138 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



HER.MINIERA (from hermine, a bedpost ; in allu- 

 sion to the shape of the stems). STN. (Edemone. OBD. 

 Leguminosoe. A monotypic genus, the species being a 

 tall stove shrub. It thrives best if the pot be partially 

 submerged in a warm-water tank. Propagated by seeds. 



H. Elaphroxylon (Elaphroxylon). fl. large; corolla yellow, 

 papilionaceous ; calyx two-lipped ; stamens in two bundles of nve 

 each, with uniform anthers. I. impari-pinnate ; leaflets exstipel- 

 late. Tropical Africa. This plant grows in the beds of shallow 

 stagnant rivers of the Upper Nile cou<?ry, sometimes in such 



" 



- 



each, with uniform anthers. I. impari-pinnate ; leaflets exstipel- 

 e. Tropical Africa. This plant grows in the beds of shallow 

 sagnant rivers of the Upper Nile cou<?ry, sometimes in such 

 thick masses as to impede navigation. It is the " Ambash, or 

 Pith-tree, so frequently mentioned in books of tropical African 

 travels. 



HERMINIUM (from hermin, the foot of a bed ; in 

 allusion to the knob-like shape of the root). Musk Orchis. 

 OBD. Orchidece. A genus comprising but a few species 

 of curious and interesting orchids, all natives of the 

 temperate or alpine regions of Europe and Asia. They 

 are closely allied to Orchis, but the perianth has no spur, 

 and the anther cells are distant at their base, the glands 

 of the stalks of the pollen masses protruding below the 

 cells. H. Monorchis, the commonest and most widely- 

 spread species, is best grown on dry chalky banks. It 

 may be propagated by divisions. 



H. Monorchis (one-bulbed), fl. greenish-yellow, small, numerous, 

 with a musky odour ; spike dense ; lip without a spur, deeply 

 three-lobed. July. I. radical, two, oblong or lanceolate, h. Sin. 

 to 6in. Europe (Britain), Siberia, Himalaya. (Sy. En. B. 1466.) 



HERNANDIA (named after Francisco Hernandez, 

 physician to Philip II. of Spain, and a writer on the 

 Flora of Mexico). Jack-in-a-Box. OBD. Laurinece. A 

 genus comprising five or six species of elegant stove 

 evergreen trees, widely dispersed throughout the tropical 

 regions of both hemispheres. Flowers yellowish, monoe- 

 cious, in panicles ; sepals petaloid. Leaves cordate, pel- 

 tate, smooth. Hernandias require a compost of sandy 

 loam and peat. Ripened cuttings, with leaves intact, 

 root freely in sand, under a glass, if placed in brisk 

 bottom heat. Probably the only two species now in cul- 

 tivation are those here described. 



H. Mcerenhoutiana (Mcerenhout's).* fl. dirty yellow, three in 

 each involucre, two males and one female ; peduncles axillary, 

 equalling the leaves, nearly glabrous. October. I. coriaceous, 

 Sin. to 5m. long, alternate, long-petioled ; young ones elliptic ; old 

 ones broadly ovate-cordate, obtuse, entire, glabrous above, the 

 nerves and midrib beneath pilose. Pacific Islands, 1869. A small 

 tree. (B. M. 5839.) 



H. sonora (sounding), fl. whitish-green, corymbose. I. simple, 

 roundish, with a lively red centre, h. 50ft. India, 1693. This 

 species forms a very handsome plant for sub-tropical gardening, 

 for which purpose it is much employed on the Continent. The 

 leaves produce a juice that is a powerful depilatory ; it destroys 

 hairs without pain wherever it is applied. 



HERNIARIA (from hernia, a rupture ; in reference 

 to the supposed effect of the plant in curing rupture). 

 OBD. IllecebracecB. A genus consisting of eight or ten 

 species of herbs, either small, or with a perennial stock 

 of short duration. They are natives of Central and 

 Southern Europe, Western Asia, as far as North-west 

 India and Northern Africa; one species being also 

 found in South Africa. Flowers green, small, granular, 

 crowded in little axillary cymes. Leaves opposite. None 

 of the species are of much interest from a horticultural 

 point of view, and the only one worth mentioning here 

 is H. glabra, which is sometimes used for carpet-bedding. 

 For culture, see Paronychia. 



H. glabra (glabrous). Rupturewort, fl. green, small. Summer. 

 I. small, opposite, oblong-obovate, or rarely orbicular. Stems 

 much branched, spread along the ground to the length of a few 

 inches. Europe (Britain), North and West Asia. (Sy. En. B. 



HERON'S BILL. A general name for the British 

 species of Erodium and Geranium. 



HERFESTIS (from herpestes, anything that creeps; 

 in allusion to the habit of the species). OBD. Scrophu- 

 larinecB. This genus comprises about fifty species of 

 erect, diffuse, prostrate, or aquatic perennial herbs, 



Herpestis continued. 



natives of various parts of America, Africa, Australia, 

 or Southern Asia, few of which are in cultivation. 

