AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



439 



Dalechampia continued. 



threads, which give a singular appearance to its blossoms. I. 

 Sin. to 9in. long, lin. to Sin. wide at the broadest portion, very 

 shortly stalked, sub-cordate, tapering towards the base, acuminate 

 at the apex. Vera Cruz, 1867. Habit erect, branched, leafy. 

 This species differs from the majority of its congeners in being 

 erect, not climbing, and in its undivided leaves. (B. M. 5640.) 

 There is a variety (alba) with white bracts. 



DALIBARDA (named after Denis Dalibard, a French 

 botanist). OBD. Rosacecs. Low perennials, with creeping 

 and densely-tufted stems or rootstocks. The species 

 described below is a very pretty slow-growing little alpine 

 or rock-plant, thriving in deep, peaty soil, in a rather 

 sheltered position. Propagated by divisions. 

 D. cordate (cordate). A synonym of D. repent. 

 D. fragarioides (Strawberry-like). A synonym of Waldsteinia 



Jragarioid.es. 



D. repens (creeping), fl. white, on scape-like peduncles. May and 

 June. I. cordate, obtuse, crenated, pubescent. Stems creeping. 

 North America, 1768. SYNS. D. cordata and D. violeeoidet. 

 D. violaeoides (Viola-like). A synonym of D. repent. 

 DALMATIAN CAP. See Tulipa. 

 DALRYMPLEA. A synonym of Turpinia (which 

 see). 



DAMASK HOSE. See Rosa damascena. 

 DAMASK VIOLET. See Hesperis matronalis. 

 DAME'S ROCKET. See Hesperis matronalis. 

 DAME'S VIOLET. See Hesperis matronalis. 

 DAMMARA (its native name in Amboyna). Dammar 

 Pine. OBD. Coniferae. A genua of large handsome coni- 

 fers. Leaves petiolate or almost sessile, sub-opposite 

 and coriaceous. Cones ovate or globular, and axillary; 

 scales persistent, bractless. The proper name of this 

 genus is now Agathis, that name having been given by 

 Salisbury long before Lambert published that of Dammara. 

 There are about ten species hitherto described ; they are 

 natives of the Malayan Archipelago, Fiji, New Caledonia, 

 New Zealand, and Eastern tropical Australia. All the 

 species require a greenhouse temperature. Cuttings of 

 ripe, firm shoots, inserted in sand, in spring, will root, 

 in a gentle bottom heat. 



D. australis (Southern). Kauri Pine. I. linear-oblong, rarely 

 elliptic, flat on both sides, from liin. to 2Jin. long, and iin. to fin. 

 broad at the widest part, thick, coriaceous, of a greenish-brown 

 colour. Branches large, spreading, numerous, distant, smooth, 

 divided into numerous smaller ones. A. 120ft. to 150ft New 

 Zealand, 1821. 



D. obtusa (blunt-leaved). I. variable in shape, mostly oblong, 

 rounded at the ends, 5Jin. to 4in. long, IJin. broad, thick, leathery, 

 dark glossy green, h. 150ft. New Hebrides, 1851. The timber 

 of this tree is extensively employed in shipbuilding. 

 D. oricntalis (Eastern). Amboyna Pine. I. opposite, ovate- 

 oblong, entire, glabrous, of a thick, coriaceous texture, from 2in. 

 to 4in. long, and nearly l$in. broad at the widest part, straight, 

 rarely falcate, smooth, dull green on both surfaces. Branches 

 vertical, slightly reflexed, ascending at the extremities ; branch- 

 lets spreading, h. 100ft. Moluccas, 1804. A large tree, yielding 

 the transparent resin called Dammar. (B. M. 5359.) There is a 

 variety named alba, differing from the species in having much 

 longer and more lanceolate leaves, with the edges more regularly 

 rolled up on the under side, slightly undulated, whitish ; the 

 bark, also, is of a much whiter colour. 

 DAMMAR FINE. See Dammara. 

 DAMNACANTHUS (from damnao, to conquer, and 

 acanthos, a spine; in reference to the strong opposite 

 spines). OBD. Rubiacece. A genus containing two or 

 three species of greenhouse shrubs, with branching habit. 

 They thrive in rich sandy loam and peat. Propagated by 

 cuttings, inserted in sand, under a bell glass, in bottom heat. 

 D. major (greater), fl. white, sweet-scented, axillary and solitary, 

 r twin; calyx five-cleft; corolla funnel-shaped. Jr., drupe red, 



one to four-seeded. I. small, opposite, coriaceous, sub-sessile, 



acuminate : stipules interpetiolar, tricuspidate. Spines acicular. 



