HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



Meiastomacece. 



exceedingly interesting plant we take 

 ring description from Lowe's "Beauti- 

 d Plants : " " Native country, tropical 



CYA 



flower. Linn. Peniandria-Monogynia. Nat. Orel. 

 Polemoniacece. 



C. lobatw is a delicate little hardy herbaceous 

 plant from the higher ranges of the Himalayas, 

 with a habit similar to some species of Cam- 

 panula. Its requirements are a sandy soil, with 

 plenty of moisture during the flowering season, 

 but afterward it should be kept rather dry and 

 allowed to rest. The flowers are terminal, and 

 light blue. Propagated by cuttings. 

 Cyanella. A diminutive of kyanos, blue. Linn. 

 Hi'.mmlria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. LIKaoece. 



Pretty green-house bulbs, with white, blue, or 

 yellow flowers. They grow readily in sandy 

 loam, and, like all other plants of the same or- 

 der, require to have a resting season, which, for 

 convenience, is generally deferred to the winter. 

 The protection of a cold frame is all they re- 

 quire to endure our winters. They increase 

 freely by offsets. Natives of the Cape of Good 

 Hope. Introduced in 1768. 



Cyanophyllum. From kt/anos, blue, and phyllon , 

 a leaf; referring to the color of the under surface 

 of the leaves. Linn. Decandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Mdastomacece. 



Of this exceed 

 the followin 

 ful Leaved 



America. Introduced in 1857 by Mr. Linden, a 

 Continental nurseryman. A fine woody Melas- 

 tomaceous hot-house shrub, which has not yet 

 flowered in this country (England). The leaves 

 are truly magnificent, growing two feet long and 

 nine inches wide, of a long oval shape, tapering 

 to a point. Upper surface a distinct ivory-like 

 midrib, with a pair of veins of the same color 

 running from the base near the margin and 

 meeting near the poimt, joining near the midrib. 

 Margin irregularly serrated. Color a deep vel- 

 vety green; underneath the veins are visible, 

 and the general color is a rich purplish crimson. 

 Habit strong growing. Nothing can possibly 

 exceed the beautiful foliage of this truly hand- 

 some new plant." The above description of C. 

 magnificum will apply equally well to the other 

 species. Propagated by cuttings. 

 Cyanotis. From kyanos, blue, and ous. an ear ; 

 referring to the shape of the petals. Linn. Jlex- 

 andria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Commdynacecu. 



A small genus of evergreen trailing plants, 

 allied to Tradescantia, and requiring the same 

 general treatment. The species are showy 

 plants, natives of tropical Asia. They are prop- 

 agated readily by cuttings. Introduced in 1770. 

 Cyathea. From kyatheion, a little cup ; in refer- 

 ence to the appearance of the spore or seed cases 

 on the back of the leaves. Linn. Cryplogamia- 

 FUices. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 



An extensive genus of arborescent Ferns, abun- 

 dant in South America and in the West Indies, in 

 India, the Eastern Islands, and in the Pacific 

 Islands; a few are also met with in New Zealand 

 and South Africa. In some the trunk is short, 

 but in others it reaches a height of forty to six- 

 ty feet, and is crowned with a magnificent head 

 of fronds, which are in many cases of gigantic 

 size, and are always large. C. mfdullaris, a fine 

 species of New Zealand and the Pacific Isles, 

 and known in gardens as a noble Tree Fern of 

 comparatively hardy character, forms in its na- 

 tive country a common article of food with the 

 natives. The part eaten is the soft medullary 

 substance, which occupies the center of the 

 trunk, and which has some resemblance to Sago. 

 C. ckalhata, another beautiful species of New 



OYC 



Zealand, is said to be eaten in the same way. 

 This has a trunk from ten to fifteen feet high, 

 crowned with a noble tuft of fronds, which are 

 white beneath with a silvery powder. Propa- 

 gated by spores. First introduced in 1793. 



Cyathod.es. From ky<ithon, a cup, and eidos, like; 

 because the nectary resembles that vessel. Linn. 

 Penta7ulria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. KpacridacerK. 



An interesting and somewhat extensive genus 

 of green-house evergreens, natives of Australia, 

 and occasionally met in New Zealand and the 

 Pacific Islands. They produce small axillary 

 white or yellow flowers. They require the same 

 treatment recommended for the Epacris. Prop- 

 agated by cuttings. 



Cycas. The Greek name of a Palm said to grow 

 in Ethiopia. Linn. Dwcia-Polyandria. Nat. Ord. 

 Oycadacece. 



A remarkable genus of ornamental plants, 

 consisting of low-growing trees, with cylindri- 

 cal, usually unbranched stems, terminated at 

 the top by a crown of handsome, deeply cut, 

 pinnate leaves of thick texture. C. rrcolnla, 

 the finest of the species, is grown extensively in 

 China and Japan, its native countries, for the 

 pith contained in its trunk, and which is pre- 

 pared by the natives into an article of food 

 similar to the Sago, upon which they live wholly 

 for several months in the year. They are com- 

 monly but erroneously called Sago Palms, as they 

 furnish none of the Sago of commerce. The culti- 

 vation in our houses is the same required for 

 all the Palm tribe; plenty of pot room, and a 

 strong moist heat. 0. revoluta, however, may 

 be wintered in a low temperature, and its new 

 growth retarded for the lawn. After the leaves 

 have perfected their growth and are thoroughly 

 hardened, the plants can be placed upon the 

 lawn during summer, where they are most ap- 

 propriate ornaments. Young plants are usually 

 obtained from suckers. This genus was first 

 introduced into England from China in 1737. 



Cyclamen. From kyklox, circular; referring to 

 the round leaves. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Primulacece. 



This genus contains some of our most popular 

 and desirable plants for fall, winter, and early 

 spring flowering. They are all neat and dwarf 

 in habit ; all have foliage of pretty form and 

 beautiful markings, and the flowers, in every 

 case, are beautiful, some exquisitely so. C. Persi- 

 cum stands at the head of the family, and is the 

 one in most general cultivation. The Cyclamen 

 should be grown from seed, which should be 

 sown as soon as ripe, in gentle heat, in pans 

 filled with a compost of well-rotted manure, 

 leaf mould, and coarse sand thoroughly incor- 

 porated. As soon as the plants have made two 

 leaves, prick out into thumb-pots filled with 

 the same compost, and place upon the shelf in 

 the green-house, near the glass, and shade from 

 direct sunlight. Carefully water; to dry them or 

 drown them is equally fatal. As soon as the pots 

 are filled with roots, shift into a three-inch pot, 

 observing the same instructions in all respects. 

 By the first of November they will require 

 a five-inch pot. With proper care and attention, 

 they will be in flower in January following 

 planting. They require a more even tempera- 

 ture than is usually given to green-house 

 plants, not above 60 nor below 50; with it 

 bulbs two inches in diameter can be grown in 

 one year. After flowering they should be grad- 

 ually ripened off, but never allowed to become 

 thoroughly dry. During summer keep them 



