HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



CLO 



Native of the Cape of Good Hope. Introduced 

 in 1823. 



Cloudberry. See Rubus. 



Clove Tree. Caryopkjflaa aromaticus. The Cloves 

 of commerce are the dried unexpanded flower 

 buds. 



Clover. The common name for Trifolium, espe- 

 cially applied to the kinds cultivated for hay and 

 pasture. 



Club-moss. The common name of Lycopodium 

 cUtrahim. 



Club-rush or Bulrush. The common name of 

 the genus Sclrpus, a common marsh plant. 



Cobeea. Named in honor of B. Cobo, a Spanish 

 botanist. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 PdenioniacecE. 



Both of the two species known of these plants 

 are elegant, fast-growing climbers, which may 

 be grown in the green-house, the conservatory, 

 or the garden in summer, where, from their 

 rapid development, they are particularly desir- 

 able for covering walls, arbors, or other objects 

 of a similar nature. It is preferable to treat 

 them as annuals. The seed should be sown in 

 March, in light, rich soil, on a gentle heat. The 

 young plants should be potted separately into 

 small pots, as soon as they can be handled with 

 safety, using the same kind of soil, and, after 

 being gradually inured to the temperature they 

 are likely to be subject to in their after growth, 

 may finally, when about a foot in height, be 

 placed where they arc to remain. It is seldom 

 that seed is matured in the open air, but in a 

 green-house or conservatory it is produced 

 abundantly. C. scandens, the species in general 

 cultivation, is a native of Mexico, and was in- 

 troduced in 1792. A white flowered variety of 

 C. scandens originated here in 1872, and one with 

 variegated leaves in 1874. 



Coburgia. Named after Prince Leopold of Saxe- 

 Coburg, now King of Belgium. Linn. Hexandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. AmaryttidacecK. 



An interesting genus of half-hardy bulbs from 

 South America, (mostly from Peru,) requiring 

 the same treatment as the Amaryllis formosissi- 

 ma. The flowers are mostly scarlet and very 

 showy. Th'ey require a strong, rich soil. Prop- 

 agated by offsets. Introduced in 1826, but rare- 

 ly seen except in botanical collections. 



Coca. See Erythroxylon. 



Coccinia. Derivation of name not given. Linn. 

 Monoecia-Polyadelphia. Nat. Ord. Cucurbitacece. 



C. Indica, the only species, and formerly called 

 Momordica monadelphia, is a climbing shrub, 

 common in the hedges of India. It has large 

 white flowers. The fruit is oblong, marked 

 with ten white lines. When ripe it is of a red 

 color, and is used by the natives in their sauces. 

 The leaves and other parts of the plants are used 

 in medicine. 



Coccocypselum. From kokko.s, fruit, and kypsele, 

 a vase ; referring to the form of the berries. 

 Linn. Tetrandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Cinchona- 

 cetK. 



A small genus of soft-wooded trailing plants 

 from the West Indies and Central America. C. 

 repens is interesting from its bluish-purple ber- 

 ries. As a genus, they do not occupy a promi- 

 nent place either as ornamental or useful plants. 



Coccoloba. Sea Side Grape. From kokkos, a 

 berry, and lobos, a lobe ; in reference to the fruit. 

 Linn. Odandria-Trigynin. Nat. Ord. Polygonacea;. 

 Most of this genus are tropical evergreen trees, 

 interesting and beautiful, but too large for ordi- 

 nary green-house culture. C. pMyc'.ada is a dwarf 



COG 



species, with curious flat stems, growing from 

 five to ten feet high. It succeeds well planted 

 in an ordinary flower border, and is useful in 

 filling large vases and rustic tubs, or for plant- 

 ing in rock-work. It is propagated freely by 

 cuttings. Old plants flower freely. The flow- 

 ers are small and white, produced at the axils of 

 the leaves. 



Cocculus. Derived from kokkos, the systematic 

 name of the Cochineal ; given to this genus be- 

 cause most of the species bear scarlet berries. 

 Linn. Dioecia-Dodecaiidria. Nat. Ord. Menisper- 

 macece. 



An extensive genus of climbing shmbs, re- 

 markable for their medicinal properties. With 

 one exception the species are all natives of the 

 East Indies. C. (Jarolinuti, common in woods 

 and thickets from North Carolina to Florida, is 

 a very handsome climber, remarkable for its ra- 

 cemes of white flowers, which are succeeded by 

 clusters of bright scarlet berries, that remain on 

 the vine all winter. This is one of the most 

 beautiful climbers under cultivation, and will 

 succeed well where there is not more than ten 

 or twelve degrees of frost. It is increased by 

 cuttings or from seeds. 



Cochlearia. Horse-Radish, which see. 



Cockle. The common name of Lychnis Githago, a 

 troublesome weed in grain fields. Introduced 

 from Europe. 



Cochliostema. From cochlios, spiral, and .sterna, 

 a stamen. Linn. Hexandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Commelynacece. 



A genus of green-house 'perennials allied to 

 Tradescantia, natives of Brazil. They are rather 

 curious in form, having contracted stems and 

 tufted leaves, like those of a Bromelia. The 

 flowers are blue, and borne on branched clus- 

 ters. Of the two species in cultivation, one is 

 small and the other an epiphyte of large size. 

 They are increased by division. Introduced in 

 1866. 



Cocklebur or Clotbur. The popular name of 

 Xanthium, a coarse annual weed, common on the 

 sea-coast, especially southward. 



Cockscomb. See Celosia. 



Cocoanut. The nut of Cocos nucifera, which see. 



Cocos. Cocoanut Tree. From 'the Portugue.se 

 word coco, a monkey; in reference to the end of 

 the nut resembling the head of a monkey. Linn. 

 Monceda-Hexandria,. Nat. Ord. Palinacea;. 



C. nucifera, the well-known Cocoanut Tree, is 

 the type of this genus of Palms, to which, in 

 addition, about a dozen other species belong. 

 They mostly form tall, graceful trees, and the 

 majority of them are natives of the tropical 

 regions of America, one only, the common 

 Cocoanut, being found in Asia or Africa. The 

 trees grow to a great height, with a straight 

 trunk, and, like almost every species of the 

 Palm tribe, without branches. The leaves are 

 from twelve to fifteen feet long. The flowers 

 come out round the top of the trunk in large 

 clusters, inclosed in a sheath, and the nuts suc- 

 ceed them, commonly ten or twelve togetlier. 

 There are few trees more extensively or vari- 

 ously useful. The leaves are employed as 

 thatch to cover houses, and to make mats either 

 for sitting or lying upon. The leaf, when re- 

 duced to fine fibers, is the material of which 

 beautiful and costly carpets are mado for those 

 in the 'higher ranks; the coarse fibers are made 

 into brooms. After these useful materials are 

 taken from this leaf, the stem still remains, 

 which is about three inches thick, and furnifs'ies 



