HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



APH 



A somewhat extensive genus of small ever- 

 green shrubs from New Holland. They are slen- 

 der plants, with heath-like leaves, arranged in 

 whorls round the stem. The flowers are pea- 

 shaped, bright yellow, on short stalks. A. gra- 

 cittima, a native of West Australia, is a favorite 

 species for the green-house. Itis a slender shrub, 

 with copious yellow flowers, which are so thickly 

 set on the stems as to hide the leaves from view. 

 Botanists report several very beautiful species 

 not yet in cultivation. Propagated by seeds. 

 Introduced in 1844. 



Aphelandra. From aphdes, simple, and aner, a 

 male; the anthers being one-celled. Linn. D'tdy- 

 namia-Angiospfrmia. Nat. Ord. Acanikacea;. 



A small genus of dwarf shrubs from tropical 

 America, allied to the Justicia. A crlstata is a 

 remarkably handsome hot-house plant, producing 

 large spikes of bright scarlet flowers. A. auran- 

 tiaca has no less handsome flowers of light 

 orange color, and grows freely in the green- 

 house. They are increased by cuttings. 



car, having much resemblance to that class of 

 everlasting flowers known as Helichrysum. The 

 genus is composed of five species, all of them 

 having very small leaves, which are closely 

 pressed to the stem like those of club-moss. 

 The flowers are solitary, of a pink color, or small 

 yellow, in clusters of two or three. The garden 

 varieties of Aphelexis, and those most common- 

 ly met in the green-house, are natives of the 

 Cape, not Madagascar, and are generally placed 

 in the genus Hdipterum. A. humUis is one of the 

 finest green-house plants. When in bloom it 

 remains in perfection for six or seven weeks. 

 Propagated by cuttings, or from seed. Intro- 

 duced in 1796. 



Aphyllantb.es. Its stems are like a rush, and 

 bear on their summits a little tuft of flowers; 

 hence the name, from aphyllos, leafless, and an- 

 tiios, a flower. Linn. Hexandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. LiliacecK. 



A small genus of hardy herbaceous, rush-like 

 perennials, common in Southern Europe. The 

 flower scape is very slender and grass-like, and 

 bears a cluster of small blue flowers, that are of 

 but short duration. This plant is of consider- 

 able interest to the botanist, but not of the 

 slightest use to the florist or gardener. 



Apios. From apion, a pear; in reference to the 

 form of the roots. Linn. Diaddphia-Decandria. 

 Nat. Ord. Fabacece. 



A. tuberosa, the only species, is found in the 

 woods and hedges from Massachusetts to the 

 Carolinas. It is an elegant climbing plant allied 

 to the Wistaria. It bears large clusters of brown- 

 ish-purple, sweet-scented flowers in July. Read- 

 ily propagated by division of tubers, which are 

 edible. Commonly known as Ground-nut. 



Aplectrum. Putty Root. Adam-and-Eve. From 

 a, not, and plektron, a spur; the flower without 

 spurs. Linn. (tynandria-Monandria. Nat. Ord. 

 OrchidacetK. 



A. hyemale, the only species, is a hardy bulb- 

 ous Orchid. The flowers are produced in sum- 

 mer in a raceme a foot or more high, and are of 

 a dingy color, more curious than beautiful. The 

 plant is occasionally met only in the Northern 

 and Eastern States. 



Aplopappus. A synonym of Haplopappus, a 

 genus of ComposUce, of but little interest. 



Apocynum. Indian Hemp. From apo, from, 



AQU 



and kyon, a dog; poisonous to dogs. Linn. Pen- 

 tandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Apocynacece. 



A genus of hardy herbaceous perennials, in- 

 digenous throughout the United States. A. can- 

 nabinum is commonly called Indian Hemp, 

 from the fact of the Indians using the fibrous 

 bark as a substitute for hemp in making their 

 fishing-nets, mats, clothing, and various other 

 articles for which the true Hemp is generally 

 used. A. androscemifolium is termed by English 

 botanists the "Fly Trap of North Am erica, "and 

 cultivate it as an object of curiosity. They do 

 not class it as insectivorous further than that its 

 flowers catch and kill the flies, but do not feed 

 upon them. None of thespecies possesses suffi- 

 cient beauty to warrant its introduction into the 

 garden. 



Apple. Pyrus Mains. The history of the Apple 

 shares obscurity with all the fruits, vegetables, 

 and flowers that were in cultivation before any 

 records were kept; consequently speculation 

 must take the place of facts in connection with 

 the early history of this valuable fruit. The first 

 account of this fruit is given in Genesis, which 

 is as unsatisfactory as the effect to humanity is 

 supposed to have been in the eating of it. The 

 general opinion is that the origin of the culti- 

 vated Apple is the wild Crab, which is found in- 

 digenous in nearly all parts of Europe, as well 

 as in most parts of the United States. Where, 

 when, or how the improvement in this fruit com- 

 menced we cannot conjecture. Pliny mentions 

 Apple trees "that will honor the first grafters 

 forever;" and every subsequent mention of this 

 fruit shows marked improvement in the quality, 

 as well as in the quantity produced. To the 

 mother country we are indebted for the parents 

 of the many choice varieties that have rewarded 

 the skill and industry of our horticulturists, a 

 record of which the limits of this work will not 

 warrant. Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of 

 America contains all that is known in regard to 

 the Apple, and may be consulted with profit. 



Apple of Peru. The fruit of Nicandra physaloides. 



Apples of Sodom. See Solanum Carolinense. 



Apricot. Prunus Armeniaca. The Apricot is a 

 native of Central Asia, China, Japan, Armenia, 

 and Arabia. In all these countries it is found 

 in its native state, and is also extensively culti- 

 vated. The difference in the quality of this fruit 

 in its wild and cultivated states is not so great 

 as in most other fruits, nature having left less 

 work for man to do in order to enjoy it in its 

 highest condition. The fruit or pulp of the 

 wild Apricot, however, does not compare with 

 many of the cultivated varieties that have re- 

 sulted from selections, yet it is a fair and whole- 

 some fruit. The Apricot is extensively grown 

 in China and Japan, and the natives employ it 

 variously in the arts. The Persians also grow 

 this fruit extensively; so highly do they esteem 

 it that they call it the " Seed of the Sun." The 

 Apricot was introduced into England in 1524 by 

 Woolf, the gardener to Henry VHI. Parkinson 

 (1629) mentions eight varieties. Since then 

 many varieties have been added to the list, 

 which is by no means so extensive as that of 

 other kinds of fruit. The ravages of the Cur- 

 culio prevent the cultivation of this excellent 

 fruit in some parts of this country ; but for that 

 pest it could be produced in the greatest abund- 

 ance at a very low price. 



Aquilegia. Columbine. From aqutta, an eagle ; 

 alluding to the form of the petal. Linn. Poly- 

 andria-Penlagynia. Nat. Ord. Eanunculacece. 