 Flowers axillary, sessile or pedicellate, one to three 

 together. Leaves opposite entire, toothed, or in the 

 aquatic species submerged, capillaceous-multisect. In- 

 creased by divisions, or by seeds. The species described 

 below will grow in any loamy, well-drained soil, which 

 must be kept constantly moist. 

 H. Monniera (Monnier's). fl. pale blue, small, solitary, opposite, 



on long pedicels. Summer. I. cuneiform, entire, or toothed at 



the apex. Tropics. Stove. (B. M. 2557.) 

 H. reflexa (reflexed). A garden name for Myriophyllum 



proserpinacoides (which see). 



HERRANIA (named in honour of General Herran, 

 a President of the Eepublic of New Grenada). OBD. 

 Sterculiacece. A genus comprising three or four species 

 of greenhouse evergreen trees, with palm-like heads, 

 natives of tropical America. Flowers fasciculate, grow- 

 ing directly from the trunk. Leaves digitate, five or 

 six-foliolate. Few of the species are yet in cultivation. 

 For culture, see Sterculia. 

 H. albiflora (white-flowered). fl. white, the thick concave petals 



terminated by a long strap-shaped appendage. I. palmate, clothed 



with rusty-coloured hairs. Shrub. The seeds of this plant are 



said to be mixed with those of the Cacao, and the product thereby 



improved. 



HERRERIA (named in honour of Gabriel A. de 

 Herrera, 1470-1539, a Spanish agriculturist). OED. 

 LiliacecB. A genus comprising three or four species of 

 pretty greenhouse plants. Flowers small, scented, in 

 many-flowered axillary racemes. Leaves whorl-fascicled, 

 linear-lanceolate. Stems climbing. Eootstock tuberous. 

 Herrerias succeed in peat, sand, and loam, mixed. In- 

 creased by seeds, or by cuttings. Probably the only 

 species in cultivation is the following : 

 H. Sarsaparilla (Sarsaparilla). /. green, yellow; segments of 



perianth ovate-obtuse. June and July. I. lanceolate, h. 8ft. 



Brazil, 1824. (B. R. 1042, under name of H. parviflora.) 



HESIODA. See Heisteria. 



HESPERANTHA (from hesperos, the evening, and 

 anthos, a flower). Evening Flower. OBD. Iridece. A 

 genus of about twenty species of rather pretty dwarf green- 

 house bulbous plants, natives of tropical and Southern 

 Africa. Flowers very sweetly scented, opening in the even- 

 ing (whence the common name), in loose spikes; perianth 

 salver-shaped ; limb equalling the slender tube ; segments 

 equal, spreading. Leaves sword-shaped, curled. For cul- 

 ture, see Izia (to which this genus is allied). 

 H. angusta (narrow), fl. uniform white. Spring. I. narrower 



than those of H. falcata. 



H. cinnamomea (Cinnamon-scented), fl. whitish. April and 

 May. 1., radical ones falcate, curled. A. 6in. 1787. (B. M. 1054.) 

 H. falcata (sickle-shaped), fl., outer perianth segments shining 

 brown outside ; inner segments and inside of outer ones pure 

 white. April. 1. Sin. to 12in. long, striated, somewhat sickle- 

 shaped, h. 6in. to 12in. (B. M. 566, under name of Ixia falcata.) 

 H. graminifolia (grass-leaved), fl. greenish-white. August and 

 September. 1. linear. Stem smooth, h. bin. 1808. (B. M. 1254, 

 under name of H. pilosa nuda.) 



H. pilosa (pilose), fl. whitish ; inner segments pure white ; outer 

 white within, specked with red outside. April and May. I. linear, 

 hairy. Stem smooth, h. 6in. 1811. (B. M. 1475.) 

 H. radiata (rayed).* fl. white within, nodding ; outer segments 

 striped with reddish-brown. April to June. I. tistulous. h. 6in. 

 1794. (B. M. 573, under name of Ixia radiata.) 



HESPERIS (the old Greek name used by Theo- 

 phrastus, from hesperos, the evening ; in reference to the 

 flowers of most of the species being sweet-scented in the 

 evening). Dame's Violet; Ilocket. OBD. Cruciferce. A 

 genus comprising twenty species of pretty hardy or half- 

 hardy biennial or perennial erect herbs, indigenous to 

 Europe, Asia Minor, Persia, and Siberia. Flowers 

 various-coloured, loosely racemose, ebracteate, sweet- 

 scented. Leaves ovate or oblong, entire, dentate, or 

 lyrate. Only a few of the twenty species constituting 

 this genus are cultivated; and of these the double forms 

 of H. matronalis are by far the best. They thrive in 



