472 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Didymochlaena continued. 



D. lunulata (crescent-like).* eau. erect, sub-arborescent, fronds 

 densely tufted, 4ft. to 6ft. long, bipinnate ; pinnules Jin. to 

 lin. long, dimidiate, sub-quadrangular, entire, or slightly sinu- 

 ated. sori two to six to a pinnule. Tropical America. SYN. 

 Aspidium truncatulum. 



D. polyoarpa (many-fruited), eau. erect ; rachis and lower sur- 

 face villose. fronds tufted, short, 2ft. to 3ft. long, 1ft. to lift. 

 broad, simply pinnate ; pinnae close, very numerous, spreading, 

 dwindling down below to mere auricles, sori small, close, 



ultimately confluent. Malaya. 

 Nephrodium javanicum. 



SYNS. lletochlaena polyearpa and 



D. p. asplcnioides (Asplenium-like) is a hairy form, with 

 narrower pinnee and short oblong-deltoid lobes. 



DIDYMOSPERMA (from didymog, doable, and 

 sperma, a seed; in allusion to the (frequently) two-seeded 



Didymosperma continued. 



D. tremulum (tremulous). I., segments long, flat, firm, linear, 

 spinuloso-dehtate, bifid at the apex ; lacinut unequal or panduri- 

 form. Stem 3ft. to 4ft. high. Philippine Islands. 



DIDYMOUS. Two; united, or in pairs. 



DIDYNAMOUS. When (usually in a bilabiate flower) 

 there are four stamens in two pairs, those of one pair 

 longer than those of the other. 



DIEFFENBACHIA (named in honour of Dr. Dieffen- 

 bach, a German botanist). OED. Aroidece (Araceae). A 

 genus of noble erect stove evergreen perennials, with often 

 handsomely variegated foliage. Leaves usually green, 

 sometimes irregularly marked with white or yellowish spots, 

 oblong, with numerous veins diverging from the midrib. 



FIG. 663. DIEPFENIUCHIA NOBILIS (see page 47';}. 



fruits). OBD. Palmce. A genus of unarmed stove Palms. 



Flowers monoecious in the same or separate spadices ; 



male with free or connate imbricate sepals; female with 



valvate petals; spadix flowering amongst the leaves; 



spathes usually many. For culture, see Areca. 



D. nannm (dwarf).* I. about 2ft. long ; petiole short, roundish ; 

 pinnules alternate or sub-opposite, cuneate towards the base, 

 above this oblique, variously lobed, toothed and spinuloso-serrate, 

 the terminal irregular in shape, generally bfiobed, striately 

 veined, green above, glaucous-white beneath. Assam and Khasia 

 Mountains. SYN. Wallichia nana. 



D. porphyrocarpon (purple-fruited). I. with petiole 4ft. to 8ft. 

 long; segments nine to seventeen, wedge-shaped, sub-panduriform, 

 sinuate, 6in. to 12in. long, 2in. to 5in. wide, glaucous beneath, 

 caulescent. Rhizome underground, creeping. Java. 



Stems fleshy, from 6ft. to 8ft. long. The poisonous and 

 very acrid juice of this genus causes intense pain, and 

 no part of the plant should, under any consideration, be 

 placed in the mouth. For culture, see Caladium. 



D. amcena (pleasing).* I. deep green, oblong-acute, marked with 

 very abundant elongate blotches of white and pale yellow, which 

 are well defined on both surfaces. Tropical America, 1880. 

 Very effective. See page 469, Fig. 660, for which we are indebted 

 to Mr. Wm. BulL 



D. antloquiensis (Antioquian). I. deep green, blotched with 

 yellow. Columbia, 1875. (I. H. n. s. 192.) 



D. Baraquiniana (Baraqnin's).* I. bright light green, irregularly 

 spotted with white, 6in. to 12in. long, 3in. to 6in. in width, 

 oblong-acuminate; midrib pure white; petioles shining, clear 



