AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



421 



Narcissus Ply continued. 



tion of these insects, but they would probably yield to 

 the methods employed against the Onion Ply (which 

 see). Of course, sickly plants ought to be removed from 

 among the others without delay. Dr. Bos recommends, 

 as most successful, to keep all bulbs of Narcissus under 

 water for eight days before planting, as this treatment, 

 while not injuring the bulb, will kill the larvae, which, 

 at the usual season of planting out (August), are still 

 near the upper part, and have not done much damage. 



NARCOTIC. Producing sleep or torpor. 

 NARDA. A synonym of Stryclinos (which see). 

 NARDOSMIA. Included under Petasites (which 



see). 



NARDOSTACHYS (from nardos, a sweet-scented 

 shrub, and stacliys, a spike ; the Nardus of the ancients 

 was close akin to this plant, and not connected with the 

 modest grass of that name). ORD. Valerianeae. This 

 genus comprises a couple of species of hardy perennial 

 herbs, natives of the Himalayas. Corolla red or purplish ; 

 cymes at the apices of the branches or stems, scape- 

 formed, dense, sub-capitate. Leaves entire, radical ones 

 elongated, stem ones few. Boot short, thick, fibrous, 

 very fragrant. The species introduced is N. Jatamansi, 

 which, according to Dr. Boyle, is the Spikenard of the 

 ancients. 



N. Jatamansi (Jatamansi). fl. in dense small heads, arranged 

 in a trichotomously-branched terminal panicle ; corolla pale rose- 

 purple, cylindric, gibbous at base, and contracted into a very 

 short, narrow tube ; lobes rounded, dorsal one larger ; scape 4in. 

 to lOin. high. .September. I. tufted, 2in. to 4in. long, rarely longer, 

 elliptic-lanceolate or spathulate, acute ; nerves obscure, narrowed 

 into a long or short petiole. Root fusiform, inclined, terminating 

 upwards in a simple or forked ascending stock, lin. to Sin. long, 

 densely clothed with the black fibrous remains of the old 

 petioles. 1878. (B. M. 6564.) 



NARTHECIUM (from narthekion, a rod ; in 

 reference to the flower stems). Bog Asphodel. STN. 

 Abama. ORD. Liliacece. A small genus (four species) 

 of hardy, herbaceous, Bush-like, marsh plants, inhabiting 

 the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. Peri- 

 anth of six equal, linear, membranous-herbaceous seg- 

 ments, which are yellow, green at back. Leaves 

 distichous at base of stem, equitant, linear, often falcate, 

 rigid, striated. The undermentioned species are well 

 worth naturalising in boggy situations. Propagated by 

 divisions of the root, or by seeds. 



N. ossifragum (bone-breaking), fl., raceme uninterrupted, one 

 bract at the base, another above the middle of each partial stalk. 

 June. I. rigid, strongly-ribbed, acuminate, equitant. Stem leaf- 

 less, or with one or two small leaves, h. 6in. to 12in. Europe 

 (Britain), North Asia, North America. It was once thought that 

 this plant caused rot among sheep who ate it with other herbage, 

 among which it grows, hence the ill-omened specific name. 

 (Sy. En. B. 1542.) 



N. o. americanum (American). /. rather smaller, and leaves 

 narrower, than those of the type. North America, 181L (B. M. 

 1505.) 



NARTHEX. This genus is now included, by Ben- 

 tham and Hooker, under Ferula (which see). 

 N. Assafcetida ( Asafcetida). See Ferula Assafcetida. 



NASMYTHIA. A synonym of Eriocaulon. 



NASONIA (from naso, a nose ; the column and 

 anther, together, somewhat resemble a nose). ORD. 

 Orchidece. A small genus of very dwarf-growing epiphytal 

 cool stove Orchids, now included, by Bentham and Hooker, 

 under Centropetalum. Nasonias -require cool treatment, 

 like that accorded to Masdevallias. They grow naturally 

 at great elevations creeping amongst moss and lichens. 



N. cinnabarina (cinnabar-red). A synonym of N. punctata. 



N. punctata (dotted). jL, sepals and petals bright orange- 

 scarlet, about Jiii. long ; lip bright golden-yellow ; pedicels 

 slender. April. I. thick and fleshy, Mn. long, somewhat 

 triquetrous. Stem erect, only 1m. or 2in. high. Peru, 1867. 

