124 



The Dictionary of Gardening, 



ASF ASIA (from aspazomai, I embrace; the column 

 embraced by the labellum). Ord. OnhidacetE. A genus 

 of elegant stove Eiiidemlram-like epiphytal orchiilf, with 

 the lip nniteil to the column, and broad, thin pseudo-bulbs. 

 Tlio name Atpasia is now and then met with attached to a 

 totally different genus. Salisbury gave it to a liliaceous 

 plant wliich is now roferrod to OrnUhuijalum. For culture 

 and propagation, see Stanhopea. 



A. epldcndroides (Kpirtendrum-like),* fi. whitish yellow; 

 .sepiils liufur ubluiig, acute- ; petals olituse, concave, lateral lubes 

 of lip roiuKlish, entire, middle lobe crenated cmarginate. February. 

 Pseudo-bulbs oblong, two-edged. A. 1ft. Pana:ua, 1833. 

 A. lunata (crescaut-m.^rked).* Jl. STeen, white, and brown, solitary ; 

 sepals and petals linear obtuse, spreading ; lip three-lobed, lateral 

 lobes shcirt, middle one Hat, nearly sipiare, wavy. February. 

 Pseudo-bulbs oblong, twii-edv;ed. h. 1ft. Rio .Janeiro, 1843. 

 A. papllionacea (liuttcrHy-like).* Jl, sei>als luul )ietals yellowi.sli, 

 r.K'ttkd with Iirnwn lines on tlu-ir intt'rnid inferior halves; lip 

 fiddb-sliape, its back very great, elliptic, apicnlate ; an oranse- 

 coloured area stands at its base, a wale violet disc before and 

 around it. h. 9in. Costa Rica, 1876. Distinguished from A. 

 iiiMita in having thirteen keels at tlio base of the lip, which is 

 higher inserted, and in the echinulate anther. It is a beautiful 

 but rare novelty. 

 A. psittacina (parrot-likeV • ft. , sepals and petals light sTeen, with 

 brown transverse bars, which .sometimes i-. .iisist iif seimnite stripes, 

 at other times of confluent ones; tlic liddle sbapid liji sh.iws two 

 keels and a few piuplish dots over its top ; the column is brown at 

 its top, then violet, and white at the base. Ecuador, 1878. It has 

 a raceme of several flowers, usually one-sided, bent over. 

 A.variegata(varieKated).* /. green, spotted with yellowish red ; 

 sepiils linear cihl.m^ ; petals somewliat rhmnboid, acute; lateral 

 lobes ..1 lip recurved, udd.Ue one He^liy, serrated. February, h. 

 9in. Panama, 183b. IJeliciously sweet-scented in the morning. 



ASFISIT. See Fopulus tremula. 

 ASFHRA. Eougli, with hairs or points. 

 ASF£IMJIiA (from asper, rough ; in allusion to the 

 leaves). Woodruff. Ord. Ruhiacece. Hardy herbs, rarely 

 small shrubs. Flowers terminal and axillary, in fas- 

 cicles. Leaves opposite, witli one, two, or three stipulas 

 on each side ; they are therefore called four to eight in a 

 whorl, but between the uppermost leaves there are no 

 stipulas. Stems and branches usually tetragonal. Most 

 of the species are very pretty when in flower, and are, 

 therefore, well adapted for borders, rockwork, and shady 

 places, in almost any garden soil. Propagated by divisions 

 of the roots during spring and early summer. Herbaceous 

 perennials, except where otherwise stated. 

 A. azurea-setosa (blue-bristly). A synonym of A. oricntalis. 

 A. calabrica (Calabrian). A synonym of Putoria calabrica. 

 A. cynancliica (Cynanche-likey fi. on erect brjinches, forming a 

 fastii;iate corymb, white nr blnish-cnlunred, elegantly marked 

 with red lines, or sfniietinies pure white, Snnniier. I. four in a 

 whorl; floral ones lanceolate-linear, aciuninately awned ; lower 

 ones small, oblong, upper ones opposite. Plant glabrous, erectish. 

 /.. 9in. to 12iu. England. 

 A. hirta (hairy), j!.. white at first, changing to pink, with oblong 

 ilivisioiis. .I'uly and August. L usuully six in a whorl, four 

 towards the upper part, linear, hairy, deep green, h. 3in. 

 Pyrenees, 1817. A charming but rare little alpine, thriving best 

 in a rather damp ])osition on tlie rockery. 

 A. longiflora <long-flowered).* Jl. whitish, yellowish inside, and 

 reddish outside ; tube of corolla elongated ; fascicles terminal, 

 pediniculate ; bracteas small, subulate. Summer. I. four in a 

 wliorl, linear ; lower ones small, obovate ; upper ones opposite. 

 Stems weak, lunucrous, from the same neck, erectish, glabrous. 

 /(. fiin. Hungary, 1S21. 

 A. montana (nn)untain).* ./?., corollas pink, four-cleft, scabrous 

 externally ; in fascicles. .Tune. .Inly. I. linear ; lower ones six 

 in a whorl : noddle ones fovn- ; upjier ones opposite; floral leaves 

 linear. Stem weak, glabrous, h. 6in. to Sin. Hungary, 1801. 

