AGE 



A G R 



course of two or tlircc months. The ceconomy 

 i)f the plants is snch, that they only flower oiui-, 

 but continue i'or some k-ngth ot' time; alter 

 which a complete dissolution of the plants takes 

 place, in their roots, leaves, and stems. 



All tiie difllrcnt sorts are highly ornament- 

 al, both on account of their large siiigiilar leaves, 

 and the extraordinary beauty of the flowers when 

 thev appear ; the former being thick, fleshy, 

 ant{ erect ; proceeding closely troni the crowns 

 of the roots m large clusters, and attaining dif- 

 ferent lengths according to the species, as from 

 a foot and a half to six or eight feet,' having 

 the breadth of six or eight inches, with three or 

 four in thickness, gradually decreasing in both 

 the last to the extitmities, where they terminate 

 in thornv points : the latter in most of the spe- 

 cies presentinc; themselves on branches proceed- 

 ins. from stems of great length on every side, in 

 beautiful clusters of a pyramidal form and line 

 yellow colour, producing a grand efleet. 



The more hardy sorts arc all well adapted for 

 adornins law ns, courts, and other compartments 

 in the immeduue vicinity of the house, during 

 the sunmier months, when placed out separately; 

 as well as with the more tender and smaller kinds, 

 to afford variety among the greenhouse and 

 stove colleetion?. The stripe-leaved varieties 

 have a strikingly beautiful appearance in either 

 situation. 



The juice of the leaves of these plants, when 

 expressed by bruising, and reduced to a proper 

 consistence to be incorporated with some alkaline 

 substance, has been found to answer as a sub- 

 stitute for soap in washing. 



AGERATU-M, a genus comprehending some 



plants of the hel-baeeous flowermg annual kinds. 



It belongs to the class and order of Si/7>ge!iesia 



Poll/gamin jEqtialis ; and ranks in the natural 



order of Composila? Discoidece. 



The characters of which are : that the common 

 calvx is oblong, having many lanceolate subecjual 

 scales : the compound corolla uniform, with 

 corollcts, which are hermaphrodite, tubulous, 

 numerous, equal, but scarcely longer than the 

 calvx ; proper-monopetatous, funnel-shaped, 

 border quadrifid and spreading : the stamina are 

 verv short capillary filaments : the anthera cylin- 

 dric and tubular : the pistillum is an oblong 

 germ : the style filiform, and of the length of 

 the stamina : the stisrmas two in number, ver\' 

 slender and erect : no pericarjiium : calyx un- 

 changed : the seed solitar)', oblong, ungular, be- 

 ing crowned with a cliafly, five-leavcd, npright- 

 awned calycule : the receptacle naked, convex, 

 and very small. 



The species are, 1 . yl. comjzoiJes, Hairy Age- 

 ratum ; 2. A. ciliare. 



In the first the root is annual : the stem 

 woody, square, redihsh, and of about a foot and 

 a hall m height. The leaves are opposite, hain', 

 nu'.ch seriate about ihc edges, an inch and a half 

 long, and three quarters of an itich broad, pe- 

 tioled, resembling those of the nettle. Calyx 

 ovate-cylindric, with two or three rows of scales, 

 w hich spread verv nmeh when ripe. The recep- 

 tacle is ovate-globular, and pitted. The seeds arc 

 small, columnar, smooth, blackish, being elon- 

 gated at the base into a lilllc wl.ite swelling na- 

 vel : crown the length of the seed, and whiter 

 leaflets membranaceous, ciliatc-tootheil, end- 

 ins in a lono; roiiiih bristle-shaped a<A n. It 

 flowers in July and August, and is a native of 

 Africa. 



The second has the stem herbaceous, two feet 

 high, upright, thick, brownish and branched. 

 Tile leaves sharpish, veined, smooth, and oppo- 

 site. The flowers terminate in a sort of um- 

 bel. The calyx is almost ovate. The corollets are. 

 five-cleft; the crown of the seeds having five 

 cirsps. It is a native of the East Indies. 



Ciillure. — These plants are propagated by 

 means of seed, which should be sown on a hot- 

 bed of a moderate temperature, in a light fine 

 mould. After the plants have become sufliciently 

 rStrong, they should be transplanted into a second 

 bed of the same kind, carefully watering and 

 shading them until they have taken fresh root, 

 when air should be pretty freely admitted when 

 the season is \\arm. 



About the beginning of June the plants may 

 be gradually inured to the open air ; and towards 

 the middle of the same month transplanted into 

 the situations where thev are to remain in the 

 open ground. The seeds become ripe about 

 September. 



As these plants arc not of tall growth, and 

 continue in flower for a considerable length of 

 time, thev may be planted in the anterior parts 

 of the clumps and borders of pleasure groiuids, 

 where they may serve the purpose of ornament, 

 and at the same time ailord a suitable variety. 



AGUIMONIA, a genus aflording several her- 

 baceous perennial plants of the Agrnnumi kind. 



It belongs to the class and order of DoJccaii- 

 clria Digi/nia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Serillcosce. 



Its characters arc: that the calyx is a onc-Uafed, 

 five-cleft, acute, small, superior, permanent pe- 

 riantliium, fenced with an (,uter calyx : the co- 

 rolla has live flat, emarginate petals, witlv the 

 claws narrow, inserted into the e;dvx : the 

 stamina arc capillary filaments, shorter than 

 the corolla, inserted into the calyx ; the an- 

 thers small, twin, and compressed: the pis- 

 tillum is a germ inferior ; the styles simple^ of 



