842 



CORDYLINE 



in the western hemisphere. Some of them are vines; 

 some are herbaceous above the base. Species confused. 

 The cordias are greenhouse plants with showy flowers 

 of easy culture. Grown in the open in the extreme 

 South. Propagated by cuttings of firm wood and by 

 seeds. 



1051. Cordia Greggii var. Palmeri. 



Sebestena, Linn. (C. specidsa, Willd.). GEIGER 

 TREE. Tall evergreen shrub or small tree, hairy, with 

 rough, ovate, entire or undulate stalked Ivs.: fls. 1-2 

 in. long, orange or scarlet, stalked, in large open 

 terminal clusters, the crumpled corolla-lobes and 

 stamens 5-12: drupe inclosed in the hazel-like husk 

 formed by the persistent calyx. Keys of Fla. and south. 

 B.M. 794. 



Greggii, Torr. Much-branched shrub, to 8 ft.: Ivs. 

 less than 1 in. long, pale, obovate, obtuse, dentate, 

 rugose, long-cuneate at the base: fls. more than 1 in. 

 across, white, in few-fld. contracted capitate clusters 

 but becoming looser as flowering proceeds; corolla- 

 lobes obtuse; stamens 5 or 6, scarcely half the length 

 of the corolla. Mex. Var. Palmeri, Wats. (Fig. 1051, 

 adapted from G.F. 2:233) has more broadly funnel- 

 form corolla, the limb i& in. broad: Ivs. somewhat 

 larger, ovate-oblong and abruptly cuneate at the base, 

 acute or obtuse at the apex. Mex. Deserving of 

 planting in the southwest country, if hardy. 

 trv 0t o er cor dias are likely to come into cult, in the southern coun- 

 try. Some of them yield drugs, many of them produce useful tim- 

 ber and some have edible frs. There are numbers of species in 



TH l 1C l a i? d ther f *A 6 W * i^sa Frdncisci, Tenore. 

 Tall. Ivs. dark green: fls. white. S. Amer. C. Myxa, Linn., from 



hv&or Sla and i A* 1 * 1 ? - 1S one of th best woods for kindling fire 

 by friction, and is useful in many other ways. T TT r> 



Li. ti. r>. 



CORDYLINE (club-like, referring to the fleshy roots). 

 IMiacex. DRACENA DRACENA PALM. Greenhouse 

 plants closely related to Dracaena; planted in the open 

 in California and similar climates. 



Stems tall, often woody and palm-like, bearing large 

 crowded Ivs., to the striking variegation of which the 

 group owes its value: fls. panicled; stamens 6; pedicels 

 articulated; perianth 6-parted; ovary 3-celled: fr. a 

 .berry. Cult, for the ornamental foliage. The horticul- 



tural forms and names have become very numerous. 

 The various species are in the trade under Dracaena, 

 which see for a key to the species of both genera com- 

 bined. From Dracaena, Cprdyline differs in the ovary 

 containing several ovules in each cell, and the solitary 



Sedicels being provided with a 3-bracted involucre. 

 D the following paragraphs, the initial D. indicates 

 that the plant in question is known in the trade as a 

 Dracaena, and C. that it is known as a Cordyline (see 

 Dracsena). For a monograph, see Baker, Journ. Linn. 

 Soc. 14:538 (1875). 



Of cordylines or dracaenas, propagation is usually 

 effected by cutting the ripened stems or trunks, from 

 which all leaves have been removed, into pieces from 

 2 to 4 inches long. These are laid either in very light 

 soil or in sand in the propagating-bed, where they 

 receive a bottom heat of about 80, being barely cov- 

 ered with sand or moss (Fig. 1052). The eyes soon start 

 into growth, and, as soon as they have developed about 

 six leaves, these shoots are cut off with a small heel and 

 again placed in the propagating-bed until rooted, after 

 which they are potted off into small pots in light soil, 

 kept close until they become established. They are 

 then shifted on into larger pots as soon as well rooted. 

 They delight in a mixture of three parts good turfy 

 loam and one part well-decayed cow-manure, with a 

 liberal sprinkling of sharp sand. A warm, moist 

 atmosphere suits them best while growing, but towards 

 fall the finished plants must be gradually exposed to 

 full sunshine and a dry atmosphere, which develops 

 their high colors. The kinds enumerated below are 

 such as are mainly grown in large quantities for decora- 

 tive purposes, and are sold principally during the win- 

 ter months, especially during the holiday season, when 

 plants with bright-colored foliage are always in strong 

 demand: C. amabilis. A strong-growing form with 

 broad green foliage, which is prettily variegated with 

 white and deep rose. One of the hardiest varieties, 

 either for decorations in winter or for outdoor work, 

 vases, and the like in summer. D.fragrans. An African 

 species with broad, massive, deep green foliage which 

 makes noble decorative plants, being frequently grown 

 into specimens from 6 to 8 feet high. Its foliage is of 

 heavy texture, making it a useful plant for the dry 

 atmosphere of a living-room. Two handsomely varie- 

 gated forms of the above are D. Lindenii and D. Mas- 

 sangeana, both very desirable varieties. C. terminalis. 

 This is the most popular species, and is grown in 

 immense quantities. The foliage on well-matured 

 plants is of an intense rich crimson marked with lighter 

 shadings. C. australis (commonly called C. indivisa). 

 Used principally as an outdoor decorative plant in 

 summer, being extensively used for furnishing vases, 

 window-boxes, and the like. It succeeds best when 

 planted out in the 

 open border during 

 summer, potted in the 

 fall and stored during 

 winter in a cool green- 

 house. It is propa- 

 gated almost exclu- 

 sively from seed, 

 which germinates 

 freely if sown during 

 the early spring 

 months in sandy 

 soil, in a tem- 

 perature of 60 

 to 65, growing 

 them on during 

 the first season 

 in small pots. 

 These, if planted 

 in the open bor- 

 der the second 

 season, make 1052. Stem-cutting of Cordyline. 



