important reasons, have no claim upon our space. 

 Natives of the Cape of Good Hope, except where otherwise 

 stated. These very interesting and curious plants thrive 

 well in a mixture of open loam and peat, together with a 

 small quantity of well decomposed manure. If old brick 

 rubbish, or any other similar material is mixed with the 

 soil to ensure perfect and rapid drainage, so much the 

 better. Water, especially during winter, must be carefully 

 administered. They thrive in an ordinary greenhouse, a'nd 

 cannot have too much light at any time. 



A. abyssinica (Abyssinian).* jt., perianth twelve to fifteen lines 

 long; raceme dense-oblong. Sin. to 4in. long, and 2in. to Sin. 

 broad; lower pedicels nine to twelve lines long; peduncle 

 branched, lift, to 2ft. I. about twenty in a rosette, ensiform, l^ft. 

 to 2ift. long:, acuminate, green, sometimes spotted, five to "six 

 lines thick in middle ; buck rounded ; mai^nal prickles distant, 

 deltoid, one to two lines long. Stem simple, 1ft. to 2ft. long, 

 2in. to Sin. in diameter. Abyssinia, 1777. •SVN. A. maculata. 



A. a. Peacockli (Peacock's). This is a rare variety. 



A. afticana (African). jJ., perianth yellow, fifteen to eighteen 

 lines long ; racemes dense, 1ft. in length, Sin. in diameter ; peduncle 

 very strong, branched. I. in a dense rosette, ensiform, Uft. to 2ft. 

 long, 2Jin. to Sin. broad, slowly narrowing from base to the apex, 

 chanuelliMl above the middle, where it is four to five lines thick ; 

 margiual pricklt's close, one and a half to two lines long. Stem 

 simple, when fully grown, 20ft. 



A* albispina (white-spined).* jL, perianth red, l^in, long ; raceme 

 dense, nearly 1ft. long, 4in. broad ; lower pedicels fifteen to eighteen 

 lines long ; peduncles simple, Uft. I. loosely disposed, lanceolate, 

 ascending, bin. to Sin. long, 2in. broad, green, without s]iots or 

 lines; face concave upwards; middle three to four lin.s thick . Ijack 

 sparingly tubercled ; marginal prickles white, horny, two lines 

 long. Stem simple, short, lin. to lAin. in diameter. 1796. 



A, albocincta (white-banded).* /?., perianth brilliant red, ten to 

 twelve lines long ; racemes twenty or more, shortly capitate, 2in. 

 to 2iin. in diameter when expanded ; pedicels ascending, six to 

 nine lines long; scape stout, branched, Ikft. to 2ft. I. twelve 

 to twenty in a dense rosette, outer ones" recurved, lanceolate, 

 IJft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 6in. broad, glaucous, obscurely lined and 

 spotted ; middle three to four lines thick ; margin red or w hite 

 tinted. Stems in old specimens, 1ft. to 2ft. long. Sin. to 4in. in 

 diameter. Svxs. A. Hanburyana, A. paniculata, and A. striata. 



A arborescens (tree-like).* Jl.^ perianth red, fifteen to eighteen 

 lines long ; raceme dense, about 1ft. ; pedicels ascending, twelve 

 to fifteen lines long ; peduncles strong, l^ft., simple or branched. 

 I. (rosette Sft. to 4ft. in diameter) dense, aggi-egate, ensiform, 

 Ihit. to 2ft. ; base 2in. broad, thence to apex attenuated, acu- 

 minated, green, rather glaucous, without spots or lines; middle 

 three to four lines long ; base five to six hues thick ; upper sur- 

 face beyond the base channelled; marginal prickles close, one and 

 a half tr) two lines long, horny. Stem simple, finally 10ft. to 12ft. 

 long, 2in. to Sin. in diameter. 1700. 



A. a. frutescens (shrubby). Dwarfer. /. often loose, and shorter, 

 intensely gl;uiroiis ; peduncle simple. Stem slender, sometimes 

 racemosed. 



