3524 



XENIA 



XEROPHYLLUM 



nucleus from which the whole of the endosperm is 

 developed. The direct effect of the pollen on endo- 

 sperm characters is due to this participation of one of 

 the male nuclei in the production of the endosperm. 

 A slightly different phenomenon is seen in peas, in 

 which pollen from a yellow-seeded variety produces 

 yellow seeds in the pods of a green-seeded variety, for 

 here the xenia character resides not in the endosperm, 

 but in the embryo itself. Physiological effects or 

 pollen in causing local disturbances of nutritive or 

 other functions in tissues surrounding the style or 

 ovary, thus affecting the size and quality of the fruits, 

 are not properly included under xenia. Many reported 

 cases of xenia in plants other than those here men- 

 tioned are undoubtedly mythical and will not stand 

 the test of careful experimental investigation. The 

 deterioration of melons supposedly caused by growing 

 in the proximity of pumpkins or cucumbers, is doubt- 

 less a case of this kind. GEO. H. SHULL. 



XERANTHEMUM (Greek, dry flower: it is one of 

 the "everlastings")- Compdsitse. Annual erect herbs, 

 densely pubescent or tomentose, of which X. annuum is 

 one of the oldest and best known of the "everlastings" 

 or immortelles. 



Heads rayless, but the large involucral scales are 

 petal-like and persistent, giving the plant its value as a 

 subject for dry bouquets: outer fls. few and sterile, 

 inner ones fertile; receptacle chaffy; involucral scales 

 in many series, of various lengths, glabrous; heads 

 solitary on long naked peduncles. Four or 5 species, 

 Medit. region. 



The culture of xeranthemum is very simple. Seeds 

 are usually sown in the 

 open, where the plants 

 are to stand; but they 

 may be started out- 

 doors and the seedlings 

 transplanted. Hardy 

 or half-hardy annuals. 



dnnuum, Linn. Fig. 

 4016. Annual, 2-3 ft. 

 tall,- erect, white- 

 tomentose: Ivs. alter- 

 nate, oblong - lanceo- 

 late, acute, entire: 

 heads purple, 1-1 H in- 

 across, the longer scales 

 wide- spreading and 

 ray-like. S.Eu. G.4: 

 74, 75. Runs into 

 many varieties. Var. 

 ligulosum, Voss (X. 

 plenlssimum and X. 

 imperiMe, Hort.). A 

 double or half-double 

 form. Var. perliguld- 

 sum, Voss (A. super- 

 bissimum, Hort.), has 

 very full double heads. 

 In these and the single 

 types there are white- 

 fld. (var. album), rose- 

 fid, (var. rdseum), and 

 purple-fid, (var. pur- 

 pureum) varieties. 

 There are also violet- 

 fid, forms. Var. multi- 

 florum, Hort. (var. 

 compdctum) has a more 

 compact and bushy 

 habit, with somewhat 

 smaller heads. X. 

 vdrius, Hort., is a trade 



name for mixed varie- 4016. Xeranthemum annuum. 

 ties. Xeranthemums ( x Vt) 



are considerably used for a certain type of bedding, but 

 they are mostly grown for cutting. 



X. indpterum, Mill. (X. erectum, Presl), has white heads, of 

 which the scales are little or not at all open or spreading. S. Eu. 

 to S. W. Asia. L H B 



XEROCLADIA (dry branch, from the character of the 

 growth). Legumindsse. One species, X. mridiramis, Taub. 

 (X. Zeyheri, Harv. Acacia viridiramis, Burch.), of S. 

 Afr., likely to be planted in warm dry regions in choice 

 collections, differs from Acacia in having only 10 (rather 

 than indefinite) stamens, powdery pollen, 5 free petals, 

 and other technical characters. It is described as a small, 

 dry, and very rigid bush 1-2 ft. high, with pale bark, 

 spinous stipules, deciduous bipinnate Ivs., and fls. 

 8-12 in nearly or quite sessile heads: petals oblong; 

 filaments not much exceeding the petals; anthers with 

 a very minute sessile gland: pod or legume semi- 

 orbicular, indehiscent, 1-seeded, about J^in. long, 

 winged. 



XERONEMA (Greek, dry and thread, referring to the 

 filaments which dry and persist). Liliacese. Perennial 

 herb, sometimes grown in the warmhouse : rhizome very 

 short: st. erect, simple: Ivs. grouped at base of st., 

 elongate, rigidly veined: raceme terminal, simple, 

 secund rachis abruptly bent at base, frequently hori- 

 zontal: fls. grouped on erect short pedicels; perianth red, 

 showy, about y$&. across, persisting, segms. distinct, 

 linear, erect, 1-nerved; stamens 6; ovary sessile, obtuse, 

 3-celled: caps, very short-stipitate, loculicidally dehis- 

 cent. One species, New Caledonia. A*. Moorei, 

 Brongn. & Gris. St. about 20 in. long with a few 

 reduced Ivs.: basal Ivs. 12-16 in. long, erect: fls. bright 

 crimson; perianth H~/4in. long; stamens exserted. 

 New Caledonia. B.M. 8342. 



XEROPH^LLUM (Greek, dry leaf). Liliacese. TUR- 

 KEY'S BEARD. Tall subaquatic hardy perennial herbs 

 not extensively in cultivation. 



Rhizome short, thick and woody: sts. erect, tall, 

 simple: lys. radical or grouped at base of st., long-linear, 

 rather stiff, margin scabrous; cauline Ivs. sparse, much 

 smaller: fls. white, numerous, in a terminal raceme; 

 perianth withering, persistent, segms. distinct, oblong or 

 lanceolate; stamens 6; ovary sessile, 3-grooved, obtuse, 

 3-celled: caps, subglobose, or short-oblong, 3-grooved, 

 loculicidally dehiscent. Three species, N. Amer. Wat- 

 son, in Proc. Am. Acad. 14:284. 



The turkey's beard of the eastern states (X. asphode- 

 loides) is a strong herb, 3 to 4 feet high, resembling 

 asphodel. It has a dense tuft of numerous long, wiry 

 leaves from the center of which springs a stately shaft 

 sometimes 5 feet high, with an oval or oblong raceme 

 6 inches long, crowded with yellowish white 6-parted 

 flowers, each y inch across. It blooms from May to 

 July, flowers with delicate fragrance lasting a long time. 

 The species is a native of the dry pine barrens from 

 southern New Jersey to eastern Tennessee and Georgia. 

 The chief species of the Pacific coast, X. tenax, has 

 white and violet flowers, the latter color supplied by the 

 stamens. Each region should cultivate its own species. 

 The forms are too much alike for the same garden. A 

 third species, X. Douglasii, Wats., is a rare plant ranging 

 from Montana to Oregon. It is distinguished by its six- 

 valved capsule and is said to be inferior as a garden 

 plant to the other species. 



asphodeloides, Nutt. (Helbnias asphodeloldes, Linn. 

 X. setifolium, Michx.). Fig. 4017. Tall hardy perennial, 

 1-4 ft. high: Ivs. 1 line or less wide: raceme 3-6 in. 

 long: perianth-segms. exceeding the stamens. Pine 

 barrens, E. U. S. B.M. 748. L.B.C. 4:394. Gng. 

 1:173. A.F. 7:171. Gn. 27, p. 224; 39:526 and p. 527; 

 58, p. 15. G.C. II. 13:433. 



tenax, Nutt. Two to 5 ft. high: Ivs. about 2 lines 

 wide: raceme 1-2 ft. long; pedicels longer: perianth- 



