A G R 



OR, BOTANICAL DICTIONARY 



A G R 





5. Agave Tuberosa ; Tuberous-rooted Agave. Caulescent, 

 leaves tooth-thorny. For the mode of propagating it, see 

 the second species. 



6. Agave Foetida ; Fetid Agave. Caulescent leaves, quite 

 entire. This is propagated in the same manner as the se- 

 oond species ; which see. 



Ageratum ; a genus of the class Syngenesia, order Polyga- 

 mia Squalls. GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix : common ob- 

 long ; with many lanceolate subequal scales. Corolla : com- 

 pound uniform ; corollets hermaphrodite, tubulous, nume- 

 rous, equal, scarcely longer than the calix. Proper rnono- 

 petalous, funnel-shaped ; border quadrifid, spreading. Sta- 

 mina : filaments capillary, very short ; aiithera cylindric, 

 tubular. Pistil: germ oblong ; style filiform, the length of 

 the stamina ; stigrnas two, very slender, erect. Pericarp: 

 none. Calix: unchanged. Seed: solitary, oblohg, angular, 

 crowned with a chaffy, five-leaved, upright, awned calicle. 

 Receptacle: naked, convex, very small. ESSENTIAL CHARAC- 

 TER. Receptacle: naked. Down: five-awned. Culix: ob- 

 long, subequal. Corollets: quadrifid. The species are, 



1. Ageratum Conyzoides; Hairy Ageratum. Leaves ovate, 

 stem hairy. This has an annual root ; and its leaf resembles 

 that of the Nettle. It flowers in July and August ; is a na- 

 tive of Africa, the islands of America, and the isle of Tanna 

 in the South Seas. The seeds must lie sown on a hot-bed in 

 the spring, and should be transplanted after they have taken 

 root. In June they may be inured to the open air. They 

 will begin to flower in July, and continue till the frosts of 

 autumn destroy them. 



3. Ageratum Ciliare. Leaves ovate, crenate, obtuse ; stem 

 smooth, two feet high. A native of the East Indies, and of 

 China, near Canton. 



Ageratum. See Achillea. 



Agnus Castifs. See Vitex. 



Agrimonia ; a genus of the class Dodecandria, order Di- 

 i GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix: perianth one-leafed, 

 );\. '-cleft, acute, small, superior, permanent, fenced with an 

 outer .calix. Corolla: petals five, flat, emarginate; claws 

 narrow, inserted into the calix. Stamina: filaments capil- 

 lary, shorter than the corolla, inserted into the calix; an- 

 tlieroc small, twin, compressed. Pistil: germ inferior, 

 styles simple, the length of the stamina ; stigmas obtuse. 

 Pericarp .- none ; calix contracted at the neck, and hardened. 

 .- two, roundish. Observe, the number of stamina is 

 uncertain, 12, 1O, 7- ESSENTIAL CHARACTER. Calix; 