A. aristata (awned). fl., perianth red, fourteen to sixteen lines 

 long; raceme simple, loose, 4in. to 6in. long, and about 4in. 

 broad ; pedicels sub-patent, thirteen to eighteen lines long ; scape 

 simple, 1ft. I. about fifty in a dense rosette, ascending, lanceolate. 

 Sin. to 4in. long, six to eightlines broad, without spots or lines ; face 

 fiat, sparingly tubercled; middle one and a half lines thick ; back 

 copiously tubercled ; apex bearded with a pellucid awn; marginal 

 teeth diffuse, white, half line long. 1824. 



A. Bainesii (Baines').* fi., perianth fifteen to sixteen lines long, 

 yellowish red ; raceme simple, dense, oblong, Stin. to 4in. in 

 diameter when expanded ; pedicels thick, two to three lines long; 

 peduncles upright, strong, eight to nine lines in diameter. I. closely 



Aloe — continued. 



packed at the top of the branch, ensiform, 1ft. to VJt. long, 2in. to 

 Sin. in diameter, green, spotted, deeply channelled, recurved; 

 middle two to three lines thick ; marginal prickles pale, rather 

 distant, one to one and a half lines long. Arborescent, branched. 

 h. 40ft. to 60ft.; trunk 4ft. to 5ft. in diameter. Syns. A. Barberce, 

 A. Z>'iiheri. 



A. barbadensls (Barbadoes). Synonymous with A. vera. 



A. Barbersa (.Barber's). Synonymous with A. Bainesii. 



A. brevifolia (short-leaved).* jl., perianth red, fifteen to eighteen 

 lines Inn^-; raceme dense, 6iu. long, 2^in. to Sin. in diameter; 

 pedicels upright, six to twelve lines long ; peduncles simple, hardly 

 1ft. long. I. thirty to forty in a dense rosette, lanceolate. Sin. to 

 4in. long, and lin. broad at the base, glaucous, without spots or 

 lines; face unarmed, below swollen or fiat; middle three to four 

 lines thick; back convex, sparingly tubercled; marginal teeth 

 whitish, one to one and a half lines long. Stem short, simple. 

 SVN. -4. 2^''oii/i'ra. 



A. b, depressa ^depressed). Jl. somewhat larger ; peduncles IJft. 

 to 2ft. lonji". I. 6m. long ; bottom lAin. to 2in. broad ; face some- 

 times sparmgly tubercled. 



A. ceesla (bluish-grey).* _fi. , perianth red, fifteen to sixteenlines long ; 

 racemes dense, nearly ift. long, 2in. to Sin. in diameter ; pedicels 

 twelve to fifteen lines long; scape simple, 6in. I. rather dense, 

 lanceolate acuminate, 1ft. to lift. ; bottom 2in. to Sin. broad, 

 intensely glaucous, witliout spo't or lines, slightly channelled 

 upwards ; middle Sin. to 4in. thick ; marginal prickles red, one to 

 one and a half lines long. Stem simple, finally, in old specimens, 

 12ft. to 14ft. 1815. 



A* CandoUei (De Candolle's). A mere form of A. kumilis. 



A. chinensis (Chinese). ^., perianth yellow, lin. long ; raceme 

 loose, simple, bin. to Sin. long, and 2in. broad; pedicels one and 

 a half to two lines long ; peduncle simple, 6in. to 12in. I. fifteen 

 to twenty in a dense rosette, ensiform, 9in. to 12in. long, IMn. 

 broad at the bottom, pale green, not lined ; base nearly flat ; 

 middle three to four lines thick ; upper surface channelled ; 

 marginal prickles distant, pale, one to one and a half lines long. 

 Stem short, simple. China, 1817. 



