394 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Scolopendrimn continued. 

 S. v. densum (dense). A remarkable form, about 3in. high, 



having the fronds very much branched, so that the plant re- 



sembles a green ball, studded over with innumerable points, 



something like curled parsley. 1882. 

 S. v. laoeratnm (torn), fronds beautifully crested and curled 



at the tips, forming large, crisp heads. 



Fio. 454. FROND OF SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE LATO-DIGITATUM. 



S. V. marglnatnm (margined), fronds about 1ft. long, having 

 on the under side, near the margin, a continuous, raised line, 

 which often produces thorn-like processes. A very elegant and 

 distinct vanety. 



S. V. multlfldum (much-cut), fronds much-branched and forked 

 at the apex, forming a very handsome, crested head. 



S. v. Stansfleldli (Stansfleld's). This mainly differs from 

 cnspum in that the fronds are peculiarly fringed on the edges 

 and crested at the apex. It is a very striking variety. 



SCOLYMUS (the old Greek name, used by Theo- 

 phrastus and other writers as far back as Hesiod). 

 OBD. Composites. A small genus (three species) of hardy, 

 erect, annual, biennial, or perennial herbs, natives of the 

 Mediterranean region. Flower-heads yellow, terminal or 

 lateral, sessile ; involucre ovoid or sub-globose, the few- 

 Beriate bracts mucronate or spiny at apex, gradually 

 passing into floral leaves ; receptacle conical or elongated ; 

 florets ligulate, truncately five-toothed at apex. Leaves 

 alternate, rigid, sinuate-toothed or pinnatifid, with spiny 

 teeth or lobes, often white-spotted above. The roots of 

 8. hiepanicus are equally as good as Scorzonera ; the 

 leaves and stalks are eaten as Cardoons by the people of 

 Salamanca; the flowers are employed for the adultera- 

 tion of Saffron. 8. maculatus is sometimes cultivated 

 for the sake of its spotted, variegated leaves; seeds of 

 this species only require sowing in the open ground. 

 The perennial and biennial species thrive in common 

 soil, and may be increased by seeds, or by divisions. 

 S. grandinorus (large-flowered).* fl.-heads solitary, usually ter- 

 minal ; bracts sub-verticillate. May. I. slightly villous Tde 

 ^ Stemvmous - *" Mediterranean re^on, 



Scolymus continued. 



S. maculatus (spotted), fl.-heads somewhat corymbose, many- 

 bracted ; bracts pectinate. July. I. cartilaginous on the mar- 

 gins, decurrent, winged, often white-spotted. Stem simple, 

 glabrous. A. 3ft. South Europe, 1630. Annual. (S. F. G. 824.) 



SCOLYTID.2E. An extensive group of small Beetles, 

 often known as " Bark-beetles," because the larvae of 

 by far the greater number of species feed between the 

 wood and the bark of trees, especially when the trees 

 are dying. The insects, when mature, come out through 

 holes in the bark. They are not, however, the only 

 Beetles that feed in bark; but probably in no other 

 family do so many species possess this habit. They are 

 distinguished by their small size and cylindrical form 



FIG. 455. SCOLYTUS GEOFFROYI, (a) natural size and (6) magnified. 



(see Fig. 455), fitting them for their mode of life. 

 They have four joints in each foot, the first joint 

 being decidedly shorter than the next three together. 

 The head is usually narrow, and occasionally it is 

 lengthened into a beak, as in Weevils. The antennte 

 are clubbed. The colour is almost always some shade 

 of dark grey or brown. The Beetles, after pairing, 

 burrow through the bark, and form below it passages, 

 which are usually straight or nearly so. The females 

 lay eggs along the sides of the passages formed by each 

 pair; and the larvae, on hatching out from the eggs, 

 burrow away from the main passages, taking the direc- 

 tions least likely to bring them into the burrows of 

 one another. As they grow, they increase the width of 

 their burrows to correspond with their own size, and 

 when full-fed they become pupae in the ends of the tubes ; 

 and from these they emerge as Beetles in the following 

 spring. A considerable number of species have been 

 found in Britain. Of these, some are confined to one 

 kind of tree, while others feed in several different kinds. 

 Most trees are liable to the attacks of several species of 

 these Beetles ; and Coniferce, especially Scotch Firs, are 

 peculiarly infested by them. Each species makes tun- 

 nels so definite and characteristic in form that a prac- 

 tised entomologist can generally recognise, from the marks 

 in the bark and the wood, the species of Beetle that has 



FIG. 456. MARKINGS ON INNER SURFACE OF KLM-BARK op GAL- 

 LERIES FORMED BY SCOLYTUS GEOFFROVI (the wide galleiy 

 running up the middle is formed by the Female Beetle the 

 narrow side ones by the Larvae). 



made them (see Figs. 456 and 457). The family Scoly tides 

 has been split up into a number of genera, minor cha- 

 racters being employed for this purpose ; but upon these 

 it is unnecessary now to enter, since their habits, tho 



