HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



BOU 



scrambling habit. They are remarkable for their 

 beautiful rose-colored bracts, in cones, like 

 those of the Hop. Those of B. spedabilis are sin- 

 gularly handsome. They are natives of the 

 warmer parts of South America. Propagated by 

 cuttings. 

 Bouncing Bet. A popular name of Saponaria 



Bourbon Palm. See Latania. 



Boussingaultia. Madeira Vine. Named in honor 

 of J. B. Boussim fault, a celebrated naturalist and 

 traveler. Linn. Hexandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 BasdlaceoK. 



The only species, B. baseUoides, is an elegant 

 climbing tuberous-rooted plant from the Andes, 

 a rapid grower and profuse bloomer. The flowers 

 are nearly white and deliciously fragrant. It 

 grows readily in any garden soil, and is readily 

 increased by division or by seed. Introduced 

 in 1836. 



Bouvardia. Named after Dr. Bouvard, curator j 

 of the Botanic Garden, Paris. Linn. Tetrandria- I 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Cinchonacece. 



Green-house evergreen shrubs, introduced : 

 from Mexico. Many new varieties have been | 

 produced in this country, chiefly by sports, the j 

 best of which for florists' use is B. Hendersonii, by j 

 John Henderson, of Flushing, and B. Davkhonii, 

 by William Davidson, of Brooklyn. In moist, , 

 rich soils it will bloom freely in the autumn i 

 months, if planted out in the garden. The sev- i 

 oral varieties arc extensively used for cut flow- | 

 crs in winter. Propagated by root cuttings, or I 

 by cuttings of young wood in sand. 



Bowenia. In honor of W. G. Botoen, a governor j 

 of Queensland. Linn. Dioecia-Polyandria. Nat. I 

 Ord. Cycadacece. 



A remarkable genus of Oycadacea;, consisting ; 

 of but one species, which was discovered in 1 

 Australia in 1819. The species is described in the 

 Botanical Magazine as follows: "The most prom- i 

 inent character of Bowenia is the compound leaf, | 

 itsgeneral characters, (all but chape,) texture, and | 

 venation ; the leaflets do not differ from those of j 

 Macrozamia, and are so very similar to those of 

 the West Indian Zamias that it is difficult to dis- j 

 tinguish them gcnerically, except that in Bow- ! 

 enia the leaflet is decurrent by the petiole, | 

 and not articulated with the rachis." The fern- \ 

 like aspect presented by this plant is very re- j 

 markable and interesting, giving it a prominent 

 position in the green-house. Propagated by < 

 seeds or from suckers. 



Box. The common name of Buxus sempervirens, a | 

 plant at one time much xised for edgings in or- j 

 namental gardening. It is a native of Europe } 

 and Asia, and is readily increased by cuttings. 



Boxberry. A name sometimes applied to the 

 Wintergreen, Gaullheria procitmbens. 



Box Elder. See Negundo. 



Brachychiton. From brachys, short, and chiton, 

 a tunic. Linn. Polygamia-Moncecia. Nat. Ord. 

 SterculacecK. 



A genus of tropical and sub-tropical trees from 

 Australia. B. acerifolium is called the Flame 

 Tree about Illawarra, on account of its bright 

 scarlet flowers, which make the tree a conspicu- 

 ous object at a distance. B. Bidwillii, a native of 

 the Wide Bay district, has bright crimson flow- 

 ers, produced in axillary bunches. B. Delabechia 

 is a very interesting species, popularly known as 

 the Bottle Tree of Australia. 



Brachycome. From bmchys, short, and kome, 

 hair. Linn. Syngenesia-Polygamia-Superflua. Nat. 

 Ord. Composita.'. 



BRA 



This beautiful annual is found on the banks 

 of the Swan River, in Australia, and has there 

 the very appropriate name of Swan River Daisy, 

 as the flower closely resembles the Daisy. The 

 plant grows from six to ten inches high, and has 

 a closely compact branching habit, producing 

 an abundance of flowers. It is well adapted for 

 small beds or rockeries. Propagated by seeds. 

 Introduced in 1840. 



Brachysema. From brachys, short, and sema, 

 standard ; the flowers having the standard petal 

 short. Linn. Decandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Fabacece. 



A genus of handsome green-house shrubs, 

 mostly climbing, from Australia. B. aphyUum is, 

 as its name would imply, a leafless plant, the 

 branches being singularly compressed and 

 winged, so as to perform the functions of 

 leaves. Small brown scales are found scattered 

 over these branches, and from these the flowers 

 grow. They are single, large, and of a bright 

 blood-red color. B. lanceolatum is a very hand- 

 some species, and well adapted for the green- 

 house, flowering, as it does, in winter or the 

 early spring months. Its leaves are ovate or 

 lanceolate in form, with a glossy upper surface, 

 and covered with a silvery pubescence under- 

 neath. The flowers are in axillary clusters, 

 large, and rich scarlet. 



Bracted Bindweed. See Calystegia. 



Brahea. Derivation of name not given. Linn. 

 Ilexandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Palmacece. 



A genus of medium-sized Palms, with fan-like 

 leaves and spiny leaf-stalks. B. jtiamentosa, a 

 native of Lower California, is largely cultivated 

 in our green-houses for decorative purposes. It 

 is of graceful habit and rapid growth, succeed- 

 ing well with but little care in the green-house. 

 This species is also known as Pritchardia filifera. 

 It is now said that B.Jilamentosa is neither a Bra- 

 hea nor a Pritchardia, and it is therefore proposed 

 to call it Washingtonia. Young plants are ob- 

 tained from seed. 



Brainea. After J. C. Braine, of Hong Kong. 

 Linn. Cryptogamia-Filices. Nat. Ord. Polypo- 

 diacece. 



B. insigna, the only known species, is a very 

 handsome dwarf Tree Fern, a native of Hong 

 Kong. The stem is from three to four feet high ; 

 the fronds about three feet long, finely pinnate, 

 giving the plant an elegant outline. Sir W. J. 

 Hooker says : ' ' Wo have here a very remarkable, 

 and, if I may say so, a new form among the 

 Ferns." 



Brake or Bracken. The popular name of Pleris 

 aquilina, one of our common and strong-growing 

 Ferns. 



Bramble. See Rubus. 



Brassavola. Named after A. M. Brassavola, a 

 Venetian botanist. Linn. Gynandria-Monandria. 

 Nat. Ord. Orchidaceft;. 



A small genus of epiphytal Orchids, belong- 

 ing exclusively to tropical America. But few of 

 the species have merits that entitle them to a 

 place in general collections. The few are of 

 easy culture, and produce flowers nearly six 

 inches across, white, or creamy white, spotted 

 with chocolate. The plants are all dwarf, with 

 very short flower stems. They are usually grown 

 on a block, in a rather high temperature. In- 

 creased by division. Introduced in 1840. 



Brassia. Named after Mr. Brass, a skillful bo- 

 tanical traveler and draughtsman. Linn. Gynan- 

 dria-Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchl<l<i<-< < . 

 This genus of Orchids is aearly allied to On- 



