4-2 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



CEN 



A genus of hardy deciduous, low, or medium - 

 sized trees, of an ornamental character. Several 

 of the species and their varieties are common in 

 the Southern and Western States, where they 

 have received the various popular names above 

 given. 



Centaurea. The classical name of a plant fabled 

 by Ovid to have cured a wound in the foot of 

 Chiron made by the arrow of Hercules. Linn. 

 Syngenesia-Fnistranea. Nat. Ord. Cbmposita;. 



An extensive genus of hardy herbaceous per- 

 ennial and annual plants, varying in height 

 from one to five feet, and of nearly every shade 

 of color from yellow to red, blue, or deep pur- 

 ple. As they continue to bloom for a long time, 

 they are well suited for the margin of borders in 

 the flower garden, and some of the dwarf species 

 may be even admitted into beds. The peren- 

 nial kinds grow in almost any description of 

 soil, nor are the annuals more particular ; they 

 merely require to be sown where they are to re- 

 main, being afterward thinned to the proper 

 distances from each other. C. candidissima and 

 C. gymnocarpa are natives of the Levant, and are 

 most valuable border plants, their leaves being 

 heavily clothed on both sides with a white, 

 downy covering, which gives them a striking 

 aspect. Propagated by seed sown in January 

 or February in a hot-bed. 



Centauridium. Origin of name unknown. Linn. 

 Syngenesia-Fnistranea. Nat. Ord. Composites. 



The only species of this is C. Drummondi, a 

 Texas plant, free flowering, and succeeding well 

 in a light soil. Color bright orange. A hardy 

 annual, growing freely from seed. 

 Centranthus. From kentron, a spur, and anthos, 

 & flower ; referring to the spur-like process at 

 the base of the flower. Linn. Monandria-Mono- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Valerianacece. 



A small genus of hardy annuals from Grenada, 

 and herbaceous perennials from the south of Eu- 

 rope. They are mostly of compact habit, free 

 flowering, and very pretty. The annuals are 

 well adapted for rock-work or ribbon borders, 

 and grow freely in common garden soil. Intro- 

 duced in 1849. 



Centropogon. From kentron, a spur, and pogon, 

 a beard ; in reference to the fringe which en- 

 velops the stigma. Linn. Pentandria-Monofiuni-a. 

 Nat. Ord. Lobdiacece. 



A small genus of very handsome herbaceous 

 perennials from Surinam and Guatemala. One 

 of the species bears edible fruit. C. tovariensis 

 is a very beautiful plant for the green-house, 

 having rosy-crimson flowers, similar in form to 

 the Lobelias, but of larger size, produced singly 

 on short axillary peduncles . They are increased 

 by division or from seed. Introduced in 1786. 

 Century Plant. See Agave. 



Cephalotus. From kephalotes, headed ; its fila- 

 ments of stamens are capitate. Linn. Dodecan- 

 dria-Hexagynia. Nat. Ord. Cephalotacecu. 



A genus of very singular dwarf Pitcher Plants. 

 C.follicularis, the only species, is a native of 

 swampy places in King George's Sound. It 

 has a very short or contracted stem, -with spoon- 

 shaped stalked leaves, among which are mingled 

 small pitcher-like bodies, placed on short, stout 

 stalks, and closed at the top with lids like the 

 true Pitcher Plants (Nepenthes). These pitchers 

 are of a green color, spotted with yellow or 

 brown, and provided with hairs. The flowers 

 are white, small, and produced on a long spike 

 Propagated by offsets. Introduced in 1822 

 Cerastium. Mouse-ear Chickweed. Fromfceras 



CER 



a horn ; because many of the species have cap- 

 sules like an ox's horn. Linn. Decandria-Pett- 

 tagi/nirt. Nat. Ord. CaryophyllacecK. 



Of this somewhat extensive genus only a few 

 of the species are worthy of cultivation, but 

 none of the annuals. Some of the hardy trailing 

 species are quite ornamental when used for 

 edgings or rock-work. Propagated by division 

 of the roots or by seeds. Introduced in 1814. 

 Cerasus. Cherry. From Cerasus, a town of Pon- 

 tus, in Asia, whence the Cherry was brought 

 to Rome by Lucullus. Linn. Icosandria-Mono- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Drupacece. 



A genus of hardy deciduous trees and shrubs, 

 the species and varieties including some of our 

 most ornamental trees for the lawn, as well as 

 highly prized fruit trees for the orchard. The 

 numerous varieties of cultivated Cherries are 

 supposed to have originated from C. avium and 

 C. vulgaris. Those belonging to C. avium are 

 best represented by the Bigarreau and Black 

 Heart varieties ; those of C. vulgaris by the May 

 Duke and Morello. Both of these species ap- 

 pear to be natives of Europe, although Pliny 

 states that there were no Cherries in Italy before 

 the victory obtained over Mithridates by Lucul- 

 lus, who was, according to the above author, the 

 first who brought them to Rome, about sixty- 

 eight years before the Christian era. It is also 

 stated by the same authority, that "in less than 

 120 years after, other lands had Cherries, even 

 as far as Britain beyond the ocean." Theo- 

 phrastus, 300 years B.C., mentions the Cherry as 

 being common in Greece, from which some writ- 

 ers contend that the name of the city was de- 

 rived from the tree, instead of the tree from the 

 town or city. The well-known Wild Cherry of 

 our woods is C. serotina. The common double 

 Cherry and the French double Cherry deserve a 

 place in every garden ; and equally so do the 

 Chinese Cherry, C. pseudo-cerasus ; the All-Saints' 

 Cherry, C. semperflprens ; the Bird Cherry, C. 

 padus ; the Virginian Bird Cherry or Choke 

 Cherry, C. Virginiana. 



Ceratonla. Carob Tree. From keras, a horn ; in 

 reference to the shape of the seed-pod. Linn. 

 Polygamia-Dicecia. Nat. Ord. Fabacece. 



C. siliqua, the only species, is a tree of medium 

 size, growing extensively in the south of Eu- 

 rope, particularly in some of the Spanish prov- 

 inces, and produces a fruit known as the Carob 

 Sean, which is an important article of commerce. 

 It is chiefly used for the feeding of'cattle, but is 

 largely used by the poor for food when there is 

 a scarcity of grain. This is generally consid- 

 ered the Locust Tree of Scripture ; and in Spain, 

 where the seeds are eaten, it is called St. John's 

 Bread. Under this name the pods are often sold 

 on the streets in New York. It is now generally 

 supposed that the shells of the Carob pod were 

 the husks that the prodigal son desired to par- 

 take of with the swine. 



Ceratostema. From keras, a horn, and sterna, a 

 stamen ; the anthers are spurred. Linn. Decan- 

 dria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Vacciniaceai . 



A small genus of very pretty green-house 

 evergreen shrubs, natives of Peru. The flowers 

 are tubular, of orange, crimson, or scarlet color, 

 produced in terminal clusters in May. Propa- 

 gated by cuttings . Introduced in 1846. 

 Ceratozamia. A genus of Cycadacea;, deriving 

 its name from the presence of two horns on the 

 scales of its Zarnia-like fruit. C. Fusco-viridis is 

 a magnificent plant of recent introduction from 

 Mexico. It is a tree of moderate size, with 



