216 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



felsia conttnu<Z. 

 above ; bracteoles oblong, attenuated at the base, and are, as well 

 as the calyces, clothed with rusty hairs. A. 1ft. to 2ft. Brazil. 



B. eximia (choice).* fl. produced from the points of the shoots, 

 upwards of 2in. in diameter, deep purple. January to July. I. 

 oblong-lanceolate, dark green, but not glossy. A. 2ift. Brazil, 

 1847. (B.M.4790.) 



B. grandiflora (large-flowered), fl. greenish ; limb of corolla 

 2in. in diameter, corymbose, terminal. June. I. elliptic-oblong, 

 acuminated. Branches twiggy. A. 3ft. Peru. 



B. hydrangewformis (Hydrangea-like).* fl. beautiful bluish- 

 violet; cymes terminal, hemispherical, large. April. I. oblong, 

 acute, cuneiform at base, quite glabrous, 1ft. long; bracts lan- 

 ceolate, aggregate. A. 1ft. to 3ft. Brazil, 1840. This is one of 

 the most elegant species of the genus. (B. M. 4209.) 



B. latifolia (broad-leaved), fl. at first lavender-colour, with a 

 distinct white eye, eventually becoming almost white ; deliriously 

 fragrant, sub-cymose, terminal. Winter to early spring. 1. broad- 

 elliptic, acutish, greyish-white, 6in. to 7in. long, and 2in. to 2Jin. 

 broad. A. 2ft. to 3ft. Brazil, 1840. (B. M. 3907.) 



B. Llndeniana (Linden's).* fl. rich purple, with a light eye. J. 

 ovate-acuminate, dark green. Brazil, 1865. (B. H. 1865, 226.) 



B. uniflora (one-flowered), fl. solitary ; corolla with a whitish 

 tube, and a bluish-violet or purple limb. Winter. I. elliptic, 

 acute ; branches greenish, hoary, diffuse, spreading. A. 1ft. to 3ft. 

 Brazil, 1826. (L. B. C. 1332.) 



BRUNIA (named after Corneille de Bruin, better known 

 under the name of Le Brun, a Dutchman, a traveller in 

 the Levant). OBD. Bruniacece. Elegant little greenhouse 

 evergreen Heath-like shrubs, more or less branched, with 

 the branches in whorls, erect or spreading. Flowers 

 capitate, furnished with three bracts each, or sometimes 

 deficient of the two lateral ones. Leaves small, closely 

 imbricate. They require a compost of peat and sand, with 

 a little leaf soil added, firm potting and good drainage. 

 Cuttings of young shoots root freely in sand, under a hand 

 light, in summer. 



B. nodiflora (knot-flowered).* fl. white ; heads globose, size of a 

 cherry, on the tops of the branches. July. 1. lanceolate, awl- 

 shaped, trigonal, acute, smooth, closely imbricate, not ustulate at 

 the apex. A. If t. to 3ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1786. See Fig. 284. 



BRUNIACEJE. An order of much-branched Heath- 

 like shrubs, usually having small leaves, which are crowded 

 and entire. Flowers in terminal heads ; petals five, alter- 

 nating with the lobes of the calyx. The typical genus 

 is Brunia. 



BRUNONIA (named after Bobert Brown, the most 

 eminent botanist of his time). OBD. Goodenovice. A stem- 

 less greenhouse perennial herb, with the habit of Scabiosa, 

 downy from glandless simple hairs. Flowers distinct, with 

 a whorl of five membranous bracts ; corolla blue, marcescent. 

 Badical leaves quite entire, spathulate ; scapes undivided, 

 each bearing one head ; head hemispherical, lobate ; lobes 

 involucrated by foliaoeous bracts. It thrives in a compost 

 of decayed manure, or leaf soil and peat, with a little 

 loam added ; thorough drainage is necessary. Propagated 

 by divisions, in early spring, previous to repotting. 

 B. australis (southern)* is the only species known to be in 



cultivation. A. 1ft New Holland, 1834. (B. B. 1833.) 



