HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OP PLANTS. 



ADI 



Adiantopsis. From adiantum and opsis, like ; 

 resembling the Maidenhair. Linn. Oryptogamia- 

 Ftiices. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 



A small genus of elegant little Ferns from 

 South America, the West Indies, and Africa. A. 

 radiata, one of the best known species, is com- 

 mon in the West Indies. The fronds rise about 

 a foot high from a tufted crown, and radiate in a 

 regular manner from a common center. The 

 species are often seen in cultivation, on account 

 of their small size and elegant character. Prop- 

 agated from seed. 



Adiantum. Maidenhair Fern. From adiantos, 

 dry; the smooth foliage repelling rain-drops. 

 Linn. Oryptogamia-Ftiices. Nat. Ord. Polypodm- 



Of this extensive and much-admired genus 

 of Ferns, this country furnishes but one variety, 

 A. pedatum, our common Maidenhair, which 

 grows in moist woods in nearly every section. 

 Taken up in early spring and transplanted into 

 shady corners of our gardens, it grows readily, 

 and is indispensable in the natural arrangement 

 of flowers in vases or baskets. Some of the ex- 

 otic species of this genus may safely be pro- 

 nounced the most beautiful Ferns known, which 

 is a very broad assertion, in view of the very 

 many rare and beautiful plants to be found in 

 this natural order. All doubts, however, of the 

 truth of the assertion will be removed when we 

 see a well-grown plant of A. fbrleyense in the 

 fern-house. This interesting plant is a native 

 of Barbadoes, whence it was introduced in 1864. 

 'It is the most distinct and beautiful of all the 

 Maidenhair Ferns, and the most difficult to 

 grow to perfection. It requires a warm, moist 

 atmosphere. A. gracilis and A. cuneatum are mag- 

 nificent plants, and are more easily grown. There 

 are many other rare species under cultivation. 

 The growing of this genus from spores has for a 

 long time been practiced, and the several species, 

 with the exception of fbrleyense, have been in- 

 creased at a rapid rate in this way. But getting 

 new varieties from spores,after hybridizing some 

 of the finer species, is a new and unexpected 

 result that has been achieved in a most astonish- 

 ing and satisfactory manner by F. Koenbeck, 

 of Bayonne, N. J., who has not only given us 

 several varieties, but one, A. Roeribeckii, which 

 bears his name, that is, without exception, the 

 most useful as well as the most graceful of any 

 yet introduced. The fronds are erect, with a 

 metallic luster, combined with the delicacy and 

 grace of the finer species. It is well adapted for 

 specimen culture, and is particularly useful in 

 the arrangement of cut flowers, and when so 

 used looks like a lace veil hung over the flowers. 

 This variety was first exhibited in 1876. 

 Adlumia. Mountain Fringe. Dedicated by 

 Rafinesque to Major Adlum, an American au- 

 thor. Linn. Diadelphia-Hexandria. Nat. Ord. 

 FamariacecB. 



This beautiful climber is a hardy biennial, 

 growing in moist woods in New York and the 

 Alleghany Mountains of Virginia. It is com- 

 monly called Fumatory, Alleghany Vine, and 

 various other local names. It grows readily 

 from seed, which should be sown in May, near 

 a trellis or arbor. The plants will flower freely, 

 without further care, the following season. 

 Adonis. This owes its classical name to Adonis, 

 the favorite of Venus; some say its existence 

 also, maintaining that it sprung from his blood 

 when dying. Others, again, trace its origin 

 to the tears which Venus shed upon her lover's 



body. Linn. Polyandria-Polygynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Ranuncidacece, 



Herbaceous plants with showy flowers, na- 

 tives of Europe, and of easy culture in any soil. 

 The most ornamental species are A. vernalis, the 

 spring-flowering Adonis, a perennial with bright 

 yellow flowers, which is quite hardy, and is 

 easily increased by division of the root. ; and A. 

 autumnalis, the common annual Flos Adonis, or 

 Pheasant's Eye, with dark crimson flowers. The 

 annual kinds should be sown in autumn, as they 

 will stand the winter in the open air ; or in Feb- 

 ruary or March, as they are a long time in com- 

 ing up. 



JEchmea. From aichme, a point; in reference to 

 the rigid points on the calices, or flower enve- 

 lopes. Linn. Hexandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 ISromeliacece. 



A small genus of tropical plants, some of 

 which are epiphytes, growing on the tops of very 

 tall trees. They have strap, or sword-shaped 

 leaves, and produce panicles of brilliant scarlet 

 flowers. None of the species are found in culti- 

 vation, except in rare collections. Propagated 

 by division. Introduced in 1844. 



Aerides. From aer, the air; in reference to the 

 power they have of living on air. Linn. Gynan- 

 dr'ia-Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A splendid genus of East Indian epiphytal 

 Orchids, remarkable for their beautiful white, 

 pink, or rose-colored, fragrant flowers, and for 

 their rich evergreen foliage. The general ap- 

 pearance of these plants, their wonderful tena- 

 city of life, the remarkable property they possess 

 of imbibing the whole of their nutriment from 

 the atmosphere, without the intervention of any 

 kind of earth, and the elegance and rich perfume 

 of their flowers, combine to make them objects of 

 universal admiration. They require to be grown 

 in a high temperature and a very moist atmos- 

 phere. The more popular species are of quite 

 recent introduction. 



J32schynanthus. From aischuno, to be ashamed, 

 and anthos, a flower. Linn. Didynamia-Angio- 

 spermia. Nat. Ord. Gesneracece. 



A beautiful genus of tropical epiphytal plants. 

 The species are chiefly found in tropical Asia 

 and the East Indies, and may properly be 

 classed with the most gorgeous green-house 

 plants. They have mostly pendant stems, op- 

 posite fleshy leaves, and scarlet, or orange-scar- 

 let flowers. One of the finer species, jE. speciosus, 

 is a native of Java. It is of sub-erect habit, 

 with fascicles of about twenty erect, long-tubed 

 flowers, of rich orange-yellow below, and pass- 

 ing into scarlet at the top, with yellow and black 

 markings. Another species from Java, ^. lon- 

 glflorus, has bright crimson flowers, and is of the 

 same general habit. All the species require to 

 be grown in considerable heat and moisture, 

 and succeed well fastened upon blocks, in the 

 same manner as epiphytal Orchids. They are 

 easily propagated by cuttings. Introduced in 

 1845. 



.SSsculus. Horse Chestnut, Buckeye. From esca, 

 nourishment; referring to the ground flour from 

 the kernels of some species. Linn. Heptandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Sapindacece. 



A genus of hardy ornamental deciduous trees, 

 too well known to need description. jE. Hip- 

 pocaslanum, the common Horse Chestnut, is a na- 

 tive of Asia, introduced into our nurseries from 

 Europe at an early day. JE. glabrais a large grow- 

 ing tree, common South and West, particularly 

 in Ohio, whence the name Buckeye State. At. 



