HERBS, TUBERS AND BULBS. 333 



garden plants, of easy culture, and readily propagated by seeds and 

 division of the roots. The double garden Ranunculuses, descended from 

 It. Asiaticits and R. aconitifolius, are but sparingly cultivated in this 

 country, as they are not hardy, and if planted early in spring the foliage 

 and flowers are burned by the sun when they come into bloom. 



Resedacece (Mignonette Family). A small order of herbs, or slightly 

 shrubby plants, rarely cultivated except species of Mignonette (Iteseda). 

 These, in the It. odorata, a native of North Africa, have small, incon- 

 spicuous, but sweet-scented flowers. There are many varieties in culti- 

 vation, and propagated by seeds, and by cuttings of the young shoots. 



Rutacece (Rue Family). Mostly trees and shrubs, characterized by 

 their strong smell, as in the Orange and Lemon, and our common Prickly 

 Ash. There are a few genera of hardy herbaceous perennials, such as 

 the Dictamnus Fraxinclla and Euta graveolens, or garden Rue. Readily 

 propagated by seeds, or by dividing the roots late in autumn or early 

 spring. 



Sarraceniaceoe (Pitcher-Plant Family). A email order of bog 

 plants, with pitcher-shaped, tubular and hooded leaves, with rather 

 large, six-petal ed flowers. There are half a dozen species of the Sarra- 

 cenias native of the Atlantic States, and only one of the genus Darling- 

 tonia, and this a native of California. Propagated by seed sown in very 

 light soil or on sphagnum, and by dividing the roots. 



Saxifragacece (Saxifrage Family). A very large family, of about 

 seventy-five genera, and five or six hundred species. They are mostly 

 shrubs, and the Currant, Gooseberry, Deutzia and Hydrangea are familiar 

 representatives. Among the perennial herbaceous genera, the Astilbe 

 and Saxifraga are the most common and best known. The Aslilbe Ja- 

 ponica (often incorrectly called Spiraea Japonica) is a very hardy border 

 plant, extensively cultivated by florists for forcing in winter, its small, 

 pure white flowers being in great demand. The Beefsteak Saxifrage 

 (S. sarmentosa) is an old and well-known trailing greenhouse plant, some- 

 times called Strawberry Geranium. The Siberian Saxifrages (8. crassi- 

 folid), and its many varieties, are occasionally seen in gardens. All 

 readily propagated by dividing the roots. 



Scltamtnete (Banana Family). An order of tropical and sub-trop- 

 ical plants, mostly having very large leaves with a distinct petiole and 

 blade. The most familiar representative of this family in gardens is the 

 common Indian Shot plant, or Canna Indica, and other species of this 

 genus. Maranta zebrina is a well-known and common greenhouse plant. 

 The Queen plant, or StreUtza regince, from the Cape of Good Hope, is a 

 large, rather coarse, stemless greenhouse plant, also common ; while the 

 Banana (Musa), of which there are several species, are occasionally cul- 

 tivated in conservatories, but it is a large, coarse-growing plant, requir- 

 ing considerable space for full development. They are propagated by 

 dividing the roots. The Cannas are most extensively cultivated, as they 

 are excellent plants for bedding out in summer. The thick fleshy roots 



