HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



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out the Northern States on poor soils. It is pop- 

 ularly known as Sweet Fern from its aromatic 

 scent, and the resemblance of the leaves to the 

 fronds of the Aspleniums. A decoction or ten 

 made of the leaves is useful, applied externally, 

 in cases of poisoning by the Poison Ivy. 



Conanthera. From fcmtoti a cone, and anlhera, 

 an anther, or pollen bag; in reference to the six 

 anthers forming a cone in the early stage of the 

 flower. Linn. Hetandria-Monoijijnia. Nat. Ord. 

 LUiacece. 



This is a small genus of Chilian bulbs, but 

 little known because of the difficulty of preserv- 

 ing them. They produce beautiful blue flowers 

 in panicles on a stalk about one foot high. They 

 require, like all Chilian bulbs, a light, dry soil. 

 They will endure our climate with but little 

 protection, if kept nearly dry during winter. 

 They are rapidly increased by offsets. Intro- 

 duced in 1823. 



Cone Flower. See Rudbeckia. 



Conium. Poison Hemlock. From konos, to whirl 

 around; in reference to the giddiness caused by 

 eating the leaves. Linn. Poitandria-Monoyyma. 

 Nat. Ord. Apiacecv. 



This genus is almost identical with Cicuta, or 

 Water Hemlock. C. inaculahtm is a strong-grow- 

 ing, branching herb, the juices of which are 

 deadly poisonous. Common in marshy places. 

 Naturalized from Europe. 



Conoclinium. Mist-Flower. From konos, a cone, 

 and kline, a bed; from the conical receptacle. 

 Linn. Syngenesla-JEqualis. Nat. Ord. Asleracen'. 

 C. coelestinum, the only species of much inter- 

 est, is a hardy herbaceous perennial, with term- 

 inal corymbs of violet-purple or blue flowers, 

 common in the Southern and Western States. 

 It is commonly called Eupatorium, from which 

 it differs only in the receptacle. They are rap- 

 idly increased by division or from seed. 



Conopholis. Squaw Boot, Cancer Eoot. From 

 konos, a cone, and pholis, a scale; resembling 

 a fir cone. Linn. D'tdynamia-Angiospermia. Nat. 

 Ord. OrobanchacecK. 



0. Americana, is a very singular little plant, 

 common in oak woods, growing in clusters 

 among fallen leaves. The plant is a fleshy herb, 

 chestnut-colored or yellowish throughoiit, and 

 as thick as a man's thumb. The stem is with- 

 out leaves, scaly, and generally simple. The 

 flowers are in terminal spikes, and not showy. 

 In this country it is popularly known as Cancer 

 Root, from its supposed medicinal properties. 



Conostephium. From konos, a cone, and stephn- 

 nos, a crown; referring to the disposition of tho 

 flowers. Linn. Peniandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Epacridacece. 



A genus of fruit-bearing Epacriducea;, valued 

 for its beautiful flowers by gardeners who de- 

 light in growing plants that can only be grown 

 with the greatest difficulty, to which class this 

 plant belongs. The fruit, though wholesome, is 

 not generally liked. The Native Currant of New- 

 Holland belongs to this section. Propagated by 

 cuttings. Introduced from Swan River in 1836. 



Conostylis. From konos, a cone, and stylos, a 

 style; the style, or female organ, grows 'in the 

 shape of a cone at the bottom. Linn. Hexnndria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Hcemodoraceoe. 



A small genus of green-house herbaceous per- 

 ennials from New Holland, rather ornamental, 

 but not of sufficient merit for general cultiva- 

 tion. Propagated by division of roots. 



Convallaria. Lily of the Valley. From the 

 Latin convallis. a valley, and rirn, a mantle; 



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in reference to the dense covering formed by 

 the leaves. Linn. Hexandria-Monoyynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Liliacea;. 



The Lily of the Valley, C. majalis, is a plant so 

 well known, and such a tfhiversal favorite, that 

 little need be said by way of description, unless 

 we add that of Gerarde in 1596, which is as fol- 

 lows: " The Lilly of the Vally hath many leaves 

 like the smallest leaves of Water Plantaine, 

 among which riseth vp a naked stalke, halfe a 

 foot high, garnished with many white floures, 

 like bels, with blunt and turned edges, of a 

 strong savour, yet pleasant enoughf, which be- 

 ing past, there come small, red berries, much 

 like the berries of asparagus, wherein the seed 

 is contained." A modern writer in the Treasury 

 of Botany says : ' ' Without poetical or fanciful 

 conventionalities, the Lily of the Valley is as 

 perfect an emblem of purity, modesty, and hu- 

 mility as the floral world can afford. It may 

 seem idle to observe that a flower of this de- 

 scription cannot be that referred to in the ser- 

 mon on the mount; but as that opinion is fre- 

 quently broached in popular works, it may sim- 

 ply be observed that it never grows in the open 

 field, and that there is nothing in its array to 

 which the term ' glory ' is applicable. Not a 

 little unprofitable commentary might have been 

 spared if the same general meaning had been 

 attached to the term 'Lilies of the Field' which 

 has, by common consent, been ascribed to the 

 parallel phrase ' Fowls of the Air, ' while the 

 passage itself would have gained in force and 

 dignity by being kept clear from botanical dis- 

 quisitions." The flowers of the Lily of the Val- 

 ley are used during the winter months in im- 

 mense quantities, New York city alone prob- 

 ably using a million, the average price of which is 

 about five cents each, so that for this flower alone 

 $50,000 is annually paid by the bouquet makers 

 to the florist, the consumer paying, no doubt, 

 one-third more. The Lily of the Valley is nearly 

 all imported from Germany and France, usually 

 in single crowns or "pips." The method of 

 culture is to place these thickly together in 

 shallow boxes, as soon as received in November, 

 placing them in a cold frame, or in the open 

 ground, covering them up so that they do not 

 get severely frozen. They should remain in 

 this condition at least four weeks before they 

 are brought in to force, which should be done 

 gradually, beginning at 50 and running up to 

 65 or 70. If taken every few weeks, a succes- 

 sion may be kept up from January until May. 

 In fact, the flowers are now to be had all the 

 year round, as some growers find it sufficiently- 

 profitable to keep the roots in refrigerators, 

 and, thus retarded, they are forced to bloom at 

 will at any time during the summer or fall 

 months. This same system might be used with 

 many other plants, but it is only in very valu- 

 able flowers such as this that the expense would 

 be justified. The plant does well in the garden, 

 and may be put under the shade of trees; but 

 wherever placed, the roots should not be dis- 

 turbed for several years, if at all, as many 

 clumps will not otherwise bloom. Propagate.! 

 by division. 



Convolvulus. From convolvere, to entwine; in 

 reference to their twining habit. Linn. Pentan- 

 drla-Monofjyn'ut. Nat. Ord. Oonvotwddoeas, 



Well-known, splendid climbing plants, hardy 

 and half-hardy, annual and perennial. They 

 should be trained against stakes or trellis-work, 

 as their stems are too feeble to support them- 



