An Encyclopedia of Horticulture. 



135 



Aspleninm — contimced . 



pairs of piniuii (Hi each side, lower ones sub-deltoid, ^in. to 3in. 

 inn<;, \u\. broad, cut down to the rachis into a few cuneato- 

 rtabfUate piiinides, the lowest two lines across, sharply toothed 

 on the outer edj;e. sori copious, when mature, covering nearly 

 the whole under surface of the pinnules. Himahiyas, and widely 

 distributed, t.'ri-cnhouse species. 



A. Veitchianum (Veitch's). Synonymous with A. Belangeri. 



A. Vieillardii (Vieillard's).* sti. tufted, 4in. to 6in. Ions;, fronds 

 bin, to 9iu. Inui:, 6iu. U\ Sin. brn;\d, with large linear-lanceolate 

 terminal piuua, leniithi'Ufd uiit at the point, and deeply serrated, 

 and three to four pairs uf erecto-patent similar lateral ones, which 

 are Sin. to 4iii, long, upwards of ^in. broad, equally truncato- 

 cuneate, and the lower ones slightly stalked at the base, snri 

 distant, falling short of both edge and margin. New Caledonia. 

 A very graceful greenhouse species. SVN. A. schizodon. A. 

 apicidi.n.s is liut a variety of this, with shortened sori and more 

 obtuse venatiuu. 



Fk;. 176. AsrLENiUM viride, showing Barren and Fertile Pinnae (a and M, Sums (i-), and 



Sporangium {d). 



A. viride (green). Green Spleenwort. * ati. densely tufted, 2in. to 

 4in. long. jioihIh 4in. to 6in. h>ng, ^in. broad, with twelve to 

 twenty sub-sessile piinue on each side, ovate-rlmmlioid ; upper 

 edge narrowed suddenly at the base, the lower one oldiquely 

 truncate, outer part deeply crenated. mri copious, linear-obhiu;;, 

 oblique. fJreat 15ritain, Ac, widely distributed in both hemi- 

 spheres. It requires to be phmted in a well-drained but moist 

 situation. Ilartly species. See Fig. 176. 



A vittseforxno (narrow -fronded).* rkiz. creeping, sll. short, 

 erect, frtinds entire, lanceolate, 12in. to 18in. long, lAin. to 3in. 

 broad, narroweil t<» an acute point, and very gradually into the 

 stem below ; margin obscurely toothed, svri copious, often 

 reaching from the midrib nearly to the edge. Java, &c. Stove 

 species. Svn. A. suyidense. 



A viviparuxn (plant-bearin;^).* .s/i". tufted, 6in. to 9in. lon;^. 

 J'riind.-i 1ft. to 2ft. Inng, 6in. to Bin. broad, ovate-lanceolate, with 

 numerous close-placed ereetn-put-^nt piriii;e on each side, wliicli 

 are Sin. to 4in. long, l^in. to 2in. broad, cut down to a compressed 



Asplenimn — continued. 



rachis into numerous pinnatifid pinnules, the lower segments of 

 whieli are again forked ; ultimate segments Jin. to gin. long, 

 quarter-line broad, sori solitary, marginal. Mauritius, &c., 1820. 

 A very handsome stove species. 



A. vulcanicum (volcanic), sti. 6in. to 9hi. long, fronds 1ft. 

 to 2ft. long, 4in. to Sin. broad, oblong-lanceolate, with a linear- 

 tenninal pinna, or gemmiferous at the apex, and six to twelve 

 lateral ones on each side ; lower ones stalked, 2in. to 4in. lojiy, 

 3in. to lin. broad, acuminated ; edj^e slightly dentate ; the base 

 truncate, sort very regular and parallel, falling short of the edge. 

 Malay Islands. Stove species. Syn. .4. hetcmdon. 



A zeylanicum (Ceylonese).* ftfi. scattered, 4in. to Bin. long. 

 /(■"//./.-.■ 6iii. to 12in. long, lin. to 2in. broad, the point acuminated, 

 ape.x slightly lobed, the lower two-thirds more deeply so, and the 

 base quite down to the rachis ; lobes blunt, ^in. to ^in. across. 

 son. linear, two to three lines long, Ceylon. Stove species. Syn. 

 Dijjlazium zeylanicum. 



ASSONIA (commemorative of 

 Ignatius do Asso, a disting'uished 

 Spanish botanist, who wrote on the 

 plants of Arrag'on). Ord. Stercu- 

 liacece. This g-enus is now included by 

 best authorities under Dombeya. Or- 

 namental stove evergreen trees, with 

 undivided leaves, and axillary, bifid, 

 aub-corymbosG peduncles. They are 

 of easy culture ; thriving freely in any 

 light rich soil, or a mixture of loam 

 and peat. Young cuttings will root 

 freely in sand, with a brisk bottom 

 beat, if covered by a bell glass. 



A populnea (Poplar-leaved), fl. white, 

 disposed in a terminal, bifid corymb ; 

 lUMluncles scarcely longer than the pe- 

 tioles. ,Inne. I. cordate, acnniinateil, 

 smooth, a little serrated. /;. 10ft. to 20ft. 

 Ilourbon, 1820. 



A. vlburnoides (Viburnum-like). /I. 

 white ; peduncles three times longer than 

 tlie petioles. I. cordate, somewhat acu- 

 minate, crenated, tomentose beneath, as 

 well as younger leaves. //. 10ft. to 20ft. 

 Bourbon, 1822. 



ASTARTIiA (a mythological 

 name : Astarte, the Syrian Venus). 

 Obd. Myrtacecc. An ornamental green- 

 house evergreen shrub, requiring a 

 mixture of loam, peat, leaf soil, and 

 sand. Young cuttings root readily in 

 sand under a bell glass in gentle beat. 



A. fascicularis (bundle-flowered). Jl 

 white, pedicellate, solitary, axillary. 

 May. I. opposite, linear, fleshy ; when 

 young, disposed in axillary fascicles, h. 

 6ft. to 9ft. West Australia, 1830. 



ASTEIiMA (from a, not, and 

 stelma, a crown ; in reference to the 

 construction of the fruit). Ord. Gom- 

 ■positw. GreenJiouso evergreen shrubs 

 from the Capo of Good Hope. Some 

 species of this genus, which is now 

 generally referred to Helvptermn, are 

 very handsome, and thrive well in a 

 mixture of fibrous peat, leaf soil, antl 

 sand, with thorough drainage. Fill 

 the pots one-third full of crocks ; water carefully, and 

 only when absolutely necessary ; and place in a situation 

 near the gla.ss, allowing a free admission of air. Seeds 

 sliould be sown in pots of light, open soil, and placed in a 

 gentle heat ; half-ripened cuttings will strike readily in 

 sandy soil with a band glass placed over them. They are 

 now but rarely seen luider cultivation. 



A. canescens (hoary). /.-/K-at/x purple; .scales of involucre ovate; 

 branrhes oue-Howered. May to June. I. oblong, blunt, imbri- 

 cated, h. lift. 1794. 



A. eximiuxn (fine).* fi.-headu crimson ; corymbs sessile. July. 

 I. sessile, ovate, close, erect, white with thick woolly pubescence. 

 Stem stout, h. 3ft. 1793. This is a very l)eautiful species. 



A. speciosissimuni (showiest), jL-h-ada white, large, solitary, 

 terminal. -luly. /. sessile, lanceolatc-obuvate, acute, three, 

 nerved, wuolly. h. 8ft. 1691. 