 A, odorata (sweet-scented).*^ Sweet Woodruff, d. snowy white ; 

 cnryndis terminal, pedunculate, usually trifid, each division bear- 

 ing about four flowers. May, .Inne. I. eight in a whorl, lanceo- 

 late, smooth, with serrulately scabrous edges. Stems tetragon<al, 

 simple, erect, or ji.scending. h. 6in. to 12in. Britain. This very 

 pretty little plant is scentless when fresh, but, when dried, it 

 difi'nses an odour like that of spring grass ; and when kept among 

 clothes, it not (ndy imparts an agi'eeable perfume to them, but 

 preserves them from insects. 

 A. orientalis (Oriental).* Jl. sky blue, in terminal heads ; bracts 

 of invohu-re sliorter than the flowers. Summer, l. lanceolate, 

 bristly, about eight in a whorl, h. 1ft. Caucasus, 1867. A 

 charming little, profuse blooming, hardy annual, bearing clusters 

 of fragrant flowers, admirably adapted for bouquet muMug. SVN. 

 A. azurea-setusa. Soo Fig. 163. 



Asperula — continued. 





Flo. 163. AsPEIlULA ORIENTALIS, showing Uabit and Portiuu 

 of Inflorescence. 

 A. taurina (bull), /,, corollas white, elongated ; corymlis pedun- 

 culate, axillary, fasciculately umbellate, involucr.ited ; bracteas 

 ciliated. Aju'il to June. I. four in a whorl, ovate-lanceolate, three- 

 nerved, with finely ciliated margins. Plant smoothish, erect. 

 h. 1ft. South Europe, 1739. 

 A. tinctoria (Dyers'). Jl. white, reddish on the outside ; usually 

 trifid. June. I. linear; lower ones six in a wliorl; middle ones 

 four ; anil the uppermost ones opposite ; floral leaves ovate. Plant 

 procumbent, unless supported. Stem 1ft. to 2ft. long, purplish. 

 Europe, 1764. 



ASFHAIiT. Artificial Asphalt is now generally used 

 in England for footpaths, &c. The recipes are various, one 

 of the best being the following : Lime rubbish two parts, coal 

 ashes one part (both mtist be very dry), sifted very fine ; 

 mix them, and leave a hole in the middle of the heap, 

 wherem pour boiling hot coal tar ; mix well together. 

 When as stiff as mortar, lay it down, Sin. thick, on a dry 

 and previously well-levelled surface. A boy should follow 

 with dry, finely-sifted sand, distributing just enougli to 

 prevent his boots sticking to the tar. Two men should ho 

 employed for the tarring, whilst another should attend to 

 the boiling operation. Only just enough tar to last ten 

 minutes must be taken from the furnace at one time, 

 as, if it be not boiling, the walks will become soft under 

 the action of very hot sun. This may be repeated every 

 three years. It is imperative that the surface, lime, coal 

 ashes ami sand be perfectly dry. and that the days selected 

 for the operation be very fine, the hotter the better. 

 Another excellent plan is that of using gas lime .and 

 coal ashes. There must be a firm foundation and smooth 

 stirfaoe. Spread the gas lime to about 1-iin. deep, and level 

 with the back of a spade. Over this place a thin layer of 

 coal dust, anil well roll. The work is then complete. 



ASFHODEL. See Aspbodelus. 



ASFHODELINE. Gun. hilincem. A genus of phants 

 allied to J-sp/ioi/ciiw, but distinguished from it by having 

 erect leafy stems. They thrive in any ordinary garden soil. 

 Propagated by division. 



A. brevicaulis (short-stennued). Jl. in lax, often panicled 

 racemes, yellow, veined with ^leeii. I. subulate, ascendiu'-r, lower 

 ones 4iu. to 6in. long. .Stem slender, often flexuose. Orient. 



A. damascena (D.amascene). jl. white, in dense generally simple 

 raccnu's, 6in. to 12in. long, /.'in dense rosette, 6in. to 9in. long, 

 subulate. Stem simple, erect, h. \\tl. to 2ft. Asia Minor. 



A. liburnlca (biburniau). Jl. yellow, striped with green, in 

 generallv simple lax racemes, bin. to 9in. long. Stem simple, 

 erect, strict, 1ft. to 2ft. hi.^h, upper half naked. South Europe. 



A. lutea (yellow). Jl- vell.ov, fragrant, in a dense, very long, 

 straight, simple raceme, in the axils of buff-coloured bracts, 

 which are nearly as long as the flowers. Summer. I. ntunerous, 

 awd-shaped, triangular, furrowed, smooth, dark gl-een, marked 

 with lines of a paler tint ; root leaves tufted. Stem 3ft. or 4ft. 

 high. Sicily, 1596. The best known and handsomest species. 



SY.N. A.yhinlrlil.^ litteilS. 



A. 1. fl.-pl. This resembles the species, but the flowers are 

 double, and last nuich longer than those of the typical form ; it it 

 a very pretty plant. 



