2 I 8 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



Lantana (lanta-na, the old name for Viburnum. Viburnum 

 Lantana is the Wayfaring Tree of the hedgerows. Ord. Verbenia- 

 ceae). Pretty dwarf shrubs, suitable for the greenhouse and for 

 bedding in summer. The foliage resembles that of Heliotrope, and 

 the flowers are in Verbena-like heads. They thrive in ordinary soil, 

 and are propagated by cuttings of young wood under glass in 

 summer. The species are not much grown, the majority of people 

 preferring garden varieties, such as Drap d'Or, yellow; La Neige, 

 white; and Magenta King, purplish-red. Salvifolia, which has 

 mauve flowers and a purple-tinted leaf, is a good plant for summer 

 bedding, and may also be used for winter blooming in a warm 

 greenhouse (syn. violacea). 



Lapageria (lapage-ria, after Josephine de la Pagerie, afterwards 

 Josephine Beauharnais and wife of Napoleon Buonaparte. Ord. 

 Liliaceae). Lapageria rosea is one of the most beautiful of all 

 indoor climbers, as in addition to marked vigour of growth it has 

 the advantage of producing large quantities of drooping tubular 

 flowers of a bright rose colour in early summer. The white variety, 

 albiflora or alba, is also beautiful. The Lapagerias are suitable for 

 rambling on the roof of a large cool glass house, and if planted out 

 in well -drained peat, and kept safe from frost, they will thrive. 

 They are not at home in pots. Propagation is by layers. Prune 

 by cutting out old flowered shoots and any weak growths. The 

 house should be vaporised frequently to keep the plants free from 

 insects. Nash Court is a fine variety. Rosea is illustrated in the 

 Botanical Magazine, t. 4447; and albiflora in t. 4892. 



Larch (Larix europaea. Ord. Coniferae). One of the most ex- 

 tensively planted of hardy deciduous Conifers. It is at its best 

 when the new leaves break in spring. No particular compost is 

 needed. Propagation is by seeds; the seedlings must be trans; 

 planted early, or the roots will not be fibrous. Larch poles are 

 good for making arches, pillars, and pergolas (see Flower Garden). 

 There are several varieties of the common Larch, such as glauca, 

 pendula, and sibirica. Larix pendula is the Black Larch. 



Larkspur. See Delphinium and Annuals. 

 Larva. A caterpillar, grub, or maggot. 



Lastraea. This genus of ferns is now allied to Nephrodium by 

 botanists, with the exception of aristata, which is called Aspidium 

 aristatum. Filix-mas is the famous Male Fern, of which there are 

 many varieties. It is a hardy species, as also is dilatata. See Ferns. 



Latania, Bourbon Palm (lata-nia, from Latanier, the family name 

 of the Bourbons. Ord. Palmae). One of our handsomest room 

 and conservatory palms is Latania borbonica, which has broad 

 fronds. Botanists now call it Livistona chinensis. For culture, 

 see Palms. 



Laterals. A term applied to the side shoots of Vines, abut equally 

 applicable to the side shoots of other plants. 



Lathyrus (lath-yrus, from la, addition, and thouros, irritant, in 

 reference to the seeds causing excitement. Ord. Leguminosae) . 



