THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



ACANTHOLIMON (from akanthos,a. spine, and limon, 

 ea lavender). ORD. Plantagineos. Dwarf hardy tufted 

 evergreen plants, distinguished from allied genera in having 

 sharp-pointed rigid leaves. They are of rather slow growth, 

 thriving best in a sandy soil, and sunny position, on rock- 

 work more particularly. The flowers are similar to Statice 

 and Armeria. Increased by seeds (which germinate slowly), 

 pown carefully on a warm but rather shaded border, and 

 transplanted when large enough to handle; or by cuttings 

 and very carefully made divisions. The cuttings should be 

 made in late summer, and placed in a frame, to remain 

 there during the winter. 



(prickly).* JL rose, spicate, about Jin. across, 

 a spikelet. Summer. 2. densely packed and 

 inted with spines, h. 6in. Armenia, 1851. Very com- 



six to eight in a spikelet. Summer. I. densely packed and 

 sharply pointed with spines, h. 6in. Armenia, 1851. 

 pact anil distinct SYN. Statice Ararat*. 



A Kotschyi (Kotschy-s). fl. white. A good species, but ?ery 

 rarely seen in British gardens. 



FlQ. 7. ACANTHOI.IMON VENUSTUM. 



A. vennstnm (charming).* fl. rose, spicate, from twelve to twenty 

 in each spike. Summer. I. broader than in the last, and glaucous. 

 A. 6m. or 8m. Cihcia, 1873. A rare and handsome alpine. 

 Larger than the preceding. See Fig. 7. 



ACANTHOPHIPPITJM (the derivation of this word 

 U not apparent). ORD. Orchidece. A peculiar class of 

 terrestrial stove orchids. Flowers rather large, racemose few- 

 sepals combined in a broad oblique pitcher, including the 

 petals, which are adnate to the base of the column ; column 

 short, produced into a long foot Pseudo-bulbs oblong 

 Leaves few, large, longer than the scapes. The best 

 species are the two first-mentioned. They will thrive well 

 in sandy peat, with a quantity of small stones, broken pots 

 or gravel A great deal of heat and moisture are absolutely 

 essential during the growing period. Propagated, as soon 

 as growth commences, by dividing the pseudo-bulbs. 



A. >li/*AlAV* (* urn, M^1 A ...^\ a i 





ACANTHOPHCENIX (from akantha, a spine, and 



phoinix, the Date Palm). ORD. Palmce. A very elegant 



stove palm, differing from Areca principally in habit, and 



requiring a light sandy soil and a summer temperature 



of 65deg. to SOdeg., winter 55deg. to 65deg. Increased 



by seeds only; these germinate best in a moist bottom 



heat, and a well decomposed compost of one part loam, 



one of peat, one of leaf mould, and the remainder of Band. 



They may remain in this soil for two or three years. 



A. crlnita (hairy).* fl. spirally arranged, in threes, the central one 



being female. I. the fronds are arched, broadly ovate in outline, 



pectinately pinnate in division, with long linear acuminate seg- 



ments, paler beneath. The stem is densely armed with black, 



needle-shaped spines, and much swollen towards the base. Sey- 



chelles, 1868. 



ACANTHOKHIZA (from akantha, a spine, and rhiza, 

 a root). ORD. Palmce. A small genus of stove 1 palms, 

 differing from Trithrinax by the aerial roots of th trunk 

 hardening into spines (which are horizontal or pointed 

 upwards), and by the blade of the leaf being divided 

 down to the petiole. They delight in a rich loamy 

 soil, and are propagated by seeds, in a moist, sweet 

 hotbed, in spring. 



A. aculeate (spiny). I. orbicular, palmately slit into numerous 

 linear-lanceolate, glabrous segments, deep-green above, silvery 

 beneath ; petioles slender ; the trunk is covered with a network 

 of branching spines. Mexico, 1879. SYN. Chamceropi staura- 

 cantha. 



A. Wallisii (Wallis's)." A recent introduction from tropical 



America, and not yet much cultivated ; it is a tall palm with 



orbicular palmate leaves. 

 A. Warzcewiczii (Warzcewicz's).* This differs from the pre- 



ceding species by its more irregularly divided leaf blade, which 



is white below. Tropical America. 



ACANTHOSTACHYTTM (from akanthos, a spine, and 

 atacTii/i.aspike). ORD. Bromeliaceas. A monotypic genus of 

 stove evergreen herbaceous plants ; of easy culture in a com- 

 post of equal parts sand, decayed wood, and rotten leaves. 

 Propagated by suckers, which strike readily in bottom 

 heat. 



A. strobilacea (cone-fruited), fl. red and yellow ; scape simple, 

 long, scurfy; bracts coloured. June. I. radical, very long, in- 

 curved narrow^hick, pungent, channelled, spiny-toothed, covered 

 with white scurf. A. 4ft. Brazil, 1840. 



ACANTHUS (from akanthos, & spine; several species 

 being spiny or prickly). Bear's Breech. ORD. Acanthacece. 

 A group of stately, ornamental perennial plants, mostly 

 hardy, remarkable for their vigorous growth and beautiful 

 foliage. Flowers sessile, crowded, spicate ; corolla tubular, 

 one-lipped; Up three lobed. To attain perfection they 

 require a deep soil, and a situation fully exposed to the 

 sun. They will, however, thrive moderately well in 

 common soil and partial shade. The habit being generally 

 a bold one, they are most suited for isolated tufts, 

 backgrounds of mixed borders, and the wild garden. 

 Propagated by seeds, sown in gentle heat, or by division 

 of the roots, in autumn or early spring. 



* 3ft 



SBr August 



A. longifolius (long-leaved).* /. purple, rose, in the axils of the 

 bracts, which are oval, acuminate, spiny, of a reddish hue 

 forming a spike nearly 1ft. long. June. I. radical, 2ft. to 3ft 

 long ; numerous, h. 3ft. to 4ift. Dalmatia. 1869. 



*. Insltanions (Portugal). Synonymous with A. mollis lati. 



** "E? 1 ^ 80 ?** *:, white or r s e. sessile in the axils of the deeply- 

 toothed bracts ; spikes about lift. Summer. I. sinuated unarmed 



I^154t ed *" UtUne> ** ! ng by lft br0ad ' A 3ft to 4ft 



A. m. latifolins (broad-leaved).* A variety of A inollig but 



Urger and more robust in every part. This veV handle ''torn 



is probably the best grown ; it is one of the most suitable for sub 



S3S "Sfinfa A warm sunny spot fa needfuL s - A - i 1 - 





white - 



Jul y to September. 

 crrecn. h. 3ft. 



. I. 

 Portugal; 



