AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



307 



Lycium continued. 



L. europceum (European), fl. pale violet, reticulated with red 

 veins, twin or solitary. May to August. I. fascicled, obovate- 

 lanceolate, obtuse or spathulate, bent obliquely. Branches erect, 

 loose, h. 10ft. to 12ft. South Europe, 1730. An erect, spiny 

 shrub. 



Zi. fuchsioides (Fuchsia-like). A synonym of lochroma fuch- 

 sioides. 



LYCOPERDON (from tylcos, a wolf, and perdein, to 

 break wind ; some of the older writers believed that this fun- 

 gus developed from the dung of the wolf) . A genus of fungi, 

 known also as " Puff-balls." This latter name is given to 

 them because of the abundant brown dusty spores, like snuff, 

 that are emitted when the plant is mature and bursts, 

 either naturally or by pressure from without. Lycoperdon 

 belongs to the group of Trichogastres, together with the 

 " Starry Puff-balls " (see Geaster), which have the outer 

 rinds splitting like a star, and recurved. There are 

 several kinds common in Britain on meadows and 

 lawns, in woods, &c. Among the most widely known is 



FIG. 



LYCOPERDON GEMMATUM. 



L. gemmatum (see Fig. 491), which, in size and general 

 appearance, may be regarded as a fair type of the 

 genus. On their first appearance they are like white 

 balls, and of a fleshy texture ; some kinds form an 

 indistinct stalk, while others have no stalk. When cut 

 across in this state, they are found to have a compact 

 rind, filled with loose tissue of indistinct threads, which 

 leave between them small spaces; on the sides of these 

 spaces are situated larger cells, each bearing at their free 

 end four spores, supported on short slender stalks. The 

 fungus changes from yellowish-brown to dark brown 

 as the spores ripen. At last, the rind tears open at 

 the apex, and the spores are ejected, leaving a fibrous 

 mass of filaments behind them. The Puff-balls, while 

 white and fleshy, are edible ; and L. giganteum, a species 

 that grows so large as to suffice for a meal for ten or 

 twelve persons, is esteemed as an article of food by 

 many people. The balls cease to be good for food when 

 they begin to turn brown. The fibrous mass that 

 remains after the spores have escaped is sometimes used 

 as a styptic for wounds, or in making tinder. 



LYCOFERSICUM (from lykos, a wolf, and persicon, 

 & peach ; in allusion to the fleshy fruit, and its inferiority 

 compared with the peach). Love Apple; Tomato. OBD. 

 Solanacece. A genus of three or four species of herbaceous, 

 unarmed, procumbent plants, inhabiting South America, 

 distinguished chiefly from the allied genus Solanum by 

 the stamens having their anthers connected together by 

 a thin membrane, which is prolonged upwards. Peduncles 

 solitary, extra-axillary, many-flowered ; corollas rotate, 

 with a very short tube. Fruit fleshy, usually red or 

 yellow, divided; into two, three, or many cells, containing 

 numerous seeds imbedded in the pulp. Leaves impari- 

 pinnate. For culture, varieties, &c., of L. esculentum, 

 see Tomato. 

 L. esculentum (edible), fl. green, numerous, several joined in 



one. Summer. I. unequally pinnate ; leaflets cut, attenuated at 



the apex, glancescent beneath. h. 2ft. to 3ft. South America, 



1596. Plant pilose. 



LYCOFODIACEJE. A natural order of cryptogams, 

 comprising four genera and about 150 species. They are 

 found in all climates, and are either terrestrial or epiphytal 

 perennials. Generally speaking, the rootstock is running 

 or creeping, but sometimes there is a corm. The stems 

 are dichotomously branched, are leafy throughout, and 

 usually rigid. The leaves are imbricate all round the 

 stems, and are arranged in from two to six ranks ; they 

 are simple, nerveless, or one-nerved. The capsules or 

 sporangia are sessile in the axils of the leaves or of 

 the scales of a terminal, axillary, sessile or stalked cone, 

 are one to three-celled, compressed, often kidney-shaped, 

 and two-valved. The general affinities of the order are 

 with Filicea. 



. LYCOPODIUM (from lylcos, a wolf, and pous, a 

 foot; the roots have a resemblance to a wolf's paw). 