A. ciliata (ciliated).* _^., perianth brilliant red, twelve to fifteen 

 liueslong; raceme simple, loose, 2in. to4in. long ; pedicels three to 

 four lines long ; peduncles slender, simple. I. linear, widely 

 spreading, amplexicaul, green, 4in. to 6in. long ; base six to nine 

 lines broad, slowly narrowing towards the apex, without spots or 

 lines; middle one line thick; marginal teeth minute, white. Stems 

 long, saiTnentose ; branches three to four lines in diameter ; inter- 

 nodes six to twelve Unes long, obscurely striated with green. 1826. 



A. Cominelyiil (Commelin's). A mere form of A. mitrceformis. 



A. consobrina (related). Jl., perianth yellowish red, twelve to 

 fifteen lines long ; raceme rather loose, oblong, cylindrical, 

 Sin. to 4in. long, and 2in. in diameter ; pedicels three to four 

 lines long; scape Uft., slender, branched. I. loosely disposed, 

 ensiform, 6in. to 8in. long, and lin. broa<l, green, spotted white ; 

 face channelled ; middle three lines tliick ; marginal prickles 

 minute, brownish ; rosette lOin. to 12in. (sometimes 2ft.) in dia- 

 meter ; upper leaves ascending ; central ones spreading half open ; 

 lower ones deflexed. Stem 2fl;., simple, lin. in diameter. South 

 Africa, 1845. 



A, Cooperi (Cooper's).* /., perianth fifteen to eighteen lines 

 long; raceme close, Siii. to 6in. long, and Sin. to 4in. in 

 diameter ; lower pedicels lin. to 2in. long ; scape simple, l.Ut. to 

 2ft. I. when mature. Sin. to lOin. long, distichous, falcate, 

 lined; outer ones Uft. to 2ft., above the base six to eight lines 

 broad, greenish, deejily channelled, sparingly spotted ; middle 

 one and a half to two lines thick ; marginal teeth minute, close, 

 white. Plant stemle-ss. Natal, 1862. SVN. .1. Schiniddana. 



A. dichotoma (two-branched).* QuivertiL't". //., peiuinth oblong, 

 ten to twelve lines long ; raceme loose, 2in. to 4in. long, and 2in. 

 in diameter ; pedicels three to four lines long ; peduncles stout, 

 branched. I. closely packed, at the top of the branch, lanceolate. 

 Sin. to 12in. long ; buttnm twelve to fifteen lines broad, glaucous, 

 without spots or lines, sliiihtly chanuf lltil above the base ; middle 

 three to four lines tliick. narrow-margined with white ; marginal 

 prickles minute, pale. Trunk short, sometimes Sft. to 4ft. in dia- 

 meter, k. 20ft. to 30ft. 1781. Arborescent, branched. 



A. distans (distant).* Jl, perianth pale red, fifteen to eighteen 

 lines long ; raceme densely capitate. Sin. to 4in. in diameter ; 

 lower pedicels twelve to fifteen lines long ; peduncles lift., 

 usually simple. I. ascending, loosely disposed, ovate-lanceolate, 

 Sin. to 5in. long, and Uin. to 2in. broad, gncu, slightly glaucous, 

 without spots and lines; face concave; middlt^ three to four 

 lines thick ; back sparingly tubercled ; marginal prickles close, 

 white, horny, one to one and a half lines long. Stem .short, 

 simple, lin. in diameter; internodes pale, striated green. 1732. 



A. glauca (milky-green).* /?., perianth pale red, fifteen to six- 

 tein lines long; peduncles simple, 1ft. to l^ft. long, SAin. to 4in. 

 in diameter; pedicels lin. to l^iu. ]on«:. I. thirty to forty 

 in a dense rosette, lanceolate, 6in. to Sin. long; at the base 

 Ijin. to 2in. broad, slowly narrowing towards the apex, in- 

 tensely glaucous, spotless, obscurely lined ; middle three to 

 four lines thick ; face above the base slightly concave ; back 

 tubercled at apex ; marginal teeth spreading, brownish, one to 

 one and a half lines long. Stem simple, at length, about Ht., 

 l\in. to 2!n. in diameter. 1731. 



