30 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



BRA 



fidium, but not so popular because of their dull- 

 colored flowers. Some of the species are highly 

 valued by their growers, as they produce, with 

 but little care and trouble, an abundance of 

 flowers from June to August. Flowers mostly 

 yellow, or greenish white, spotted with brown. 

 Introduced in 1844. 



Brassica. Cabbage. From bresic, the Celtic name 

 for Cabbage. Linn. Tetradynamia. Nat. Ord. 

 Brassicacea: 



From this genus, which is found throughout 

 Europe, more particularly in Great Britain, 

 there has been produced a greater variety of 

 culinary vegetables than from any other. It 

 comprehends Cabbage, Cauliflower, Turnip, Bore- 

 cole, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, and Kohl Eabi, 

 each of which will be noticed under its popular 

 name. 



Bravoa. Named after Bravo, a Mexican botanist. 

 Linn. HexandriarMonogynia. Nat. Ord. Amarylli- 



This genus consists of but a single species, 

 B. gemininora, a graceful little tuberous-rooted 

 plant, native of Mexico. The plant has a small 

 tuft of narrow leaves, from which arises a flower 

 spike about a foot high, wkh a terminal cluster 

 of small crimson, Amaryllis-like flowers, in 

 July. It will flower in the open border, but 

 requires the protection of the green-house dur- 

 ing winter. Propagated by division. 



Brazil Nut. See Berthottetia. 



Bread Fruit. See Artocarpus. 



Brexia. From brexis, rain; in reference to the 

 protection from rain given by the large leaves 

 of some of the species. Linn. Pentandria-Mono- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Broxiacece. 



A small genus of very handsome evergreen 

 trees, natives of Madagascar. The flowers are 

 of a leathery texture, greenish color, and pro- 

 duced in axillary umbels. They have alternate 

 leathery leaves, furnished with spiny teeth. 

 They are readily increased by cuttings. The 

 plants are too large for ordinary cultivation in 

 the green-house. 



Bread Nut. See Brosimum. 



Bristly Foxtail Grass. See Setaria. 



Briza. Quaking Grass. From brizo, to nod; on 

 account of the quaking character of the spike. 

 Linn. Triandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. Graminqcece. 

 A handsome genus of grasses, some of which 

 are cultivated in the garden as ornamental 

 plants. The grasses dried are highly esteemed 

 for bouquets of dried flowers and grasses. The 

 kinds usually grown are B. media, a perennial, 

 and B. maxima, a larger species, an annual from 

 the south of Europe. It is of easy culture, re- 

 .where it is wanted to 



grown, in the open border, as early in spring 

 the ground can be prepared. 



Broccoli. .Brassica olcracea botrytis. This vegeta- 

 ble somewhat resembles the Cauliflower, from 

 which it is supposed to have originated, although 

 there is nothing definitely known as to its 

 origin. It is, however, more recent than most 

 others of the genus. Miller says it was intro- 

 duced into England from Italy in 1724, two varie- 

 ties, white and purple, from which all the 

 present garden varieties have been produced. 



Brodisea. Named after J. J. Brodie, a Scotch 

 cryptogamist. Linn. Triandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. LUiacece. 



Very curious little bulbous-rooted plants. B. 

 Calif ornica, with blue and white flowers, is easily 

 cultivated in sandy loam with the convenience 

 of a green-house or good frame. Increase is 



BRO 



sparingly effected by offsets. Introduced in 



Brome Grass. See Bromns. 



Brook Weed or Water Pimpernel. The com- 

 mon name of Samolus, a common plant in wet 

 or marshy places. 



Broom Corn. See Sorghum. 



Broom Rape. A popular name of the genus 

 Orobanche. 



Bromus. Brome Grass. So called from bromos, 

 the Greek name for a wild oat. Linn. Triandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Graminacece. 



A genus of poor, coarse-growing grasses, of 

 little use in agriculture, and of little beauty. 

 This is the pest of the farmer, to which he ap- 

 plies a significant and justly proper name, 

 Cheat or Chess. However much it may cheat 

 the farmer by crowding out Wheat and Rye, 

 we cannot excuse him for cheating himself with 

 the absurd delusion, so widely prevalent, that 

 his Wheat has turned into Chess, from some 

 cause whicb cannot be explained. The species 

 are annuals, and the seed will remain a long 

 time in the ground, and germinate only when 

 the conditions of growth are favorable. It is a 

 native of Europe, though naturalized in many 

 places in this country. 



Brongniartia. Named in honor of Brongniart, a 

 French botanist. Linn. Diadelphia-Decandria. 

 Nat. Ord. Fabacece. 



A valuable and rather scarce plant, having 

 flesh-colored flowers, which should be treated as 

 a green-house shrub, potting it in loam and 

 sand. A native of New Spain. Introduced in 

 1827. 



Brosimum. Bread Nut. From brosimos, good to 

 eat ; the fruit being edible. Linn. Polygamia- 

 Diaecia. Nat. Ord. Artocarpacece. 



A small genus of tall-growing trees, natives of 

 the "SVest Indies and South America, where they 

 are highly esteemed for the food obtained from 

 them, and for the valuable timber they furnish. 

 B. Alicastrum is the Bread-nut Tree of Jamaica, 

 the fruit of which is about an inch in diameter, 

 and contains a single seed or nut, which is said 

 to form an agreeable and nourishing article of 

 food. When boiled or roasted the nuts have the 

 taste of hazel-nuts. Snake-wood or Leopard- 

 wood is the heart-wood of one of the species, B. 

 Aubletti, a native of Trinidad and British Guiana. 

 B. galactodendron, which is the celebrated Cow 

 Tree of South America, yields a milk of as good 

 quality as that from the cow. It forms large for- 

 ests on the seacoast of Venezuela, growing 100 

 or more feet high, with a smooth trunk six to 

 eight feet in diameter. Its milk, which is ob- 

 tained by making incisions in the trunk, so 

 closely ressmbles the milk of the cow, both in 

 appearance and quality, that it is commonly 

 used as an article of food by the inhabitants of 

 the localities where the tree abounds. Unlike 

 most other vegetable milks, it is perfectly whole- 

 some, and very nourishing, possessing an agree- 

 able taste, like that of sweet cream, and a bal- 

 samic odor ; its only unpleasant quality being 

 a slight amount of stickiness. Like animal milk, 

 it quickly forms a yellow, cheesy scum on the 

 surface, and after a few days turns sour and pu- 

 trefies. 



Broughtonia. Named after Mr. Broughton, an 

 English botanist. Linn. Gynandria-Monandria. 

 Nat. Ord. Orchidaceoc.. 



A small genus of very handsome West Indian 

 Orchids, somewhat resembling the Lcelia and 

 Cattteya. They commonly grow on bushes in 