 SYN. N. cinnabarina. (B. M. 57ia) 



NASTURTIUM (an old Latin name used by Pliny, and 

 by him derived from nasus, the nose, and tortus, twisted ; 

 referring to the contortions of the nose caused by the 

 hot, acrid taste of the plants). ORD. Cruciferce. A con- 

 fused genus (some eighty species have been described by 

 various authors, but probably not more than a score mem- 

 bers of the genus are sufficiently distinct to merit specific 

 rank) of hardy branched, glabrous or hairy herbs, of 

 various habit, terrestrial or aquatic ; they inhabit the 

 temperate and warmer regions of the Northern hemi- 

 sphere. Flowers often yellow, small, sometimes bracteate. 

 Pod short or elongated. Leaves entire or variously-lobed, 

 or pinnatisect. The only species that calls for mention 

 here is N. ojficinale, for culture of which see Cress, 

 Water. The generic name, Nasturtium, is frequently 

 applied to the common forms of Tropceolum. 

 N. Offlcinale (officinal). Water Cress, JL. white, small, in short 

 racemes. June. Pods iin. long. I. pinnate ; leaflets three to 

 eleven, roundish or oblong, nearly entire. Stem much branched, 

 sometimes short and creeping, or floating in shallow water, some- 

 times scrambling on banks or bushes to the length of 2ft. or 

 more. West Asia and Europe (Britain, in brooks and ditches) ; 

 introduced into North America and the Colonies, and choking 

 some of the New Zealand rivers. Hardy perennial. 



NATANS. Floating under water. 



NAUCLEA (from naus, a ship, and kleio, to in- 

 close ; in reference to the hull-shaped half capsule). ORD. 

 Rubiacece. A rather large genus (about thirty species) of 

 stove trees and shrubs, frequently very glabrous, natives 

 of tropical Asia and Oceania. Flowers yellow, sessile, 

 arranged in globose, compact, rarely bracteate, solitary 

 or paniculate, often large heads. Leaves alternate, often 

 large, sessile or petiolate ; stipules rather large, intra- 

 petiolar, deciduous. The species are of easy culture in 

 a compost of loam, sand, and peat. Propagated by cut- 

 tings of half-ripened shoots, inserted in sandy loam, 

 under a glass, in heat. 



N. Adina (Adina). fl.-heads globular ; corolla funnel-shaped; calyx 

 superior, five-cleft ; segments linear, thickened at the point, 

 green ; peduncles solitary, at first terminal, but, by the shooting 

 out of a young branch from the same part, becoming afterwards 

 axillary. I. opposite, on short petioles, smooth, shining, ovate- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, with an obtuse point, quite entire, with 

 oblique, nearly parallel veins strongly marked on the under side. 

 Branches villous. China. An upright shrub. (B. M. 2613.) The 

 correct name of this plant is Adina globifera. 



N. coadunata (united-capsuled). See Sarcocephalus cor- 

 datus. 



N. purpurea (purple), fl., corolla purple, with spreading lobes ; 

 calyx-limb hirsute, with clavate segments ; peduncles terminal, 

 solitary, or in threes. May. /. petiolate, oval-oblong, acute or 

 acuminated at both ends, smooth and shining, 4iu. to 9in. long. 

 h. 15ft. India, 1820. Small tree. 



N. undulata (undulated). JL yellow, fragrant, in large and very 

 beautiful globular heads ; peduncles drooping, terminal, solitary. 

 May. I. petiolate, ovate-oblong, obtuse, undulated, shining. 

 Branches brachiate. h. 20ft. Moluccas, 1820. Tree. 



NAUMBERGIA THYRSIFLORA. A synonym 

 of Lysim.ach.ia thyrsiflora (which see). 



NAUFLIUS. A synonjm of Odontospermum 



(which see). 



NAUTILOCALYX. Included under Episcia (which 

 see). 



NAVARRETTIA. Included under Gilia. 

 NAVELWORT. See Cotyledon Umbilicus. 



NAVELWORT, VENUS'S. See Omphalodes 

 linifolia. 



NAVENIA. A synonym of Lacana. 



NAVICULAR. Boat-shaped. 



NEJBRA. Included under Stenomesson (which 



NEAPOLITAN VIOLET. See Viola odorata 

 pallida plena. 



NECK. The upper tapering end in bulbs or other 

 plants. 



