HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



68 



CYC 



in a frame, shaded, and give occasionally a little 

 water. They should be repotted again about 

 the first of November, without breaking the 

 ball, and the next flowering will be their per- 

 fection of bloom. This species is a native of 

 Persia. All the species are famous for their 

 acridity, yet in Sicily the Cyclamen is the prin- 

 cipal food of the wild boars ; hence the common 

 name at Sow-bread. 



Cyclobqthra. From kyklos, a circle, and bothros, 

 a pit; in reference to a cavity at the bottom of 

 each sepal. Linn. Hexandria-Monofjynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Lilutcew. 



A genus of very handsome bulbous plants 

 from California and Mexico. They are allied to 

 the Calochortus, and require the same treatment. 

 The flowers are nodding, like those of the Fri- 

 tillarias, and of white, yellow, and purple colors. 

 They are easily propagated by the small bulbs 

 that grow on the upper part of the stems. 



Cyclogyne. From kyklos, a circle, and gyne, a 

 stigma, or female organ; in reference to the dis- 

 position of the pistils. Linn. Diaddphia-Decan- 

 dria. Nat. Ord. FabacecK. 



A very beautiful green-house evergreen shrub 

 from Swan River. It is remarkable for the ap- 

 pearance of the pinnate leaflets, which are clad 

 underneath with white hairs ; and this, with the 

 profusion of purple flowers it bears, renders it 

 an attractive object. Propagated by seeds or 

 cuttings. 



Cycnoches. Swan Neck. From kyknos, a swan, 

 and auchen, the neck; in reference to the long 

 and gracefully curved column. Linn. Gynan- 

 drla-Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchidacea*. 



Some of the species are considered indispen- 

 sable to the Orchid house, for the beauty and de- 

 lightful fragrance of the flowers. They require 

 strong heat and moisture. 



Cydonia. Quince. The name of Cydonia was 

 given to this plant by the ancients, from its 

 growing abundantly near Cydon, in the isle of 

 Crete, now Candia. Linn. Icosandria-Dipentayy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. Pomaceee. 



The common Quince, C. vulcjaris, has been 

 under cultivation from a very early period. 

 Pliny says: "There are many kinds of this fruit 

 in Italy; some growing wild in the hedgerows, 

 others so large that they weigh the boughs down 

 to the ground." Martial, who died at Rome A.D. 

 104, states that the Romans had three sorts of 

 Quinces, one of which was called Chrysomela, 

 from its yellow color. They boiled them with 

 honey, as the Europeans make marmalade. Bo- 

 tanical researches show that the Quince grows 

 spontaneously on the hills and in the woods of 

 Italy, in the south of France, in Spain, Sicily, 

 Sardinia, the Crimea, and in the south of the 

 Caucasus; it also grows abundantly on the 

 banks of the Danube, and in the north of Africa. 

 "The learned Goropius maintains that Quinces 

 were the golden apples of Hesperides, and not 

 Oranges, as some commentators pretend. In 

 support of his argument he states that it was a 

 fruit much revered by the ancients, and he as- 

 sures us that there has been discovered at Rome 

 a statue of Hercules that held in its hand three 

 Quinces. This, he says, agrees with the fable 

 which states that Hercules stole the golden ap- 

 ples from the gardens of the Hesperides." This 

 species is unquestionably the parent of the sev- 

 eral varieties under cultivation. There seems 

 to have been but little improvement in this fruit 

 in centuries. The great difference in the qual- 

 ity of this fruit, as seen in our markets, is large- 



CYP 



ly due to cultivation. The common practice of 

 planting the Quince in some neglected corner 

 results in getting small, knotty fruit, almost if 

 not altogether worthless. The Quince should 

 have a deep, rich soil, rather heavy, and the 

 ground should be kept clean and free from 

 grass. Attention should also be paid to pruning, 

 as a preventive against slugs and other vermin. 

 The trunks and branches should be thoroughly 

 rubbed over with strong soft-soap every spring. 

 With this simple precaution the failure of a crop 

 of large, clean, healthy fruit will be very rare. 

 The propagation of the Quince is very simple, 

 the more rapid way being to take cuttings from 

 the young wood in autumn, heel them in in 

 some protected place during winter, and plant 

 out in spring in a shaded situation, and they 

 will take root very readily. C. Japonica is a 

 beautiful dwarf species, remarkable for the bril- 

 liancy of its blossoms, which vary from the rich- 

 est scarlet to the most delicate blush color. It 

 is a native of Japan, perfectly hardy, and well 

 adapted for single plants on the lawn, or for 

 planting ornamental hedges. The fruit has a 

 delicious fragrance, but is entirely worthless for 

 domestic purposes. This species is best propa- 

 gated by root cuttings. 



Cylista. From kylistos, twining; referring to the 

 habit of the plants. Linn. DkuMphia-Decandria. 

 Nat. Ord. Fabacea;. 



A genus of ornamental climbing plants. C. 

 scariosa, found in the Bombay districts of India, 

 is a very ornamental climber, requiring to be 

 grown in a hot-house, as do most of the genus. 

 The flowers are very showy, bright yellow, 

 borne on erect bracted racemes, and are re- 

 markable for their large papery calyx, which 

 is very conspicuous. Propagated by cuttings. 

 Introduced in 1776. 



Cymbidium. From kymbos, a hollow recess ; re- 

 ferring to a hollow recess in the lip or labellum. 

 Linn. Gynandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Orchi- 

 dacece. 



A genus containing both terrestrial and epi- 

 phytal Orchids, many of them of rare beauty, 

 and all worthy of cultivation. C. Sinense, a native 

 of China, is remarkable for its delicious fra- 

 grance. The epiphytal species require the treat- 

 ment of hot-house Orchids; the terrestrial ones 

 do well in a green-house temperature. 



Cynoglossum. Hound's Tongue. From kyon, 

 a dog, and ylossa, a tongue ; referring to the 

 shape of the leaves. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Boraqinacece. 



Pretty border plants, producing flowers of al- 

 most all colors. They grow in any soil, and are 

 not very particular as to situation. They are in- 

 creased readily by division of stools in the 

 spring. The annuals and biennials are grown 

 from seed. 



Cypella. From kypftton, a goblet or cup; refer- 

 ring to the form of the flowers. Linn. Mona- 

 delphia-Triandria. Nat. Ord. lridn<-i: 



A genus of very pretty half-hardy bulbs, 

 worthy of a place in the green-house. They 

 are multiplied by offsets. Introduced in 1823. 



Cyperus. Supposed to be derived from Cyprix, a 

 name of Venus, from their supposed medicinal 

 qualities. Linn. Triandria-3fonogynia. Nat. Ord. 



. genus of sedge plants, of but little merit for 

 the garden or green-house. C. alternifolius is 

 grown as a basket plant; it is of the easiest cul- 

 ture, and will thrive in any soil or situation, but 

 prefers a moist one. A variegated variety of 



