484 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



STACKHOUSIA (named after John Stackhouse, 1740- 

 1819, a British botanist, who wrote on Algae). The only 

 genus of ORD. Stackhousiece (which see for characters). 

 The species best known to cultivation is described below. 

 It thrives in ordinary soil, and may be increased by 

 cuttings of the young shoots, inserted in sandy soil, in a 

 cold frame. 

 S. linariaefolia (Toadflax-leaved). A synonym of S. mono- 



fiyna. 



crowded, or lew anu uisumii, jm. iu jm., v/i, n. .'"I*/"'"","* j v 

 specimens, 2in. long. Steins slender, simple or slightly branched, 

 lit. to lift. high. Hardy perennial. Svx S. hndruKjolia. 



STACKHOUSIE2E. A small natural order of herbs, 

 usually forming a perennial stock, with erect, slightly 

 branched, twiggy stems, often assuming a yellowish 

 colour, rarely dwarf and tufted ; they are almost endemic 

 in Australia, one species extending to New Zealand, and 

 another to the Philippine Islands. Flowers white or 

 yellow, in terminal spikes, rarely solitary, three-bracted 

 at base ; calyx small, five-lobed or five-cleft ; petals five, 

 perigynous, with elongated claws, usua'ly free at the 

 base, but united upwards in a tubular corolla, with 



Stages continued. 



made of iron, and the shelves of slate. If plants are 

 found to get dry too frequently on slate Stages, it is an 

 easy matter to spread a little fine ashes, spar, or shell, 

 over the surface, beneath the pots, for retaining mois- 

 ture. 



Step-stages are those made so that one shelf is situated 

 above the other, in a similar way to stairs; they are 

 frequently preferred for the centre of a span - roofed 

 greenhouse, or for the back part of a lean-to structure. 

 The shelves in Step-stages are best made of battens, 

 which may be fixed at any distance apart, according as 

 the plants intended to be stood upon them are in medium- 

 sized or small pots. 



STAG'S-HORN FERN. A popular name for 

 several species of Platycerium. 



STAG'S-HORN SUMACH. A common name for 

 Rhus typhiua (which see). 



STAKES AND STAKING. Stakes, in various 

 sizes, are indispensable in gardens, both for supporting 

 plants in pots, and also in the open ground. For the 

 first - named purpose, those made from deal are the 

 best ; they may be purchased, ready for use, in a great 



FIG. 518. FLOWERING BRANCHLET OF STACHYURUS PR^COX (see page 4&5). 



spreading lobes; stamens five, included in the corolla 

 tube, of very unequal lengths. Leaves alternate, narrow, 

 entire, often somewhat fleshy; stipules none, or when 

 present very minute. The order Stackhousiece is limited 

 to a single genus Stackhousia comprising about twenty 

 species. 



STJEHELINA (named after Benedict Stsehelin, 1695- 

 1750, a Swiss botanist). ORD. Composites. A genus con- 

 sisting of half-a-dozen species of hardy or half-hardy 

 sub-shrubs, natives of the Mediterranean region. Flower- 

 heads purplish, narrow, solitary or densely corymbose; 

 involncral bracts in many series, acute or obtuse ; recep- 

 tacle flat; achenes glabrous or silky -villous. Leaves 

 alternate, entire or sinuate-toothed, white-to:nentose 

 beneath. Two species, S. arborescens and 8. dubia, 

 have been introduced, but they are probably not now 



cultivated. 



STAFF-TREE. 



(which see). 



STAG BEETLES. 



A common name for Celastrus 



See Lucanus cervus. 

 STAGES. In greenhouses and other glass structures, 

 Stages are erected on which to stand plants that are 

 grown in pots. They are generally constructed of wood, 

 but are much more substantial when the uprights are 



variety of lengths and sizes, or cut out of ordinary laths 

 of double thickness. Small annual growths of Hazel, 

 which grow in great quantities from the base of esta- 

 blished bushes, are valuable as Stakes for young plants 

 that are being grown on; also prunings of fruit-trees, 

 when appearances are immaterial. Strong Stakes, for 

 fruit and ornamental trees, Raspberries, &c., are best 

 selected from a plantation where the common Ash pre- 

 dominates, as this wood generally grows tolerably up- 

 right, and lasts a long time in use. Hazel, of moderate 

 size, is also largely employed for Stakes, when required 

 for packing, as, in a green or partially green state, it 

 bends readily if required. Several other kinds of wood 

 may also be selected, and made to answer their purpose, 

 as Stakes. 



The value of Staking, in connection with newly-planted 

 trees, cannot be over-estimated, as, when properly exe- 

 cuted, it prevents the trees from rocking about when 

 the wind blows. When a single Stake is likely to be 

 needed for permanently supporting a tree, it should be 

 inserted at the time of planting ; otherwise, it may very 

 likely be driven in just where the best roots are 

 situated, and thereby cause much injury. Plants that 

 are likely to take care of themselves at the end of a 

 year, are rendered safe for that period by placing three 



