393 breck's new book of flowers. 



YUCCA. — Adam's Needle. 



This is an ornamental genus of plants, mostly natives 

 of the Southern States and South America. Some of 

 them succeed well in the open ground in the Northern 

 States, and form a pleasing contrast with other plants, 

 on account of the peculiarity of their foliage. The leaves 

 are sharp-pointed, stiff, and rigid ; and, in some of the 

 species, the edges of the leaf are margined with long- 

 threads. 



Yucca filamentosa, called Thready Yucca, from tlio 

 long threads that hang from the leaves, is one of the most 

 hardy sorts. The flower-stem grows to the height of five 

 or six feet, and nearly the whole of it is covered with 

 large, bell-shaped, white flowers ; all the species are rather 

 shy flowerers ; in August and September. 



Y. gloriosa, and the variety superha^ produce an im- 

 mense number of fine bell-flowers on their tall stems. 

 The foliage of all the species is evergreen, and they closely 

 resemble each other. The severity of our winters often 

 blackens the foliage ; to prevent this, the leaves should be 

 gathered up and tied together, and covered with straw. 

 Propagated from suckers. 



ZAUSCHNERIA. 



[Narneii for M. Zauschner, a German.] 



An elegant herbaceous perennial plant from California, 

 where it is found in very sandy soils. The plaut grows 

 in bunches ; the flowers a brilliant scarlet, tubular or 

 trumpet-shaped, terminating in five unequal divisions ; 

 stamens and pistil projecting; flowers solitary, produced 

 in the axils of the leaves; continuing in bloom most of 

 the season ; tender in wet soil, but has proved hardy in 

 light soil, with little protection. 



