962 



DANDELION 



DAPHNE 



1218. Floret of 

 Dandelion. 



at e elongates in fruit, raising the pappus on a long 

 stalk, as shown in Fig. 1219; and thus is the balloon of 

 the dandelion formed. A dandelion plant, with its scat- 

 tering fruits, is shown in Fig. 1220. Another species of 

 dandelion is also naturalized in this country, but is not 

 so common; it is the red-seeded dan- 

 delion (T. erythrospermum, Andrz.), 

 with red fruits, not reflexed invo- 

 lucral scales, and shorter beak. 



The dandelion is much prized for 

 "greens." For this purpose it is 

 cultivated in parts of Europe; also 

 about Boston and in some other 

 localities in this country. There are 

 several improved large-leaved varie- 

 ties, mostly of French origin. Some 

 of these named forms have beauti- 

 ful curled leaves. Seeds are sown 

 in the spring, and the crop is 

 gathered the same fall or the follow- 

 ing spring, usually in the spring 

 in this country. Commonly the 

 seeds are sown where the plants are to stand, although 

 the plantlets may be transplanted. The plants 

 should stand about 1 foot apart each way, and a 

 good crop will cover the land completely when a 

 year old. Sandy or light loamy soil is preferred. The 

 crop is harvested and marketed like spinach. The 

 leaves or heads are often blanched by tying them up, 

 covering with sand or a flower-pot. The plants are 

 sometimes grown more closely in beds, and frames are 

 put over them to force them. Roots are sometimes 

 removed from the field to the hotbed or house for 

 forcing. When treated like chicory (which see), the 

 roots will produce a winter salad very like barbe de 

 capucin. Roots of dandelion dug in fall and dried are 

 sold for medicinal purposes in drug-stores under the 

 name of Taraxacum. L H. B. 



DANGLEBERRY: Gaylussacia frondosa. 



DAPHNE (Greek name of Laurus nobilis). Thy- 

 melsedcese. Ornamental woody plants, chiefly grown 

 for their handsome foliage and sweet-scented, white, 

 purple, lilac or rarely greenish flowers, which, with 

 some species, in warmer climates, often appear in the 

 winter. 



Low deciduous or evergreen shrubs: Ivs. alternate, 

 rarely opposite, entire, short-petioled : fls. in clusters, 

 short racemes or umbels, apetalous, 

 mostly fragrant; calyx-tube cylindric 

 or campanulate, 4-lobed, corolla-like, 

 usually clothed with silky hairs out- 

 side; stamens 8, in two rows, included; 

 stigma capitate, sessile or nearly so: 

 fr. a fleshy or leathery 1-seeded drupe. 

 About 50 species in Eu. and Asia. 

 For a monograph of the section Daph- 

 nanthes see Keissler in Engler Bot. 

 Jahrb. 25:29-124 (1898); see also 

 Nitsche, Beitrage zur Kenntnis der 

 Gattung Daphne (1907). 



Only D. Mezereum, with very early 

 lilac fragrant flowers and decorative 

 scarlet fruit, and some low evergreen 

 species, like D. Cneorum and D. Blaga- 

 yana, are hardy North, while most of the evergreen 

 species can be recommended only for warmer climates. 

 D. Genkwa with lilac flowers appearing before the 

 leaves, and D. pontica and D. Laureola, with large ever- 

 green leaves, are hardy as far north as New York. 

 D. odora is fairly hardy in Washington, D. C. 



In California, according to Franceschi, the species 

 most commonly grown is D. odora, the plants being 

 mostly imported from Japan. Many plants are also sent 

 from Japan for eastern greenhouse culture. A decoction 



1219. 



Mature fruit of 

 dandelion. 



of the bark of D. Mezereum is sold in drug-stores under 

 the name of mezereum. It is stimulant and diuretic. It 

 is also known as olive spurge. 



Daphnes thrive best in a well-drained light soil and 

 in a partly shaded position, but some, as D. Cneorum 

 and D. Blagayana, which are exceedingly pretty plants 

 for rockeries, do better in sunny situations. In the 

 North, D. odora and its varieties are often grown in 

 pots for their sweet-scented and handsome flowers 

 appearing during the winter. A sandy compost of peat 

 and loam in equal proportions will suit them; they 

 require a good drainage and careful watering during 

 the winter, and pots not larger than just necessary 

 should be given ; they may also be planted out in a cool 

 greenhouse and trained as a wall plant. D. Genkwa, 

 with abundant lilac 

 flowers before the 

 leaves, is sometimes 

 forced. 



Propagation is by 

 seeds, sown after 

 maturity or stratified, 

 but germinating very 

 slowly; also by layers 

 put down in spring 

 and taken off the 

 following year. The 

 evergreen species 

 may be increased by 

 cuttings of mature 

 wood in fall under 

 glass, and kept in a 

 cool greenhouse dur- 

 ing the winter. If 

 gentle bottom heat 

 can be given in early 

 spring, it will be of 

 advantage to the de- 

 velopment of the 

 roots; softwood cut- 

 tings taken from 

 for ced plants may also 

 be used. D. odora is 

 often veneer-grafted 

 on seedling stock of 

 D. Laureola in win- 

 ter, or on roots of D. 

 Mezereum; also other 

 species are grafted 

 on roots of D, Meze- 

 reum. D. Cneorum 

 and probably its 

 alhes are readily in- 

 creased in spring by 

 removing the earth 

 around the plant, 

 pegging down the 

 branches and filling 

 with fine compost almost to the tops of the branches. 

 Next spring, if the compost is carefully removed, a large 

 number of little buds, each supplied with a white root, 

 are found along the branches; they are easily detached 

 and planted in pans or boxes. 



1220. 

 The Dandelion. 



(XM) 



alba, 1, 10. 

 alba-plena, 1. 

 australis, 7. 

 autumnalis, 1. 

 Blagayana, 5. 

 buxifolia, 6. 

 Cneorum, 4. 

 collina, 7. 

 Dauphinii, 9. 

 Delahayana, 7. 

 Delphinii, 9. 

 Fioniana, 6. 

 Fortunei, 3. 

 Genkwa, 3. 



INDEX. 



grandiflora, 1. 

 Houtteana, 2. 

 hybrida, 9. 

 indica, 10. 

 japonica, 11. 

 Jenkwa, 3. 

 Laureola, 13. 

 major, 4. 

 marginata, 10. 

 maximus, 4. 

 Mazelii, 11. 

 Mezereum, 1, 2 

 neapolitana, 7. 

 odora, 10. 



odorata, 10. 

 olei folia, 8. 

 oleoides, 6. 

 Philippii, 13. 

 plena, 1. 

 pontica, 14. 

 punctata, 10. 

 purpurea, 13. 

 retusa, 12. 

 rubra, 10. 

 sericea, 7, 8. 

 sinensis, 10. 

 Verlotii, 4. 



