An Encyclopedia of Horticulture. 



119 



Fig. 156. Akundo Don.oc. 



AKYTERA. A synonym of Ratonia (which see). 



ASAFCETIBA. See Narthex Asafoetida. 



ASAR.ABACCA. See Asariuu europseum. 



ASARUM (I'rom a, not, and saron, feminine ; deriva- 

 tion doubtful). Ord. Aristolochiacem. Curious hardy her- 

 baceous perennials, with bell-shaped, three-cleft perianths. 

 They should be planted at the foot of the rockery, or in 

 borders or woodlands, as they are not very showy, but 

 are, nevertheless, worth growing-, and easily propagated 

 by divisions, in spring. 



A. canadense (Canadian).* Jl. hxovm, campanulate, on a short 

 nearly Iniried. May and June. L in pairs, 



peduncle, Mtiiit'tiint's 

 hruadly renifonn. h. 1ft. 



Canada, &c., 1713. 



Fig. 157. ASARIIM CAUDATUM. 



Asartuu — continued. 

 A. caudatum (tailed).* _^. brownish-red. with attenuated or cau- 

 date talyx Inlit's. July. /. cordate -re ni form, hooded, sub-acute. 



i.r >iluiitisli. sliiilitly pubescent. C.difornia, 1880. A rare and 



pretty species. See Fig. 157. 

 A europseum (I'".mi'jiean). A.sarabacca. 11. dull brown, solitary, 



rather larj;e, drnopinii; sejouents of periantli incurved. May. 



I. two on each stem, roundish-reniform, stalked, shghtly waved. 



/(. 1ft. England. 



ASCENDIITG. Directed upwards; as the stem, 

 which is the ascendin*:: axis. 



ASCLZFIADIiJB. A large order of, for the most 

 part, lactescent, climbing shrubs. Flowers sub-umbellate, 

 fascicled or racemose, interpetiolar ; pollen collected in the 

 form of waxy masses, coalescing to the cells of the anthers ; 

 follicles two, one of which is abortive. Leaves entire, 

 usually opposite. 



ASCIiEPIAS (the Greek name of ^sculapius of the 

 Latins). Swallow-wort. Ord. Asclepiadece. Erect, hardy, 

 herbaceous or sub-shrubby perennials, except where other- 

 wise specified. Corolla five-parted, reflexed; umbels in- 

 terpetiolar ; corona seated on the upper part of the tube 

 of the filaments, five-leaved. Leaves opposite, verticil- 

 late, sometimes alternate. Most of the hardy species 

 are very handsome border plants, thri^dng in peaty, 

 or light rich soil, and are increased by dividing the 

 roots in spring, and sometimes also by seeds. The doubt- 

 fully hardy or rarer species should always be grown in 

 a peat soil, and have a little protection during severe frost, 

 by mulching the roots. The most important of the green- 

 house and stove species is A. curassavica. In order to 

 ol>tain good bushy specimens of this, it will be necessary to 

 out the plants back annually, after keeping them slightly 

 dry, and resting for a month or two in midwinter. When 

 growth has sufficiently advanced, they should be shaken out 

 and repotted. At this stage, a close, moist atmosphere will 

 be needful to produce the usually very free growth. The 

 points of the shoots must be nipyied out, in order to pro- 

 mote a bushy habit. When the pots have become filled 

 with roots, liquid manure may be applied : but it must be 

 quite clear and not over strong. All the indoor species 

 grow best in good fibry loam and leaf mould, and require to 

 be potted firmly. Cuttings should be secured in spring, 

 struck in gentle heat, under a bell glass, and as soon as 

 they are weU rooted, potted into 6U-size pots. A shift 

 must be given as often as the pots become filled with 

 roots, up to the time when the plant commences flower- 

 ing. Seeds may be sown in pots in spring, pricked out 

 singly when large enough, and then treated similarly to 

 cuttings. 



A acnminata (taper-pointed).* Jl. red and white ; umbels lateral, 

 solitarj', erect. July. I. ovate, sub-cordate, acuminated, on short 

 petioles ; superior ones sessile, glabrous, but rough on the edges. 

 Stems erect, glabrous, simple, h. 2ft. New Jersey, 1826. Hardy, 

 herbaceous. 



A amoena (pleasing).* Jl. beautiful purple ; umbels terminal, 

 erect; appendages of comna exserted, red. July. I. opposite, 

 almost sessile, oblong-oval, downy beneath, with a large purple 

 middle nerve. Stem simple, ^^ith two rows of down. A, 2ft. to 

 3ft. New England, 1732. Hardy, herbaceous. 



A. Comuti (Comuti's).* Synonymous with A. ^iiriaca. 



A, curassavica (Curassavian). Redhead, rf. reddish orange- 

 scarlet ; umbels erect, soUtary, lateral. July to September. 

 I. opposite, oblong-lanceolate, tiipering at both ends. Stem 

 rather downy, simple, sehlom a little branched. /(. 1ft. to 3ft. 

 Troi>ical America, 1692. The white-flowered variety is a very 

 pretty contrast. Stove herbaceous. 



A Douglasii (Douglas's).* Jl. large, waxy, purplish-lilac, sweet- 

 scented, in many-flowered umbels. Summer. I. opposite, ovate- 

 cordate, acuminated, 6iin. lung by Sin. or more wide, glabrous 

 above, downy beneath. Stem thick, woolly, simple, k. 2ft. to 

 3ft. West America, 1846. 



A hybrida (liybrid). A synonym of A. purpurascens. 



A incamata CAesh-coloured).* Jl. red or puri)Iish; umbels 

 numerous, usually twin. July. I. (.ppr)site, laiiceohite, rather 

 woolly on both surfaces. Stem erect, branched and toinentose at 

 the top. h. 2ft. Canada (on the banks of rivcr.-^), 1710. Hardy, 

 herbaceous. 



A mexicaiia (Mexican), fl. white ; umbels many-flowered. 

 July. I. verticillate, linear-lanceolate, with revolute edges; 



