HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



11 



ALO 



American Aloe flowers but once, sending up an 

 enormous flower-stem with candelabra-like 

 branches and cup-shaped flowers. The true 

 Aloes are succulent plants, natives of the Cape 

 of Good Hope, and grow best in this country in 

 green-houses or rooms, in a light, sandy soil. 

 To this, when the plants are wanted to attain a 

 large size, may be added a little leaf-mould. 

 When grown in rooms, a poor soil is, however, 

 preferable, as it keeps the plants of a smaller j 

 and more manageable size, and makes them less j 

 easily affected by changes of-temperature. The 

 colors of the flowers will also be richer when the 

 plants are grown in poor soil. The drug called 



aloes is made princi 



ipally fro 

 A. socotrin 



m the pulp of the 



fleshy leaf of the A. socotrina, the flowers of 

 which are red, tipped with green ; but it is also 

 made from several other species. 



Alonsoa. Named after Zanomi Alonso, a Span- 

 iard, by the authors of Flora Peruviana. Linn. 

 Didynamia-Angiospermia. Nat. Ord. IScrophula- 

 riacecK. 



The Mask Flower. The species are low un- 

 der-shrubs, or herbaceous plants, natives of 

 Peru, and two of them, A. incisifolia and A. lin- 

 earis, are very ornamental, either in the green- 

 house, or grown as annuals in the open border 

 during summer. They thrive well in any light 

 rich soil, and are readily increased by seeds or 

 cuttings. They are very desirable for flower- 

 gardens, on account of the brilliant scarlet of 

 their flowers ; and where there is no green- 

 house, the plants should be raised from seeds 

 sown on a hot-bed in February, or struck from 

 cuttings early in spring, and brought forward 

 in a frame or pit, and turned out into the open 

 air in May. 



Alopecurus. The generic name of the Foxtail 

 Grass. 



Aloysia. Lemon Verbena. Named in honor of 

 Mil-id Louisa, Queen of Spain. Linn. Didyna- 

 mia-Angiospermia. Nat. Ord. Verbenacece. 



The only known species of this genus is A. 

 citriodora, introduced from Chili in 1784, and 

 formerly called Verbena triphyU'j, or the Lemon- 

 scented Verbena. Under this name it is gener- 

 ally tiold, and is a universal favorite, readily 

 propagated from cuttings, and planted in the 

 open border in May. If taken up after a light 

 frost and put in a cold frame or cool cellar dur- 

 ing winter, the plants will keep well ; and, 

 planted out in spring again, they make large 

 and pleasing shrubs. The leaves, when dried, 

 will retain their odor for many years. 



Alpine Azalea. See Lolideuria. 



Alsophila. From alsos, a grove, and phileo, to 

 love ; in reference to the situation best suited 

 to the plants. Linn. Cruptogamia-Filices. Nat. 

 Ord. Polypodiacea-. 



This genus contains some of our most beau- 

 tiful green-house Tree Ferns. A. Australis, the 

 type, is a native of Australia, and one of the 

 most ornamental of the order. In the ordinary 

 green-house it thrives finely, producing its 

 graceful fronds from three to four feet long and | 

 one and a half wide. There are several species, i 

 all tropical, and all worthy a place in the fern- | 

 house. They are increased by division or from 

 spores. Introduced in 1833. 



Alstrcemeria. In honor of Baron Alstrcemer, a 

 Swedish botanist. Linn. Hexandria-Monogynia. ' 

 Nat. Ord. Amaryllidacea;. 



This is a genus of tuberous-rooted plants, with ' 



beautiful flowers, natives of South America, and 

 capable of being grown to a high degree of per- 



AMA 



fection in the hot-house, green-house, or open 

 air, according to the species. The soil which 

 suits all the Alstrcemerias is a mixture of sandy 

 loam and leaf- mould, or well-rotted manure. Of 

 all the hot-house species, A. Ligtu, with white and 

 scarlet flowers, is the most difficult to flower; but 

 by giving it abundance of water during the sum- 

 mer, and a strong heat in December, it will 

 flower in February ; and one plant will scent a 

 whole houss with fragrance like that of Mignon- 

 ette. After flowering, the plants ought to be al- 

 lowed to rest for three months, during which 

 time very little water ought to be given. After 

 this they should be repotted and encouraged to 

 grow by giving them plenty of water, etc. A. 

 edulis is another hot-house species, which climbs 

 to the height of ten or twelve feet, and, like all 

 other climbers, thrives best when turned out in- 

 to the open border. Propagation is effected by 

 separation of the tubers, or by seed ; the latter is 

 apt to produce new varieties, as they are by no 

 means constant from seed. 



Alternanthera. Alluding to the anthers being 

 alternately fertile and barren. Linn. Pentandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Amaranthacece. 



This useful little green-house perennial for 

 ribbon beds and edgings is a native of Buenos 

 Ayres, introduced in 1732. Propagated readily 

 from cuttings. The variegated-leaved varieties 

 alone are cultivated, the flowers being incon- 

 spicuous. 



Althaea. Marsh Mallow. From altheo, to cure; 

 in reference to its medicinal qualities. Linn. 

 Monadelphia-Polyandria. Nat. Ord. Malvacece. 



There are many annuals in this family, none, 

 however, of much merit. The Marsh Mallows 

 are hardy perennials, and formerly much used 

 as border plants. A. rosea, the common Holly- 

 hock, is one of our most splendid ornamental 

 biennials. It grows to the height of from five 

 to eight feet, and there are varieties of almost 

 every color, including white, and purple so deep 

 as to be almost black. The seeds of Hollyhock, 

 which is a biennial, should be sown in March; 

 in April, when the plants come up, they should 

 be thinned out, and then suffered to remain till 

 September, when they should be transplanted 

 to the place where they are to flower. Intro- 

 duced from China in 1573. The common hardy 

 shrub known as Althaea is Hibiscus Syriacus. 



Alum Root. The common name of Heuchera 

 Americana, the roots of which are very astringent. 



Alyssum. Derived from a, privative, and lyssa, 

 rage ; from a notion among the ancients that the 

 plant possessed the power of allaying anger. 

 Linn. Tetradynamia-SUiculosa. Nat. Ord. Uru- 

 ciferw. 



Dwarf hardy perennials, or sub-shrubby 

 plants, with cruciferous flowers. A. saxatUe is 

 very suitable for rock-work, or the front part of 

 a flower border, and forms a beautiful spring- 

 blooming bed in the flower garden. Flowers 

 produced in large clusters, of a deep, pure yel- 

 low. It is increased by cuttings and seeds. 

 Good garden soil. The herbaceous species are 

 propagated by division, the sub-shrubby ones 

 by cuttings. Vigorous two-year-old plants are 

 the best for flowering; the others are unimpor- 

 tant. The plant commonly called Sweet Alys- 

 sum is not of this genus; it is Koniga maritima, 

 which see. 



Amaranthus. Amaranth. Derived from a, not, 

 and milraino,lo wither; in reference to the length 

 of time some flowers retain their color. Linn. 

 Moncecia-Penlandria. Nat. Ord. Amaranihacece, 