 Club Moss. OBD. Lycopodiacece. A genus of about 100 

 species of stove, greenhouse, or hardy perennial plants, 

 allied to Selaginella, but distinguished from that genus 

 by the coniferous habit, and the single form of capsules. 

 The leaves vary from mere threads to imbricated scales. 

 Lycopodiums may be distinguished by the following 

 characters: Capsules axillary, solitary, sessile, roundish, 

 one-celled, some two-valved, including a powdery sub- 

 stance ; others three-valved, containing a few large grains 

 or spores. This genus contains numerous very hand- 

 some plants for Wardian or other fern cases. As a rule, 

 they thrive in a rough, spongy peat. The native species 

 are also very pretty plants for conservatory or Wardian 

 case culture; they should be shaded from the sun. See 

 also Selagiuella. 



L. alpinum (alpine). Stems prostrate. Branches in tufts, erect, 

 forked, level-topped. I. acute, keeled, imbricated in four rows ; 

 spikes terminal, solitary, sessile, cylindrical, their leaves broadly- 

 lanceolate, flat. Europe, &c. (Britain). A very pretty evergreen 

 species, about 4in. high, and of a bright green colour. 



L. annotlnnm (year-old). Stems decumbent at the base. 

 Branches ascending, forked. 1. in five rows, narrow-lanceolate, 

 acute, minutely serrate; spikes cylindrical, solitary, sessile. 

 Northern hemisphere (Britain). A distinct and pretty species, 

 6in. to Sin. high, easily distinguished by its branches being 

 constricted here and there. 



It. cenmnm (drooping). Stems from Sin. to 2Jft. high. Branches 

 much-forked, i. distant, somewhat acicular, bright light green. 

 Tropics. A very handsome stove species, somewhat difficult 

 to cultivate successfully ; it varies considerably under different 

 conditions, but usually only in the height and in the density of 

 its branches. This species should have a compost of loam, peat, 

 and limestone fully two parts of the latter and be well drained. 



L. clavatum (club-shaped). Common Club Moss. Stems creep- 

 ing, branched, 1ft. to 3ft long. Branches ascending. I. crowded, 

 narrow-lanceolate, incurved, hair-pointed ; spikes in pairs, cylin- 

 drical, stalked, with ovate, membranous leaves. Arctic and 

 North and South temperate and cold regions (British Isles), &c. 

 A handsome plant. 



L. dendroidenm (tree-like).* Stems erect, much - branched, 

 growing to a height of from 6in. to 9m. I. small, bright shining 

 green ; spikes yellow, long, cylindrical, erect. North America (in 

 moist woods). A very pretty hardy plant, resembling, when 

 growing vigorously, a miniature Spruce Fir. It makes an excellent 

 plant for rockwork, if grown in a deep bed of moist sandy peat, 

 with full exposure to the sun. It may be propagated by sowing 

 the spores in a rather shady spot and on a perfectly level surface. 



L. densum (dense). Stems erect, slender, much-branched. I. 

 numerous, dense, short, sharp-pointed, bright green. Australia. 

 A very handsome greenhouse plant. 



L. Hookerii (Hooker's). Stem erect, several times divided 

 towards the base ; on each division hangs a bunch of slender 

 catkins, from three to five in number, also branched, and some 

 4in. long, bearing the sporangia, giving the plant a very pleasing 

 and novel appearance. I. bright shining green, nearly lin. long. 



h. 2ft. or more. East Indies. A very handsome stove, evergreen, 

 epiphytal species, requiring to be grown in peat, and suspended 

 so that the plant hangs downwards. 



It. Phlegmaria (Phlegmaria).* This species Is closely allied to 

 L. Hookerii, but not nearly so robust ; the contracted fertile 

 catkins, being more elegant and more slender than those of 

 L. Hookerii, give the plant a beautiful tasselled appearance. 

 Tropics. A stove evergreen epiphyte. 



L. scariosum (scarious). Stems from 9in. to 2ft. high, rigid, 

 branched, erect ; branches flattened, the leaves situated on each 

 side and decurrent with it, lig^ht green ; spikes or fertile catkins 

 2in. to Sin. long, light brown, imbricated, numerously disposed on 