BRUNSVICtlA (named after the noble House of 

 Brunswick). OBD. Amaryllidece. Very showy greenhouse 

 bulbous plants, from the Cape of Good Hope. Flowers 

 red, on very long pedicels. Bulbs large. Leaves broad, 

 horizontal; perianth with an evident longer or shorter 

 tube, curving upwards, funnel-shaped, deeply six-parted, 

 deciduous ; segments sub-equal, many-nerved, flat, and re- 

 curved at the apex ; stamens on the tube much curved 

 upwards ; scape appearing in summer without the leaves ; 

 umbels many-flowered. Propagation is effected by offsets, 

 of which the large bulbs produce but few. These, when 

 secured, may be removed after reaching some consider- 

 able size, carefully potted in a mixture of sandy loam 

 and peat, with good drainage, and kept tolerably warm 

 and close until established ; water must be given but 

 sparingly until root-action has commenced. 'The best place 

 for growing the offsets into a flowering size is on a shelf 

 near the glass, in a temperature of from 50deg. to 55deg. 

 With an abundance of water while growing, and kept dry 

 while semi-dormant, thus allowing them a rest, the bulbs 



Brunsvigia continued. 



will speedily increase in size ; but it may be years before 

 flowers are produced. Culture : This may be divided into 

 two periods one of growth, and one of rest. After the 

 latter period, they should be allowed to start into fresh 

 growth, without stimulation, and, as soon as started, 

 liberal supplies of water should be given, and a genial 

 temperature of from 60deg. to 65deg. maintained, to make 

 them grow vigorously. Good-sized pots are also necessary, 

 with a mixture of loam, peat, and sand, in equal parts. They 

 are usually confined to the greenhouse, or warm conserva- 

 tory, but are sometimes successfully grown in a south 

 border at the base of a wall, planted out in a pit, upon 

 which the lights may be placed in winter, and matted if 

 necessary, as they cannot endure frost. A good depth of 

 soil, consisting of fibrous loam, peat, and sand, in equal 

 proportions, with good drainage, should be prepared. In all 

 cases, the bulbs should be planted somewhat deeply. One 

 of the most satisfactory methods of ensuring the flowering 

 of these plants consists in subjecting the bulbs, when at 

 rest, to a hot dry heat of 70deg. or more, which thoroughly 

 ripens them ; but, after this treatment, it will be necessary 

 to encourage the after-growth to the fullest possible extent. 



B. clliaris (hair-fringed), fl. dull purple. I. strongly fringed 

 with white hairs. A. 1ft. 1752. (B. B. 1153.) 



B. Cooper! (Cooper's).* fl. sulphur-coloured, edged with red ; 

 umbels twelve to sixteen-flowered. I. ligulate-obtuse, bifarious, 

 fleshy. A. lift. 1872. (Bef. B. 330.) 



B. faloata (sickle-leaved).* fl. red. May. I. sickle-shaped, with 

 a muricated, discoloured, cartilaginous edge. A. 9in. 1774. (B. M. 

 1443.) SYN. Ammocharit falcata. 



B. Josephinese (Josephine's).* /. scarlet ; scape twice as long as 

 the rays of the many-flowered umbel. I. strap-shaped, erect, 

 spreading, glaucous. A. lift. This handsome species is much 

 grown. 1814. (B. M. 2578.) minor and gtriata are varieties. 



B. multiflora (many-flowered).* fl. red, loosely umbellate. June. 

 1. linguiform, smooth, lying on the ground. A. 1ft. 1752. (B. M. 

 1619.) 



B. toxicaria (poison-bulb).* fl. pink ; umbel hemispherical, many- 

 flowered. September to October. I. many, erect, oblique, glau- 

 cous. A. 1ft. 1774. (B. R. 567.) B. coranica is a variety of this. 

 1815. (B. B. 139.) 



BRUSSELS SPROUTS (Brassica oleracea bullata 

 gemmifera). A cultivated variety of the Cabbage (Fig. 

 285). Leaves blistered. Stems covered with small, close 



Kit;. 235. BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 



