HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OP PLANTS. 



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Cuba and Jamaica. The flowers are crimson, j 

 and produced from the top of the pseudo-bulb 

 during the summer, and are of long duration, i 

 They are easy of culture, growing best on blocks , 

 of wood, and should have plenty of light and 

 sun. Propagated by division. Introduced in i 

 1824. 



Browallia. Named after J. Browatts, Bishop of 

 Abo. Linn. Didynamia-Angiospermia. Nat. Ord. ] 

 Scroph idaria cecn. 



The Browallias are handsome, free-flowering, ' 

 half-hardy annuals. They succeed best started 

 in the green-house and repotted two or three 

 times ; they can, however, be successfully grown 

 by starting in the hot-bed. Occasionally grow 

 well when sown in the open border. The plants 

 will be completely studded over with their beau- 

 tiful blue and white flowers the whole summer. 

 They are also excellent winter-flowering plants. 

 Propagated from seed. Natives of South Amer- 

 ica. Introduced in 1798 to 1828. 



Brownea. Named in honor of Dr. Patrick Browne, 

 who wrote a history of Jamaica. Linn. Monadel- 

 phia-Decandria. Nat. Ord. Fabacece. 



A small gen us of low evergreen trees, chiefly con- 

 fined to Venezuela and New Granada. The leaves 

 are alternate, and from one to one and a half 

 feet long, with from four to twelve pairs of entire 

 leaflets. The flowers are rose-colored or crim- 

 son, and disposed in terminal or axillary heads, j 

 B. grandiceps has large and beautiful heads of | 

 flowers, of a pink color, arranged in tiers, the 

 outer ones expanding first, followed by the oth- 

 ers until all are open, when the flower-head 

 somewhat resembles that of a Rhododendron. A 

 singular fact in connection with this plant is, 

 that the leaves droop during the day so as to al- 

 most hide the flowers from view, and protect 

 them from the heat of the sun. At evening they 

 rise up again, and remain erect during the 

 night, and the flowers are thus exposed to the 

 falling dew. The species are rarely seen under 

 cultivation. 



Brugmansia. Named in honor of Prof. S. J. 

 Brwjmans, a botanical author. Linn. Pentandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Solanacece. 



Peruvian shrubs, or low, succulent-stemmed j 

 trees, of which B. suaveolens (better known by 

 the name of Datura arborea) and B. sanguinea are 

 magnificent species. Being large plants, grow- 

 ing to the height of ten or twelve feet, they look 

 best when planted in the ground in a conserva- 

 tory ; but they will grow well in large pots, or 

 they may be planted in the open garden in the 

 summer season, and taken up and preserved in 

 a back shed, from which the frost is excluded, ! 

 during winter, to be replaced in the open bor- 

 der the following spring. The flowers are trum- 

 pet-shaped, a foot or more in length, and very 

 fragrant. The plants grow freely in light, rich 

 soil ; and they are readily propagated by cut- 

 tings either of the shoots or roots. 



Brunellia. Self-heal. Name said to be taken from 

 the German braune, a disease of the throat, for 

 which this plant was a reputed remedy. Linn. 

 Didynaiiiia-Gymnospermia. Nat. Ord. Lamiacece. 



A small genus of low-growing weeds, com- I 

 mon everywhere. B. vulgaris has become nat- 

 uralized from Europe, and is common on road- 

 sides. It grows about six inches high, and h;;s 

 pale purple flowers. 



Brunsvigia. Named after the house of BruiiK- 

 wick. Linn. Hexandria-M<in<jt/nia. Nat. Ord. j 

 Amaryttidacece. Of this splendid genus of Cape j 

 bulbs Sweet observes: "Some of the bulbs grow ! 



BUG 



to a great size, and require large pots to have 

 them flower in perfection; or, it planted out in 

 the open borders in spring, there will be a bet- 

 ter chance of their flowering, taking the bulbs 

 up again in autumn ; or the best way to succeed 

 well with them is to have a pit built on purpose 

 for them, so as to occasionally be covered with 

 the lights to keep off too much wet, and to be 

 covered close in severe weather, as they cannot 

 bear the frost. The mould must be -made for 

 them of full one-third sand, more than one-third 

 of turfy loam, and the rest of leaf mould, all well 

 mixed together, but not chopped too small, as 

 the roots run better through it for being rough 

 and hollow. When in full growth and flower 

 they require a frequent supply of water, "but 

 none while dormant." B. Josephince is very sel- 

 dom induced to flower in this country, though 

 no uncommon occurrence in its native country, 

 where it is said to produce very large heads of 

 flowers. Several species flower more freely, 

 though none so grand. Propagated by offsets. 



Brussels Sprouts. See Borecole and Cabbage. 



Bryonia. From bryo, to sprout; in allusion to 

 the quick growth of the stems. Linn. Monoecia- 

 Monaddphia. Nat. Ord. Cucurbitacece. 



A genus of climbing, hardy herbaceous peren- 

 nials, natives of Europe, the East Indies, and 

 the Cape of Good Hope. B. alba and B. dioica 

 are generally considered by botanists to be one 

 species, the only difference being in the color 

 of the berries. This species is what is generally 

 known as the Common Bryony, and is found in 

 the hedgerows of Great Britain. It has a very 

 large tuberous root, from which twining stems 

 spring, which are annual and rough. The plants 

 climb by tendrils, and, what is very unusual, 

 the direction of the spiral is now and then 

 changed, so that, after proceeding in one course 

 for some distance, the tendril suddenly 'changes 

 to an opposite direction. The male and female 

 flowers are in separate clusters; sometimes, 

 though not always, they are on different plants. 

 The plant has a fetid odor, and possesses acrid, 

 emetic, and purgative properties, and from its 

 elegant appearance in autumn, with its brilliant 

 colored fruit, accidents not unfrequently occur 

 to children and others incautiously tasting the 

 fruit, which is an active poison. Singularly 

 enough, the young shoots may be cooked and 

 eaten with impunity. When served up in the 

 same manner as Asparagus, they are said to 

 equal it in flavor. Many of the species are not 

 poisonous, and arc much valued for their medi- 

 cinal properties. 



Bryony. See Bryonia. 



Bryophyllum. So named from bryo, to grow, 

 and phyllon, a leaf; in reference to the circum- 

 stance of the leaf, when laid upon damp earth, 

 emitting roots, whence arise young plants. Linn. 

 Octamlria-Tdragynia. Nat. Ord. Crassulacece. 



B. calycinum, a species common in the green- 

 house, is one of the House Leeks, and a native of 

 India. When in flower it is quite handsome, 

 producing loose panicles of drooping, greenish- 

 purple flowers. It is very easily grown. 



Buckbean. The common name of a plant be- 

 longing to the Gentian family, Menyanthes trifo- 

 lintit, common in wet places, and of little in- 

 terest. 



Buckthorn. See Rhamnus. 



Buckeye. See jEsculus. 



Buckwheat. Fafjopyrum esculentwn. The com- 

 mon Buckwheat is a native of Central Asia, and 

 has long been under cultivation. It is more ex- 



