An Encyclopedia of Horticulture. 



61 



Alyssiuv, — continued. 



A. serpyUifolium (Thyme-leaved).* jh palo yellow, in simple 



nicenies. April to June. I. very small, iiii. to Ain. long, ovate, 



sc;il)rniis. hoarv. A. 5in. to 4in. Branches spreading, sub-woody 



at tlie 1m.so. South Europe, 1822. 

 A. tortuosum (twisted), jf. yellow ; raceme corymbose. June. 



I. hoarv. somewhat lauffolate. Stem shrubby at the base, twisted, 



diffuse. /(. 6in. llnngary, 1804. 

 A. Wiersbeckii (Wiersbeck's).* jl deep vellow, in clof,e corymbose 



heads, about IMu. acros.*;. Summer. /. 2in. loni;, dvalobloni;;- 



I)ointed, sessile', attenuated at tlie base, rou.iihisli and hairy. 



Stems erect, scabrous, simple, rigid, h. Uit. Asia Minor. 



AM ARANTHACIi^:. An o.xteusivG order of herbs or 

 (rarely) shrult>, witli opposite or alternate leaves, and in- 

 conspicuou.s apetalous flowers, which arc spicately or capi- 

 tately disposed. The majority of this order are weeds; 

 well-known nxi-eiitions Iffino- many species of Auxiranthus. 



AMARANTH, OLOBi; 



0omphrena. 



Fig. 75. Flower hpike of AM.\RANTHUi> hvi'Dcuondriacus, 



AMARANTHUS (from a, not, and maraino, to 

 wither ; in reference to the length of time some of the 

 flowers retain their colonr). Ord. Amaranth ace (b. Hardy 

 or half-hardy annuals, with alternate entire leaves and 

 small green or red flowers in larn:c bracteate clustered 

 spikes. Flowers polygamous, fui-nished with three bracts 



Ama,vajxthxia— continued. 

 at the base of a three or five-lobed glabrous perianth. 

 Stamens four or five. Of very easy culture ; they thi'ivo 

 best in rich loamy soil, and aro largely employed for 

 snb-tropical and other betiding, for vases and conservatory 

 decorations, being very ornamental. The seed should 

 be sown in April in a hotbed, and the plants thinned 

 out in the same situation when about ^in. high. About the 

 end of May, they can be transplanted out of doors in 

 their permanent .situations. They are also very handsome 

 when grown in pots. The young plants should be potted 

 off early, and freely encouraged, allowing plenty of pot- 

 room and moisture, and be kept near the glass, to bring out 

 their brightest coloiu'ing. To develop their full beauty, 

 plenty of room is rerp^ircd. There are about twelve species 

 (indigenous to warm and tropical countries). 



A. bicolor (two-coloured). I. green, variously streaked with light 

 yellow, h. 2ft. India, 1802. This species is rather delicate, and 

 must have a warm sunny situation. 



A- b. ruber (red).* I. brilliant glistenins, scarlet, merging into a 

 dark vinlet I'-fl, mixed with green. Hardier than the type. 



A. caudatus (t.audate).* Love Taes Bleeding, fl. dark purplish, 

 collected in numerous whorls, which are disposed in handsome 

 drooping spikes. August. /(. 2ft. to 3ft. India, 1596. A 

 very common and vigorous growing hardy annual. There is a 

 yellowish-flowered variety, which, though less ornamental, is an 

 effective contrast. See Fig. 72. 



A. oruentus (dark bloody). Synonymous with A. hypochondriacus. 



A. Henderi (Hendei-'s). /. lanceolate, undulated, intense rosy 

 carmine, varying with orange butf, golden yellow, and olive green. 

 h. 3t't. A garden hybrid, closely allied to A. salicij'olius. Pyra- 

 midal habit. 



A. hypochondriacus (hypochondriac).* Prince's Feather. 

 Jl. deep crimson, ou densely packed, erect spikes. July. I. pur- 

 plish beneath, h. 4ft. to 5ft. Asiatic, 1684. Syn. A. cruentus. 

 See Fig. 75. 



A. h. atropurpureus (dark purple).* 

 above. 



An improved variety of 



A. melancholicus ruber (melancholy-red).* k. about 1ft. 

 Japan. A mnipact growin- variety, \\ ith large shaded crimson 

 leaves. Largely used for bedding purposes. 



A. salicifoUus (willowdeaved).* l. 7iu. to 15in. long, ivillow- 

 shaped, linear, and wavy, whicli, by their drooping outline, pre- 

 sent a very elegant and effective appearance. When fully giown, 

 the leaves are brilliantiv banded and tipped with orange, carmine, 

 and bronze. /(. 3ft. Pliiliippiuu Isles, 1871. 



A. 8. Princess of Wales." i. carmine, orange ^een, and 

 bright yellow, beautifully blemled. k. 3ft. A garden hybrid. 



A* sanguineus (bloody). //. pvu-nle, disposed partly in small 

 heads m the axils of the upper leaves, and partly "in slender, 

 flexible spikes, which form a more or less branching panicle. July. 

 I. blood red. h. 3ft. Bahama, 1775. 



Fig. 74. Amarantiius tuicolor. 



A. speciosus (showy).* jl. dark crimson purple, disposed in large 

 erect spikes, forming a fine plumy i)anicle. J lUv. /. suffused with 

 a reddish tinge, which disappears at the time of flowering. A. 3ft. 

 to 5ft. Nepaul, 1819. 



