HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



COL 



a frame. The flower stems are erect, some- 

 what rigid, slightly curved at the top, and ter- 

 minated with an umbel of large, pendulous flow- 

 ers, upward of two inches long ; sepals orange 

 red, tipped with black ; petals yellow, tipped 

 with green. Propagated by offsets. 



Collards. (Brassica olfracert'.) This is a curled- 

 leafed variety of Cabbage grown for "greens," 

 but mostly in the Southern States. It attains 

 a height of from six to eight feet. This stem is 

 an inch and a half to two inches in diameter, 

 and is used to a considerable extent in Europe 

 for making light walking canes. 



Collinsia. In honor of Z. Collins, Vice-President 

 of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. 

 Linn. Didynamia-Anqiospermia. Nat. Ord. Scro- 

 phulariaceai. 



A genus of free-flowering California annuals 

 of great beauty, and deserving of cultivation, 

 being well adapted for massing and for mixed 

 borders. For massing the seed should be sown 

 thick, so as to thin out to four inches apart, which 

 will give the bed an appearance of a solid mass. 

 For this purpose the dwarf species are to be 

 preferred, the latter ones being more suitable 

 for mixed borders. There is a great variety of 

 color, white, purple, and crimson predominat- 

 ing. First introduced in 1826. 



Collinsonia. Horse-Balm. Named in honor of 

 Peter CoUinson, a well-known patron of science 

 and correspondent of Linnasus, who introduced 

 it into England. Linn. Diandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. I/imiacetK. 



A genus of strong-scented perennial herbs, 

 common throughout the United States. None 

 of the species has any special merit that would 

 warrant its cultivation. 



Collomia. From kolla, glue ; referring to the 

 glue which surrounds the seeds. Linn. Pentan- 

 dria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Polemcniacece. 



A genus of hardy annuals from California. 

 They are showy plants, but too coarse and weedy 

 in appearance to entitle them to a place in choice 

 collections. They grow readily from seed, and 

 when once planted need no care except to exter- 

 minate the surplus quantity. 



Colocasia. From kolokasia, the Greek for the root 

 of an Egyptian plant. Linn. Monoecia-Heptan- 

 dria. Nat. Ord. Aracece. 



An interesting genus closely allied to the C r ila- 

 dium, most of the species being known under that 

 name. C. tnacrorhizi is a beautiful green-house 

 plant, remarkable for the bold and distinct mark- 

 ings of the foliage, consisting of light green and 

 pure white. C. etsadenta is a favorite plant for 

 single specimens on the lawn, or for borders of a 

 sub-tropical group, in a deep, rich soil. If freely 

 watered, the leaves will sometimes grow four 

 feet in length by three feet in width. This spe- 

 cies is grown extensively in the Sandwich Is- 

 lands for food, and is called by the natives 

 Tara, the root being eaten like Potatoes, and the 

 leaves cooked like Spinach. The roots are also 

 eaten by the negroes in the Southern States, 

 imd are called by them Tam/nli. 



Cologania. In honor of the family of M. Colo- 

 qan, of Port Oratavo, in Teneriffe, from whom 

 the men of science, visiting that island, expe- 

 rienced the greatest hospitality. Linn. Diadd- 

 phia- Tetragynia. Nat. Ord. Faljawtr. 



A small genus of evergreen climbers, allied to 

 the Clitoria, and requiring the same treatment. 

 The flowers are of a lively purple, generally in 

 pairs at the axils of the leaves. They are natives 

 of Mexico. Introduce;! in 1827. 



COM 



Colt's Foot. See TussUago. 



Columbine. See Aquileyia. 



Columbo. See Frasera. 



Columnea. Named after Fabius Columna, an 

 Italian nobleman. Linn.Didynamia-Angiospermia. 

 Nat. Ord. Cfesneracece. 



A small genus of curious and beautiful green- 

 house plants, natives of New Grenada. The 

 species are divided between climbers and shrubs. 

 The flowers of the climbers are mostly yellow 

 and orange; of the shrubs, rose and purple. 

 They are propagated by cuttings, and should be 

 carefully watered. They require but little at 

 any time. They will grow on blocks of wood, 

 with moss, suspended in the green-house. In- 

 troduced in 1850. 



Combretum. An ancient name adopted from 

 Pliny. Linn. Octandrvi-Monoaynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Gimbretacece. 



This genus contains several species, all re- 

 markable for the elegance and brilliant colors 

 of the flowers, which are produced in large 

 panicles. They are desirable for covering the 

 roof or columns of an extensive hot-house. They 

 grow well in a mixture of leaf mould and loam, 

 and require to be pruned back closely every 

 winter, as it is on the young wood only that 

 flowers are produced. Most of the species are 

 from South America and Africa. Propagated 

 by cuttings of well-ripened wood. 



Comesperma. From korne, hair, and sperma, a 

 seed ; in reference to the seeds being enveloped 

 with hairs. Linn. Monaddphia-Odandr'm. Nat. 

 Ord. Pdygcdacece. 



A small genus of green-house evergreens from 

 Australia. Their handsome flowers of yellow, 

 white, or purple, borne on terminal or axillary 

 racemes, make them desirable plants. They 

 are easily grown in an ordinary green-house. 

 Propagated by cuttings. 



Comfrey. See Symphytum. 



Commelyna. Dill, Day Flower. Named after 

 J. and 0. Commdyn, famous Dutch botanists. 

 Linn. Triandriz-Mbnogynia. Nat. Ord. Commely- 



An extensi 



hardy and green-house trailers, found through- 

 out the Southern States and in South America. 

 It is only the hardier species that can now be 

 considered worth cultivation. C. ccelestis forms 

 an excellent border plant. . Its flowers are blue, 

 of a brighter shade than perhaps is to be found 

 elsewhere in the whole range of vegetable forms. 

 The tubers of this plant should be taken up in 

 winter, and, indeed, receive the treatment of 

 Dahlias, except that they do not require to be 

 placed in any elevated temperature to induce 

 them to start into growth. The annual species 

 should be sown in March where they are to re- 

 main. 



Comparettia. Named after Cbmparetti, an Italian 

 botanist. Linn. Gyn r indna-Monandria. Nat. Ord. 

 OrchidacefK. 



A genus of epiphytal Orchids, with small rose, 

 purple, or scarlet flowers, produced in small 

 bunches on long stalks. They are natives of 

 Mexico and South America, and succeed best 

 when grown on cork, with a little moss, in a 

 shaded house. The flowers retain their beauty 

 a long time. Introduced in 1838. 

 Comptonia. Sweet Fern. Named after B'ishop 

 Gnnpton, an ardent cultivator of exotics and 

 patron of botany. Linn. Jfbnawfo-lVtalidrkh 

 Nat. Ord. MyricacffK. 



A hardy deciduous shrub, common through- 



