HERBS, TUBERS AND BULBS. 329 



but if the seeds are inserted just under the bark of the trees the differ- 

 ent genera and species are known to live upon, they will usually sprout 

 and grow. The European Mistletoe does not thrive in this country ; at 

 least I do not know of any specimens ; but the American species grow 

 abundantly from Ohio, south and westward, on the Button-wood, 

 Poplar, Ash, Honey Locust, etc. 



Malvaceae (Mallow Family). An immense and important order of 

 herbs, shrubs, and trees. The_e are about fifty genera and nearly, or 

 quite, seven hundred species. All are innocuous mucilaginous plants, 

 with fibrous bark. Gossypium, in economic value, is probably the most 

 important genus, yielding the different species and varieties of cotton. 

 The ligneous species of the best known genera have been referred to in 

 preceding chapters, and I will only mention here a few of the hardy 

 herbaceous kinds, such as Callirrhoe (Prairie Mallow), Althea or Malva 

 alcea (Hollyhock), and the Hibiscus, or Rose Mallow, of various species 

 indigenous to the United States. The Prairie Mallow (Callirrhoe) is 

 readily propagated by seed, and dividing the old plants. The Holly- 

 hock, although naturally a biennial, becomes a perennial in cultivation, 

 through propagating it by division, and by cuttings of the young sprouts 

 as they push from the large fleshy roots in spring. The Hose Mallows 

 are not often cultivated, but are worthy of more attention than they 

 have received. New varie'.ies arc readily raised from seed sown in a 

 half-shady bed, in the open ground in spring, and these propagated by 

 division or young cuttings. 



Melastomacece (Melastoma Family). An order of trees, shrubs and 

 herbs. They are most abundant in the tropics, and representatives of 

 several genera are grown in greenhouses. Among these are : Cenlradenia, 

 Cyanophyllum, Bartoloma, Melastoma and Plcroma. The most familiar 

 native genus is the Rhcxia, half a dozen species of which are found in 

 the Atlantic States, but rarely seen in cultivation. Propagated by seed 

 and cuttings in summer, planted in a close frame or under a hand-glass. 



Mesembryanthemece (Fig Marigold Family). This family is also 

 known as the Ficoidcce in some of our botanical works, and in others as 

 Mcsenibryaccce. There are nearly three hundred species in cultivation, 

 mostly of the one genus Mescmbryantficmum. They are best known in 

 this country under the popular name of " Ice Plants," They are chiefly 

 low trailing plants, with thick fleshy leaves, and some of the species 

 have large and showy flowers. They thrive best in a rather light poor 

 soil, with more or less lime rubbish intermixed with it. Their propaga- 

 tion is exceedingly simple, as almost any piece of stem or leaf will 

 take root if laid on the surface of sand or thrust into it, and then ex- 

 posed to the direct rays of the sun. 



Nymphceacew (Water Lily Family). A rather small order of 

 aquatic perennial herbs, widely distributed over the globe in fresh- 

 water ponds, and along the borders of rivers and smaller streams. 

 The leaves and flowers of some of the genera, like those of the com- 