Japan, 1868. 

 D. m. submitis (nearly unarmed), fl. white. Spines very small. 



Japan, 1868. 



DAMFIERA (named in honour of Captain William 

 Dampier, R.N., the celebrated circumnavigator, who paid 

 preat attention to natural history in all his voyages). 



Dampiera continued. 



OBD. Goodenoviece. Greenhouse snffruticose herbs or 

 shrubs. Flowers axillary or terminal, snb-spicate or 

 solitary ; corolla bilabiate. They grow freely in a mix- 

 ture of turfy loam, turfy peat, and sand. Cuttings strike 

 readily, planted in the same kind of soil, with a band 

 glass placed over them. There are upwards of thirty 

 species, all from Australia, very few of which are in 

 cultivation in this country. 

 D. Brownii (Brown's), fl. blue ; corollas densely clothed with 



black plumose hairs ; peduncles solitary or clustered in the upper 



axils. July. I. petiolate, oval, nearly entire, flat, scabrous above. 



h. 1ft to 2ft. 1824. Plant suffruticose, erect, clothed with 



scurfy tomentum. SYN. D. ovalifolia. 

 D. ovalifolia (oval-leaved). A synonym of D. Brownii. 



DAMPING. This is practised in all plant houses in 

 summer, and in tropical houses at all times. It is abso- 

 lutely necessary in these instances, and in most others 

 where much fire heat is employed, to preserve sufficient 

 moisture in the atmosphere for the well-being of the plants. 

 The floor and walls of the majority of glass structures, 

 especially forcing houses, may be frequently damped in 

 spring and summer. Plants of tender growth bear much 

 more heat with less ventilation when this is well attended 

 to ; undue evaporation from the leaves being also pre- 

 vented. As healthy and free growth is materially affected 

 by Damping, it becomes a matter of great importance 

 towards good cultivation. It is not advisable to throw 

 water over hot pipes ; and, although its application fre- 

 quently beneath or around plants may prove beneficial 

 in dry weather in summer, it may be destructive in 

 many cases to wet the foliage each time, especially when 

 the sun is shining. 



DAMPING OPP. This term is applied to the pre- 

 mature decay of the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants. Its 

 effects are most marked on young and tender seedlings, 

 when crowded together, or placed under unsuitable atmo- 

 spheric conditions. Sometimes the cause may be traced to 

 an excess of moisture that may be suspended in the air or 

 applied to the roots. Damping off amongst cuttings is 

 often caused by allowing them to become dry, and then 

 suddenly applying too much water. The water is generally 

 blamed when the actual cause is drought, and the sudden 

 change subsequently caused by the water. A temperature 

 in a glass house or propagating frame lower than that 

 outside, in either case will cause Damping by the condensa- 

 tion of water on all parts of the plants, as they become 

 colder, like the house. Raise the temperature and the 

 moisture becomes suspended. Immediately Damping is 

 detected amongst tender seedlings, they should be sepa- 

 rated and placed out singly in fresh soil. This will invari- 

 ably check it, but the operation is best performed before 

 Damping begins. Other causes, some unknown, affect 

 different plants, and bring about their destruction in this 

 way ; but the primary ones are those here indicated. 

 DAMSON. See remarks under Plum. 

 DANAA. A synonym of Physospermum (which see). 



DAN2EA (named after Pierre Martin Dana, a writer 

 on the plants of Piedmont). OBD. Filices. A remark- 

 able and distinct genus of stove ferns, not very exten- 

 sively cultivated. Rhizomes woody. Fronds pinnate, 

 rarely simple, fleshy, coriaceous; pinnro usually articu- 

 lated. Son linear, occupying the whole length of the 

 veins, and crowded so as to cover the whole under surface 

 of the divisions of the fertile fronds. For general culture, 

 see Perns. 



D. alata (winged), sti. of barren fronds 2in. to 6in. long, barren 

 fronds 1ft. to lift, long, 6in. to Sin. broad, with eight to ten 

 pinnae on each side ; central ones short-stalked, Sin. to Sin. lone, 

 Jin. broad, the apex acuminate, serrated, the base rounded. 

 fertile fronds on a longer stipe, the pinnae stalked more distinctly, 

 lin. to Sin. long, acute or obtuse. West Indies. 

 Among the twelve species described by Baker, the following are 

 given as possible inhabitants of our stoves : elliptica, Moritziana, 



