14 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



ANC 



Plant. Among the superstitious tales told of it 

 is, that " it first bloomed on Christmas Eve, to 

 salute the birth of the Redeemer, and paid hom- 

 age to His resurrection by remaining expanded 

 until Easter." This curious annual can readily 

 be grown from seed, but will not stand the se- 

 verity of our winters; they can, however, be 

 taken up and kept dry in the house. When 

 wanted to expand, put them in a saucer of 

 water. 



Anchusa. From anchmisa, a cosmetic paint mape 

 from one of the species; used for staining the 

 skin. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Boraginacea'. 



Coarse, hardy herbaceous plants, suitable for 

 deep shrubbery borders or any unfrequented 

 places. Most of the species have purple flowers. 



Andromeda. Rill Calf. A classical name, after 

 the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiope, king and 

 queen of Ethiopia. Linn. Decandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Ericaceae. 



A. Mjiriana, so common on the plains of Long 

 Island, is a beautiful representative of this genus, 

 one much sought after in Europe, where it is 

 considered one of the finest American plants. 

 They are beautiful shrubs, growing about two 

 feet high, with leaves similar to those of the 

 privet; flowers white, in spikesor racemes three 

 to eight inches long, produced in June. They 

 are conspicuous throughout the season on ac- 

 count of their form ancl foliage. Propagated 

 by seeds, which should be sown as soon as ripe. 



Ancylogyne. From ankylos, curved, and gyne, a 

 female ; the pistil is curved. Linn. Diandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Acanthacece. 



A small genus of tropical under-shrubs, with 

 terminal spikes or racemes of showy flowers. A. 

 longiflora, from Guayaquil, is a valuable spe- 

 cies for the green-house. It produces large, 

 drooping panicles of rich purple, tubulous flow- 

 ers, two inches long, and of a most attractive 

 character. Propagated by cuttings. Introduced 

 in 1866. 



Androsace. From aner, a man, and sacos, a buck- 

 ler, in reference to the resemblance of the an- 

 ther to an ancient buckler. Linn. Pentandria- 

 Monogynui. Nat. Ord. Primidacea;. 



The species forming this genus (which is 

 nearly allied to the Primula) are elegant little 

 plants from the Alps. They consist of annuals, 

 biennials, and perennials, all perfectly hardy, 

 and well adapted for rock-work or sunny, ex- 

 posed spots. Propagated by cuttings, or from 

 seeds. 



Anemia. From andmon, naked ; in reference to 

 the naked inflorescence. Linn. Oryptogamia- 

 FiKces. Nat. Ord. Pdypodiacew. 



An extensive genus of tropical Ferns. There 

 are numerous species in the West Indies and 

 South America, some of which are of an orna- 

 mental character, and much prized in collec- 

 tions. A. adiantifdia is one of the most beauti- 

 ful. The genus is more interesting to the bota- 

 nist than the florist. Propagated by spores or di- 

 vision. 



Anemone. "Wind Flower. From anemos, the 

 wind; inhabiting exposed places. Linn. Pdyan- 

 dria-Pdygynia. Nat. Ord. Hanuncidacece. 



The species are showy flowering plants, val- 

 ued for their hardy nature, and also because 

 they will flower at any required season, accord- 

 ing to the time the roots are kept out of the 

 ground. The roots of the Anemone are solid, 

 flattened masses, closely resembling ginger. 

 They should be planted in the garden as early in 



ANO 



the spring as possible, in very rich soil and in par- 

 tial shade. When the tops are dead, take up and 

 store in a dry, airy place, where they will keep 

 well for two years without injuring their vital- 

 ity. For indoor cultivation they can be planted 

 at any time in very rich soil in pots or boxes. 

 The prevailing colors are red, white, and blue; 

 flowers double or semi-double. One of the ear- 

 liest spring flowers is A. nemorosa, the white 

 Wind Flower of our woods. A, pulsatUla and its 

 varieties, with whitish, violet, and purple flow- 

 ers, are known in cottage gardens as Pasque 

 Floicers. 



Angels' Trumpets. A popular name for the 

 flowers of Jlruymansia suaveolens. 



Angelica. The name was given as a record of the 

 Angelic virtues that, in 1573, some of the species 

 were supposed to possess, for not only was it a 

 singular remedy against poison, the plague, all 

 kinds of infection and malaria, but it was in- 

 valuable against witchcraft and enchantments. 

 Linn. Pentandria-lJigynia. Nat. Ord. Apiacece. 



One of the species of this genus is common in 

 moist places, from Pennsylvania southward. The 

 ' ' intrinsic virtues " that it was once supposed to 

 possess are entirely lost, its great virtue now 

 consisting in its efficacy as a trap for earwigs. 

 If the stem be cut in short pieces and thrown 

 among plants, those pests will completely fill 

 the hollow stems, when their destruction is sim- 

 ple and easy. 



Angelica-tree. See Aralia spinosa. 



Angrsecum. From angurek, the Malayan name 

 for Air Plants. Linn. Gynandria-Monandria. Nat. 

 Ord. OrchidacecK. 



An extensive genus of tropical Orchids, 

 embracing a number of classes that are 

 mere weeds and a few very rare and beauti- 

 ful species. Among the latter is A . sesquipedali, 

 a magnificent plant, a native of Madagascar, 

 where it grows in great profusion, covering trees 

 from top to bottom. The stems are three to four 

 feet high, the foliage about a foot long, dark, 

 shining green; flowers six inches in diameter, 

 ivory white, with a tail from ten to eighteen 

 inches long. Unlike many of this order, the 

 plants flower when quite small. The flowers 

 have a powerful fragrance, particularly at night. 

 Propagated by division. 



Anguloa. In honor of Angulo, a Spanish natu- 

 ralist. Linn. Gynandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Orchidacece. 



A small genus of very remarkable terrestrial 

 Orchids, inhabiting the forests of tropical Amer- 

 ica. They have broad, ribbed leaves, short, 

 leafy scapes, bearing a single large fleshy flower, 

 white, yellow, or spotted with crimson, on a 

 pale yellow ground. There are several of the 

 species under cultivation. They are increased 

 by division. Introduced in 1845. 



Animated Oats. See Avena. 



Anise. See PimpineUa anisum. 



Anomatheca. From anomos, singular, and iheca, 

 a capsule or seed pod. Linn. Triandria-Mono- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Iridacece. 



Interesting little bulbous-rooted plants from 

 the Cape of Good Hope. A. cruenta is useful for 

 planting in masses, as it produces its blood- 

 colored flowers in great profusion. They may 

 be increased to almost any extent from seed, and 

 the young plants will bloom the same season if 

 sown in a gentle heat about the early part of 

 March, and afterward removed to the open air. 



Anopteris. From ano, upward, and pteris, a 

 Fern; alluding to the resemblance of the leaves. 



