HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



ACA 



Acalypha. From akalos, unpleasant, and aphe, 

 touch. Linn. Moncecia-Monaddphia. Nat. Ord. 

 EuphartAacece. 



A. tricolor, the only species worthy of cultiva- 

 tion, is a handsome green-house shrub, with 

 variegated foliage, green, copper colored, and 

 red, irregularly mottled and blotched. It is a 

 native of the New Hebrides, introduced in 1866. 

 It is a free-growing plant, suitable for the con- 

 servatory, or filling in rustic designs. It is in- 

 creased by cuttings. 



Acanthophcenix. A genus of Palms, established 

 for two species of Areca from the Mascaren Is- 

 lands. They do not appear to differ from that 

 genus except in habit. The stems are shorter, 

 and the petiole and midrib of the leaves are 

 armed with long filiform prickles. 



Acanthus. From akanthos, a spine; some of the 

 species being spiny. Linn. Didynamia-Angio- 

 sperma. Nat. Ord. Acanthacece. 



Hardy herbaceous plants of but little merit, 

 except that they will grow in almost any soil or 

 situation, and are of a stately character. It is 

 conjectured that the leaf of A. mottis or A. spi- 

 nosus furnished the ancients with the elegant 

 leaves of the Corinthian column. 



Acer. Maple. The word, in Latin, signifies 

 vigorous or sharp, and comes from the Celtic 

 ac, meaning a point. The name is used to desig- 

 nate this genus on account of the wood having 

 formerly been much sought after for manufac- 

 turing into heads of pikes and lances. Linn. 

 Polygamia-Monoecia. Nat. Ord. Aceracece. 



This genus is composed of beautiful trees of 

 large size, used extensively as shade trees, and is 

 one of our most valuable trees for fine lumber. 

 Thomas Hogg has lately introduced from Ja- 

 pan several low-growing, ornamental varieties, 

 the foliage having the entire summer a rich 

 autumnal appearance. They are perfectly hardy, 

 and propagated by grafting on a dwarf species 

 from Japan. 



Achania. From akanos, closed ; corolla does not 

 expand wide. Linn. Monaddphia-Polyandria. Nat 

 Ord. Malvaceae. 



A genus of green-house shrubs, inhabiting 

 South America, Mexico, and the West Indies. 

 A. Malvaviscus is remarkable for the beauty of 

 its scarlet axillary flowers, and its green, heart- 

 shaped, sharply pointed leaves. Introduced 

 in 1780. Propagated by cuttings. 



Achillea. Yarrow. Named in honor of Achilles, a 

 pupil of Chiron, who first used it in medicine 

 Linn. Syngenesia-Superflua. Nat. Ord. Asteracea;. 

 Free-flowering, hardy herbaceous plants par- 

 ticularly suited to plant among rock-work, or in 

 situations refused by more tender plants. They 

 are chiefly European plants, and the prevailing 

 colors of the flowers are yellow and white. A 

 millefdium is a native, and the common Yarrow, 

 or Milfoil, of our roadsides and neglected fields. 



Acnimenes. From chdmaino, to suffer from cold, 

 and a prefixed as an augment! ve; alluding to the 

 tenderness of the genus. Linn. Didynamia-An- 

 gwspermia. Nat. Ord. Gesneracece. ' 



One of the finest of modern introductions, the 

 whole of the species being splendid summer 

 ornaments of the green-house or conservatory 

 Flowers of all shades, from white to crimson 

 Ihe scaly buds or rhizomes require to be kept 

 perfectly dormant in winter, and about Janu- 

 ary to be potted in light loam and leaf-mould 

 plunged into a moderate hot-bed, and encour- 

 aged with a warm, genial atmosphere. When 

 they have attained a few inches in height they 



ACE 



may be placed several together in a shallow pan, 

 or repotted separately, and by the end of April 

 gradually inured to the temperature of the 

 green-house, where they afford a blaze of beauty 

 the whole of the summer. They are mostly na- 

 tives of Mexico and Guatemala, though a few 

 have been received from the West Indies. 



Achyranthes. From achuron, chaff, and anthos, 

 a flower; in allusion to the chaffy nature of the 

 floral leaves. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Amaranthacece. 



Most of this genus-are of but little value. Some 

 of the species are very beautiful, and largely 

 employed in ribbon gardening, or any situation 

 where plants need to be " trained," as they can 

 be made to grow-in any desired shape or form. 

 They require the full sunshine to develop their 

 intense color. Propagated by cuttings. 



Acineta. From akineta, immovable; the lip being 

 jointless. Linn. Gynandria-Monandria. Nat. 

 Ord. Orchidacece. 



A small genus of curious epiphytal Orchids 

 from Mexico. Flowers yellow, crimson, and yel- 

 low, and chocolate and crimson, borne on slen- 

 der spikes about one foot long. They are of 

 easy culture, requiring a house of medium tem- 

 perature, and to be grown in baskets of moss. 

 Introduced in 1837. 



Acis. After Acis, a Sicilian shepherd. Linn. 

 Hexandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. AmaryUidacece. 

 A genus of hardy bulbs closely allied to the 

 Snowflake. They propagate readily by offsets. 

 They should have a sandy soil, and not be often 

 divided. 



Acnida. Water Hemp. Taken from a, privative 

 and-fcmde, nettle; the plant being like a Nettle, 

 but without stings. Linn. Dioecia-Pentandria. 

 Nat. Ord. Chonopodiacea>. 



A. cannabina, . the only species, is a coarse 

 growing, uninteresting plant common in salt 

 marshes on the coast from Massachusetts to the 

 Carolinas. 



Aconitum. Aconite, Monkshood, Wolfsbane. 

 From Acorn, a town in Bithynia, where found 

 Linn. Polyandria-Trigynia. Nat. Ord. Ranun- 

 culacece. 



Herbaceous perennials, chiefly natives of Eu- 

 rope, but partly of North America and Japan. 

 They are all hardy, and they are generally tall- 

 growing,handsome plants, producing abundance 

 of dark-blue, purple, or yellow flowers. They 

 grow freely and are good plants for the open bor- 

 der. They are readily increased by division of the 

 roots, which are generally tuberous, or by seeds. 

 All the species are more or less poisonous, the 

 poison boing strongest in the root. Like all 

 plants which grow with tall, erect stems, and 

 produce their flowers in terminal spikes, they 

 are only suitable for growing in borders in large 

 gardens, or for clumps on a lawn. The species 

 may be divided into two kinds: those with the 

 helmet like a monk's cowl, which are called 

 Monkshood, and those which have an elongated 

 conical helmet, and are called Wolfsbane. 



Acorus. Sweet Flag, Calamus. From a, priva- 

 tive, and kore, the pupil of the eye; referring 

 to its medicinal qualities. Linn. Hexandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Orontiacea?. 



A well-known genus of marsh plants, natives 

 of the United States, Europe, and Asia. A. cala- 

 mus is the Sweet Flag, esteemed for its medicinal 

 virtues. 



Acroclinium. Derivation of name unknown. 

 Linn. Syngenesia-Polygamia-Superflua. Nat. Ord. 

 Composite. 