 tive-cleft, fenced with another. Petals: five. Seeds: two, at 

 the bottom of the calix. This is a genus of hardy perennial 

 ] laiits, which if kept free from weeds will thrive in any soil 

 or situation. They are propagated by parting their roots in 

 autumn, when their leaves begin to decay, that the young 

 plants may be well established by the spring; and they should 

 be kept two feet asunder. The seeds swvn in autumn will 

 appear in the following spring. The species are, 



I. Agrimonia Eupatoria; Common Agrimony. Stem-leaves 

 pinnate ; the end-lobe petiolate ; fruits hispid. This plant 

 is only a foot and a half in height ; it is a native of woods, 

 shady places, hedges and borders of corn-fields in Great Bri- 

 tain, and most parts of Europe. It is perennial, and flowers 

 n June and July. The root in spring is sweet-scented ; and 

 the fresh-gathered flowers smell like apricots. Kalm informs 

 us that the Canadians use an infusion of the root in burning 

 fevert with great success. Dr. Hill affirms, that an infusion 

 six ounces of the crown of the root, in a quart of boiling 

 water, sweetened with honey, and half a pint of it drank three 

 times a day, is an effect-ial cure for the jaundice. He ad- 

 !s to begin with a vomit, afterwards to keep the bowels 

 soluble, and to continue the medicine as long as any symp- 



toms of the disease remain. The leaves, which make a plea- 

 sant tea, are said to be serviceable in hemorrhages, and 

 in obstructions of the liver and spleen : they may be used 

 either fresh or dried. They are found by experience to be 

 salutary in the diabetes, and incontinence of urine. This 

 plant is also one of the famous vulnerary herbs, and an in- 

 gredient in the genuine arquebusade-water. It is frequent, 

 according to Meyrick ; in dry pastures ; and is a mild corro- 

 borant, of great efficacy in all such disorders as arise from 

 a lax habit of body : its roots appear to possess the properties 

 of the Peruvian hark in a very considerable degree, without 

 manifesting any of its inconvenient qualities ; and if taken 

 in pretty large doses, either in decoction or powder, seldom 

 fails to cure the ague. The leaves, digested in whey, af- 

 ford an useful diet-drink for the spring, particularly for such 

 as are troubled with scorbutic complaints. The country peo- 

 ple also use them by way of cataplasm in contusions and fresh 

 wounds. If gathered when it is coming into flower, this plant 

 will dye wool of a good bright full nankeen colour ; bat if 

 gathered in September, the yellow colour will be darker. As 

 it gives a good dye at all times, and is a common plant easily 

 cultivated, it deserves the notice of the dyers: in the Berlin 

 Acts it is recommended for dressing leather. Sheep and goats 

 eat it ; but kine, horses, and swine, refuse it. There are two 

 varieties of this species, the White Acrimony, and the Sweet- 

 scented Agrimony, both natives of Italy. The leaves of the' 

 latter emit an agreeable odour, and also make a pleasant 

 cooling tea, which is an excellent beverage for persons in a 

 fever. 



' 2. Agrimonia Repens ; Creeping Agrimony. Leaves pin- 

 nate ; the end-lobe sessile ; fruits hispid. This plant seldom 

 rises above two feet in height, and it multiplies faster than 

 the common sort, which it strongly resembles. 



3. Agrimonia Decumbens. Leaves pinnate, hirsute ; stem 

 procumbent ; fruits every way hispid-hooked. This species 

 is usually monogynous. Native of the Cape. 



4. Agrimonia Agrimonoides ; Three-leaved Agrimony. 

 Stem-leaves ternate ; fruits smooth. It is found in moist 

 woods and among bushes in Italy and Carniola, where it is 

 a native. 



5. Agrimonia Parviflora; Small-Jlowered Agrimony. Stem- 

 leaves pinnate; leaflets many, lanceolate; petals half as 

 long again as the calix; fruits hispid. It flowers in July ; 

 and is a native of North America. 



Agrimonoides. See Agrimonia. 



Agrimwiy, Hemp. See Eupatorium. 



Agrimony, Water Hemp. See Bidens. 



Agrostemma; a genus of the class Decandria, order Penta- 

 gynia, GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix : perianth one-leafed, 

 coriaceous, tubulous, five-toothed, permanent. Corolla .- 

 petals five ; claws the length of the tube of the calix ; 

 border spreading, obtuse. Stamina : filaments awl-shaped, 

 five alternately later than the other five, inserted into each 

 claw of the petals; antherae simple. Pistil: germ ovate ; 

 styles filiform, erect, the length of the stamina; stigmas 

 simple. Pericarp : capsule oblong, ovate, covered, one-cel- 

 led, five-valved. Seeds: very many, kidney-shaped, dotted. 

 Receptacles : free, as many as seeds, the interior ones gradually 

 longer. ESSENTIAL CHARACTER. Calix: one-leafed, coria- 

 ceous. Petals: five, clawed; border obtuse, undivided. 

 Capsule: one-celled. The species are, 



1. Agrostemma Githago ; Corn Campion, or Cockle. Hir- 

 sute, calix longer than the corolla, which is not crowned as in 

 the other species ; petals entire, or slightly emarginate, and 

 naked. The stem is two feet high, and the root annual ; it 

 is a common weed in corn-fields, enlivening them at the 

 expense of the careless husbandman, along with Poppy and 



