AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



61 



Alyssum continued. 



A. serpyllifblium (Thyme-leaved).* fl. pale yeUow, in simple 

 racemes. April to June. I. very small, Jin. to Jin. long, ovate, 

 scabrous, hoary, h. 3in. to 4in. Branches spreading, sub-woody 

 at the base. South Europe, 1822. 



A. tortuosum (twisted), fl. yellow ; raceme corymbose. June. 

 I. hoary, somewhat lanceolate. Stem shrubby at the base, twisted, 

 diffuse, h. 6in. Hungary, 1804. 



A. Wiersbeckii (Wiersbeck's).* fl. deep yellow, in close corymbose 

 heads, about Uin. across. Summer. I. 2in. long, oval-oblong- 

 pointed, sessile, attenuated at the base, roughish and hairy. 

 Stems erect, scabrous, simple, rigid. A. IJft Asia Minor. 



AMARANTACEJE. An extensive order of herbs or 

 (rarely) shrubs, with opposite or alternate leaves, and in- 

 conspicuous apetalons flowers, which are spicately or capi- 

 tately disposed. The majority of this order are weeds; 

 well-known exceptions being many species of Amarantus. 



AMARANTH, GLOBE. See Gomplireiia. 



Amaranirus continued. 



I at the base of a three or five-lobed glabrous perianth. 

 I Stamens four or five. Of very easy culture ; they thrive 

 best in rich loamy soil, and are largely employed for 

 sub-tropical and other bedding, for vases and conservatory 

 decorations, being very ornamental. The seed should 

 be sown in April in a hotbed, and the plants thinned 

 out in the same situation when about $in. high. About the 

 end of May, they can be transplanted out of doors in 

 their permanent situations. They are also very handsome 

 when grown in pots. The young plants should be potted 

 off early, and freely encouraged, allowing plenty of pot- 

 room and moisture, and be kept near the glass, to bring out 

 their brightest colouring. To develop their full beauty, 

 plenty of room is required. There are about twelve species 

 (indigenous to warm and tropical countries). 

 A. bicolor (two-coloured). I. green, variously streaked with light 



yellow, h. 2ft India, 1802. This species is rather delicate, and 



must have a warm sunny situation. 

 A. b. ruber (red).* I. brilliant glistening scarlet, merging into a 



dark violet red, mixed with green. Hardier than the type. 

 A. caudatus (caudate).* Love Lies Bleeding, fl. dark purplish, 



collected in numerous whorls, which are disposed in handsome 



drooping spikes. August. A. 2ft. to 3ft. India, 1596. A 



very common and vigorous growing hardy annual. There is a 



yellowish-flowered variety, which, though less ornamental, is an 



effective contrast. See Fig. 72. 



A. ornentns (dark bloody). Synonymous with A. hypochondriacu*. 

 A. Henderi (Bender's). I. lanceolate, undulated, intense rosy 



carmine, varying with orange buff, golden yellow, and olive green. 



A. 3ft. A garden hybrid, closely allied to A. salicifoliut. Pyra- 



midal habit. 



hypochondxiaons 



(hypochondriac).* 



fl. deep crimson, on densely packed, erect spikes. 

 4ft. to 5ft * m 



Prince's Feather. 

 LOU, cici-i, opines. July. I. pur- 

 Asiatic, 1684. SYN. A. eruentut. 



An improved variety of 



plish beneath. 

 See Fig. 73. 



A. h, atropnrpurens (dark purple).' 

 above. 



^melancholicus ruber (melancholy-red).* A. about 1ft. 

 apan. A compact growing variety, with large shaded crimson 

 leaves. Largely used for beading purposes. 



A. salicifolius (willow-leaved).* 1. 7in. to 15in. long, willow- 

 shaped, linear, and wavy, which, by their drooping outline, pre- 

 sent a very elegant and effective appearance. When fully grown, 

 the leaves are brilliantly banded and tipped with orange, carmine, 

 and bronze. A. 3ft. Philippine Isles, 1871. 



A. a. Princess of Wales.* 1. carmine, orange green, and 

 bright yellow, beautifully blended. A. 3ft. A garden hybrid. 



A. sanguineus (bloody). /. purple, disposed partly in small 

 heads in the axils of the upper leaves, and partly in slender, 

 flexible spikes, which form a more or less branching panicle. July 

 i. blood red. h. 3ft Bahama, 1775. 



FIG. 73. INFLORESCENCE OF AMARANTUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS. 



AMARANTUS (from a, not, and maraino, to 

 wither ; in reference to the length of time some of the 

 flowers retain their colour). OBD. Amarantaceae. Hardy 

 or half-hardy annuals, with alternate entire leaves and 

 small green or red flowers in large braoteate clustered 

 spikes. Flowers polygamous, furnished with three bracts 



PIG. 74. AMARANTOS TRICOLOR. 



A. spedosns (showy).* fl. dark crimson purple, disposed in large 

 erect spikes, forming a fine plumy panicle. July. I. suffused with 

 a reddish tinge, which disappears at the time of flowering, h. 3ft 

 to 5ft Nepaul, 1819. 



