HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



CER 



leaves from three to four feet long, broadly 



E innate, and of a fine arching habit. The young 

 saves are of a rich, bronzy chocolate color, grad- 

 ually changing to olive green, and ultimately 

 developing into deep green. Young plants are 

 obtained by suckers or from seed. 

 Cercis. Judas Tree. From kerkis, a shuttlecock ; 

 the name given by Theophrastus. Linn. De- 

 candria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Fabacecr. 



A genus of handsome, low-growing trees, with 

 singular leaves and very showy flowers. The 

 flowers have an agreeable acid taste, and are fre- 

 quently used by the French in salads, or made 

 into fritters with batter, and the flower buds are 

 pickled in vinegar. It is an ornamental tree in 

 spring, as the flowers completely clothe the 

 branches, and even the upper part of the trunk, 

 with purple before the leaves appear. C. sili- 

 quastrum is a native of the south of Europe, 

 and of which Gerarde, in compliance with the 

 popular notions of his time, says: "This is the 

 tree whereon Judas did hang himself ; and not 

 upon the Elder Tree, as it is said." (Herbal, 

 1596.) C. Canadensis, a native species, is com- 

 mon on the banks of streams from Canada to 

 Louisiana. C. Japonicct, from Japan, is a very 

 dwarf tree or shrub, and exceedingly beautiful. 

 Cereus. From cereus, waxy ; referring to the 

 shoots of some of the species being easily bent. 

 lAnn. Icosandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Cactacea'. 

 An extensive genus, the species of which are 

 remarkable for their singularity of form, and 

 for the beauty of their flowers. Few classes pre- 

 sent greater contrasts. Some are round, some 

 angular, some smooth, and others fluted. Some 

 are climbers or creepers, while others grow like 

 huge trees, attaining a height of sixty feet with a 

 diameter of two or three feet. The night-bloom- 

 ing section is very interesting and beautiful. C. 

 grandMorus, the type, usually requires age to 

 flower well. A strong plant will frequently have 

 six to ten exceedingly large and beautiful sweet- 

 scented flowers open in an evening. They are 

 very transient, lasting only a few hours, neither 

 dp they open again when once closed. They be- 

 gin to open between six and eight o'clock in the 

 evening, are fully expanded by eleven, and by 

 three or four in the morning they are closed; 

 but during their short continuance there is 

 scarcely any flower of greater beauty, or that 

 makes a more magnificent appearance. The flow- 

 ers of the night-blooming section vary in size 

 from six to fourteen inches in diameter, according 

 to the species, C. MacDonaldi being the largest, 

 and sometimes measuring fourteen to sixteen 

 inches. The sepals in some are brown, in others 

 brownish-yellow, and in others again pinkish- 

 brown. The petals in some are pale, yellowish 

 white, and in others pure white. The sta- 

 mens are usually a bright yellow. Some are 

 sweet-scented, others the reverse, while some 

 are odorless, but all are beautiful. The flowers 

 of the day-blooming section are usually small, 

 but very bright and pretty. For other kinds of 

 night-bloomers see Phyllocactus. For culture see 

 Cactus. 



Cerinthe. Honeywort. From keros, wax, and 

 anihos, a flower ; referring to its being a favorite 

 flower with bees. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Boraginacece. 



A small genus of hardy annuals, common in 

 Central Europe. One species, a native of the 

 south of France, is a hardy perennial. The an- 

 nuals have long been cultivated in gardens, 

 under the name of Honeywort. They have yel- 



CHA 



low flowers, tubular, in one-sided drooping ra- 

 cemes. They sow themselves when once plant- 

 ed, and require but little care. 

 Ceroxylon. Wax Palm. From keros,, wax, and 

 xylon, wood ; the trunk being coated with wax. 

 Linn. Monoecia-Polyandrw. Nat. Ord. PalniacecK. 

 A small genus of Palms, consisting of three 

 species, two of which are handsome trees of great 

 size. C. andicola, the Wax Palm of New Grena- 

 da, was discovered by the celebrated traveler, 

 Humboldt, who describes the tree as attaining 

 the prodigious height of one hundred and sixty 

 feet, while it differs from other species 01' 

 Palms in flourishing under a much colder tem- 

 perature, it being found on elevated mountains, 

 extending as high as the lower limit of perpet- 

 ual snow. Its tall trunk is covered with a thin 

 coating of a whitish, waxy substance, giving it a 

 marbled appearance. This substance forms an 

 article of commerce, and is obtained by scrap- 

 ing the trunk. It consists of two parts resin 

 and one of wax. It is mixed with tallow and 

 made into candles, which are of superior qual- 

 ity. The trunk yields a valuable timber, used 

 for building purposes, and the leaves are used 

 for thatching roofs. Propagated from seed. 

 Oestrum. Derivation of name unknown. Linn. 

 Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Solanacecv. 



Green-house shrubs, natives of the East Indies 

 and South America. C. nocturnum, frequently- 

 called the Night-Blooming Jasmine, is a much 

 esteemed species, which flowers abundantly all 

 summer, if planted in the open air in May, and 

 fills the whole garden with its fragrance at night, 

 though perfectly inodorous during the day. It 

 should be taken up in autumn, and if kept in a 

 box or pot, rather dry, may be easily preserved 

 in a warm cellar until spring. 

 Ceterach. From Chetherak, the Arabic name. 

 Linn. Cryptogamia-Filices. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacea*. 

 A small genus of Ferns, somewhat resembling 

 the Aspleniums. C. qfficinarum, the Scale Fern, 

 is an interesting species, suitable for rock-work, 

 but impatient of much water, as are all of the 

 species. Both the hardy and green-house spe- 

 cies are valuable in collections. They are natives 

 of Great Britian and the Canary Islands. 

 Chain Fern. See Woodwardia. 

 Charneedorea. From chamai, dwarf, and dorea, a 

 gift ; referring to the nuts of this Palm being 

 easily reached. Linn. Dicecia-Hexandria. Nat. 

 Ord. Palma ;eo?. 



A genus of Palms containing about forty spe- 

 cies, common in Mexico and South America. C. 

 ErnesU-Augusti is a small species, a native of 

 New Grenada. It grows from four to five feet 

 high, with wedge-shaped leaves about two feet 

 long. The female flower spikes of this species, 

 which are very beautiful, are about a foot long, 

 cylindrical, and undivided. At first they are of 

 a dark green color, studded with red, bead-like 

 flowers. After these fall away, the spike be- 

 comes a bright coral-red color. Several of the 

 species are interesting green-house plants, and 

 are readily grown from seed. 

 Chameepeuce. From chamai, dwarf, tai&peuke, 

 a pine ; resemblance. Linn. Synyenetsia-^EqiiaUa. 

 Nat. Ord. Asleracect'. 



A genus of uninteresting plants, annuals, per- 

 ennials, and biennials, common throughout Eu- 

 rope. None of them is considered of sufficient 

 intereslto cultivate. 



Chamaerops. From chamai, dwarf, and rhops, 

 a twig ; most of the species being dwarf. Linn. 

 Polygamia-Dioecia. Nat. Ord. Palmaren>. 



