HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



ACR 



This interesting annual is one of the most valu- 

 able of the class known as Everlasting Flowers, and 

 is grown extensively for winter bouquets. The 

 seeds should be started in the hot-bed and trans- 

 planted where they are to grow. Flowers should 

 be picked as they begin to expand, and care- 

 fully dried in the shade. A plant of recent in- 

 troduction from Western Australia. 



Acrocomia. From akros, top, and kome, a tuft ; 

 referring to the way the leaves are produced. 

 Linn. Moncecia-Hexandria. Nat. Ord. Palma- 

 cecn. 



A genus of gigantic Palms, natives of South 

 America and the West Indies. Some of the 

 species grow to the height of forty feet, with 

 leaves fifteen feet in length, giving to the coun- 

 tries they inhabit a feature of exquisite grand- 

 eur. The young leaves are eaten as a vegetable, 

 and the fruit, root, and stems are applied to 

 various economic purposes. Some of the spe- 

 cies are found in our green-houses, but are too 

 large for general hot-house culture. 



Acrophorus. From akros, summit, and phoreo, 

 to bear. Linn. Cryptogamia-Filices. Nat. Ord. 

 Polypodiacece. 



A small genus of handsome green-house Ferns 

 from Borneo and New Zealand. They are closely 

 allied to the Davattiece, and require the same 

 treatment. 



Acroph.yllum. From akros, summit, andpfa/Mon, a 

 leaf; referring to the way in which the leaves 

 are produced at the summit of the branches 

 above the flowers. Linn. Decandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Cunoniacecv. 



A small genus of very handsome green-house 

 lants, that flower profusely in the spring. The 

 owers are small, white tinged with red, pro- 

 duced in dense whorls round the upper part of 

 the stem and branches. They are natives of 

 New Holland, introduced in 1836. Propagated by 

 cuttings. 



Acropteris. From akros, a point, and pteris, a 

 Fern. Linn. Cryptogamia-Filices. Nat. Ord. Poly- 

 podiacece. 



This beautiful Fern, allied to Asplenium, is 

 a green-house variety, readily propagated by 

 division of the roots. It requires a light, loamy 

 soil, with a liberal mixture of sand and leaf 

 mould. A native of New Holland. 



Acrostichum. Supposed to refer to the begin- 

 ning of a verse, on account of the back sur- 

 faces of the leaves being so lined as to resemble 

 in some degree the commencement of lines in 

 poetry. Linn. Oryptogamia-FUices. Nat. Ord. 

 Polypodiacece. 



An interesting genus of tropical Ferns, that 

 succeed well in a mixture of loam and leaf mould. 

 Increased by division of roots, or by seed. In- 

 troduced from the West Indies in 1792. 



Actsea. Baneberry. From aktara, the Elm; re- 

 ferring to the leaves. Linn. Polyandria-Mono- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Ranunculacem. 



A genus of hardy herbaceous perennials, of 

 but little beauty; common in rich woods in the 

 Northern States. 



Actinidia. Derivation of name unknown. Linn. 

 Monadelphia-Polyandria. Nat. Ord. Ternstrcemia- 

 cece. 



A. potygamia, the only species, is a handsome 

 climbing shrub, native of Eastern Siberia. 

 Flowers produced in axillary racemes, white and 

 fragrant; these are succeeded by small edible 

 berries. It is a rapid grower, quite ornamental, 

 and useful for covering trellises. It is increased 

 from seed or from cuttings. 



pl 

 flo 



ADH 



Ada. A complimentary name. Linn. Gynandria- 

 Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A. auranliaca, the only species, is a beautiful 

 epiphytal Orchid found in high latitudes in 

 New Grenada. It has broad, drooping, evergreen 

 foliage, and a drooping flower-spike about ten 

 inches long. The flowers are clear orange-yellow, 

 placed rather far apart on the stalk, and never 

 fully expand. It is a free-growing plant, and 

 should have a cool, airy situation in the Orchid 

 house. It is increased by division. Introduced 

 in 1844. 



Adam and Eve. See Aplectrum. 



Adam's Needle. See Yucca. 



Adansonia. Baobab Tree. Named in honor of 

 Michel Adanson, a famous French botanist and 

 author, born in 1727. Linn. Monadelphia-Polyan- 

 dria. Nat. Ord. Bombacece. 



A. digitata (called Monkey Bread) is a native of 

 Western Africa, and is also accredited to Egypt 

 and Abyssinia. Previous to the discovery of the 

 Sequoia in California, the Adansonia, or Baobab, 

 as it is popularly called, was considered the 

 largest tree in the world, some specimens being 

 found thirty feet in diameter; the trunks, only 

 twenty feet below the branches, which are forty 

 to fifty feet long, are of the size of great trees, with 

 their remote branches touching the ground. 

 The roots for a long distance are exposed, some 

 of them measuring more than a hundred feet in 

 length on the surface; how much longer they 

 are, unexposed, could not readily be ascertained. 

 The fruit resembles a gourd, is from nine to 

 twelve inches long, and about four in diameter. 

 The pulp is farinaceous and fibrous, and when 

 ripe has a refreshing, acid taste. Eaten with 

 sugar it is both pleasant and wholesome. The 

 negroes on the western coast apply the trunks 

 of these trees to a very extraordinary purpose. 

 The tree is liable to be attacked by a fungus, 

 which, vegetating in the woody part, without 

 changing the color or appearance, destroys life, 

 and renders the part so attacked as soft as the 

 pith of trees in general. Such trunks are then 

 hollowed into chambers, and within these are 

 suspended the dead bodies of those to whom are 

 refused the honor of burial. There they become 

 mummies, perfectly dry, and well preserved, 

 without further preparation or embalming, and 

 are known by the name giuriot*. 



Adder's Mouth. The common name of the Mi- 

 crostylis,& small bulbous plant, common in moist 

 woods southward. 



Adder's Tongue. A name applied to the Erythro- 

 nium Americanum, and also to the Fern, Ophio- 

 glossum vulgatum. 



Adenandria. From aden, a gland, and aner, the 

 stamen or male organ ; referring to the aspect 

 of the anthers. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Rutacece. 



A somewhat extensive genus of green-house 

 evergreen shrubs from the Cape of Good Hope. 

 Some of them are cultivated for their large ter- 

 minal corymbs of bright pink flowers, which are 

 produced in June. All the species are increased 

 by cuttings of young wood. Introduced in 1812. 



Adhatoda. Native name. Linn. Decandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Acanthacece. 



A small genus of green-house shrubs, natives 

 of India. The few species composing this genus 

 were formerly included in Justicia. One of the 

 more common species, A. vasica, was formerly 

 called Justicia Adhatoda. They bear a close re- 

 semblance to the Justicias, and require the same 

 treatment. 



