238 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



white, red-tipped, fragrant flowers in summer. There are many 

 varieties of it, such as large white (album grandiflorum) , double 

 white (album plenum), striped white (album striatum), double 

 rose (roseum plenum), and Osiris, red. It has edible nuts. N. 

 luteum has yellow flowers, and is also sweet (see the Bot. Mag., 

 t. 3753). The Nelumbiums are not perfectly hardy, and should be 

 grown in a shallow tank in a cool house. The roots may be packed 

 in loam and bound round with moss. Planting should be done in 

 late spring, when growth starts, at which stage crowded clumps 

 may be propagated by division. 



Nemesia (neme-sia, Dioscorides' name. Ord. Scrophularineae) . 

 This genus includes both annuals and perennials, but the only 

 species much grown in gardens is strumosa, the form of which called 

 Suttoni is a beautiful dwarf half-hardy annual, of several colours. 

 It is good both for pots and beds. See Annuals. 



Nemophila (nemoph-ila, from nemos, grove, and philo, to love, in 

 allusion to the habitat. Ord. Hydrophyllaceae). See Annuals. 



Nepenthes, Pitcher Plant (nepen-thes, from nepenthes, to alleviate 

 sorrow. Ord. Nepenthaceae) . These remarkable plants have long, 

 slender, drooping stems, which terminate in hollow, urn-like vessels 

 provided with a cap or lid and containing water. They are conse- 

 quently well termed Pitcher Plants. The pitchers vary in size and 

 colour. They are hothouse evergreens, best grown in suspended 

 teak baskets, as then the pitchers are seen to advantage. A com- 

 post of loam, peat, and Sphagnum moss, with sand, crocks, and 

 charcoal, suits them. Rebasketing should be done towards the 

 end of winter. Throughout the summer they will enjoy abundance 

 of water and should be syringed daily. In autumn and winter less 

 water will be needed. Minimum temperature 60. The following 

 are good sorts: albomarginata, green, white ring; Curtisi, green, 

 spotted crimson; Rafflesiana, green, spotted brown; Rajah, 

 purple; and sanguinea, red. 



Nepeta, Cat Mint, Ground Ivy (nepe-ta, after the Tuscan town 

 Nepet. Ord. Labiateae). The Nepetas are a genus of little im- 

 portance, but the variegated form of the Ground Ivy, Glechoma, is 

 worth growing. It is a pretty dwarf plant, with small Ivy-like 

 leaves and dark blue flowers, good for basket culture. Mussini, a 

 taller plant with violet flowers, is also grown. They will thrive in 

 almost any soil, and are increased by division in spring. 



Nephrodium (nephro-dium, from nephros, kidney, in allusion to 

 the shape of the spores. Ord. Filices). An immense genus, con- 

 taining hundreds of species, some of considerable importance. The 

 genus Lastrea has been added to it. Some of the species are hardy, 

 while others need a greenhouse, and others again a hothouse, 

 Those species with creeping rhizomes may be propagated by division 

 in spring, the others by spores (see Ferns for propagation and soil) . 

 The following are a few of the principal species: aemulum, the Hay- 

 scented Buckler Fern; var. ramosum is good. Cristatum, the 

 Crested Shield Fern, many varieties, enjoys peat and a boggy site. 

 Decompositum, var. glabellum is good. Erythrosum, a good 



