HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



DIG 



rubbed the leaves emit a fine odor, like that of 

 lemon peel; it is strongest in the pedicels of the 

 flowers. The flowers, on opening, emit a gas 

 which may be readily ignited. 



Dictyanthus. From dildyon, net work, and 

 ai/tlios, a flower ; the flowers are netted with 

 veins. Linn. Pentandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. 

 AsdepiadacecK. 



Green-house climbers of considerable beauty, 

 from Central America and Brazil. They will do 

 well planted out in summer, but require green- 

 house culture during winter. The same treat- 

 ment that is given the Passiflora will suit them. 

 The flowers are whitish purple and greenish 

 brown, borne on axillary peduncles. D. cam- 

 pamdatus somewhat resembles the Stapelia. 

 Propagated by cuttings. Introduced in 1851. 



Dictyogramma. A genus of Ferns formerly 

 called Gymnogramma. D. Japonica is described 

 as Gymnogramma Japonica. There does not seem 

 to be any good reason for this change in name. 



Dictyopteris. From diktyon, a net, and pteris, a 

 Fern ; referring to the fronds. Linn. Gryptogamia- 

 FUices. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 



A genus of Ferns from Australia, without spe- 

 cial merit, and rarely met in collections. 



Didiscus. Derivation of name not given. Linn. 

 Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Apiacece. The 

 two species that compose this genus were for- 

 merly included in Trachymene. D. cceruleus is a 

 showy plant, a native of Australia. It is covered 

 with hairs ; its leaves are three-parted, each 

 division again sub-divided ; its flowers are blue. 

 The fruit, when mature, is covered with small 

 tubercles. D. albiflorus has no hairs, and its 

 flowers are white. 



Didymochlaena. From didymos, twin, and chlaina, 

 a cloak ; referring to the covering of the spore 

 cases, called seed vessels. Linn. Cryptogamia- 

 Filices. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacea. 



A small genus of very handsome Tree Ferns, 

 natives of Africa and South America. They are 

 allied to Oxygonium. The species are rarely met 

 in collections. 



Dieffenbachia. Named after Dr. Dieffenbach, a 

 German botanist. Linn. Monaecia- Heptagynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Aracece. 



A genus of showy plants, all inhabitants of 

 tropical America and the West Indies. They 

 are grown for the beauty of their foliage, which 

 is a very light green, thickly dotted with irregu- 

 larly-shaped, pure white blotches, which give 

 the plant a decidedly variegated appearance. 

 They require a warm house, and should be kept 

 near the glass to bring out their full colors. 

 When at rest, if water is thrown over them, 

 they are liable to damp off". The juice of these 

 plants is decidedly poisonous ; for this reason, 

 and their awkward appearance when at rest, they 

 have lost much of the favor that was bestowed 

 upon them at their early introd uction. D. segui- 

 napicla (also called Galadium seguinum) is called 

 the "dumb cane" by the natives, because it has 

 the power, when chewed, of swelling the tongue 

 and paralyzing the speech. It is said that Hum- 

 boldt, when gathering the plant, unfortunately 

 tasted it, and, in consequence, lost his speech 

 for several days. Similar instances are related 

 of others. Propagated by division and by cut- 

 tings. They should be grown in a light, rich 

 loam, freely mixed with sand and leaf mould. 



Dielytra. From dis, two, and elytron, a sheath; 

 the base of the flower being furnished with two 

 sheath-like spurs. There has been a good deal 

 of learned discussion among botanists as to the 



DIL 



true derivation of this word. Gray favors Dlcen- 

 tra. Linn. Diadelphia-Diyynia. Nat. Ord. Fu- 

 mariacea'. 



A genus of very desirable hardy herbaceous 

 plants, that grace any position in which they may 

 be placed. D. speclabilis, the "Bleeding Heart, " a 

 native of Siberia, was found by Mr. Fortune in the 

 gardens in the north of China, and sent it, in 

 1846, to the London Horticultural Society. This 

 species is too well known to need description. 

 It is only proper, however, to say it is by far 

 the handsomest of its tribe, and will grow in 

 thick groves or in the most sunny situations. 

 In the shade they do not flower so freely 

 as in sunny places, but last longer, and more 

 than compensate the loss of flowers by their 

 luxuriant, graceful foliage. This species is well 

 adapted for pot culture. It should be potted in 

 November, left outside until it has formed 

 new roots, and then brought into a gentle 

 heat, and it will come into flower early in 

 March. Taking it all in all, it is probably the 

 finest hardy plant in cultivation. The plants 

 are increased by division of roots, which should 

 be done as soon as they start in spring. 



Diervilla. Named after M. DieraiUe, a French 

 surgeon. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. ; Nat. 

 Ord. Czprifoliacece. 



A small genus of low-growing shrubs, with 

 yellow flowers, appearing in spring, by no 

 means as showy as the allied Japanese genus 

 Weigela. They are common from Canada south- 

 ward. 



Digitalis. Fox-glove. From the Latin digitale, 

 the finger of a glove; referring to the shape of 

 the flower. Linn. Didynamia-Angiospermia. Nat. 

 Ord. Scrophulariacetv. 



This genus consists of several species, bien- 

 nials and perennials, all perfectly hardy and of 

 the easiest culture. D, purpurea, the common 

 Fox-glove, has long been cultivated as an orna- 

 mental border plant, and is the most useful of 

 the class. There are some with white, rose, and 

 yellow flowers that are very beautiful, but not so 

 free flowering. They prefer a rich, loamy soil, 

 and partial shade. Natives of Central Europe. 

 Propagated by seeds or root division. There 

 are ssveral green-house shrubs that wero for- 

 merly classed as Digitalis, that will now be 

 found under Isophltxis, Rehminniu, and Ptero- 

 sligma. A popular English name of the Digitalis 

 purpurea is Witches' Fingers. The plant is used 

 in medicine. 



DHL Anethum graveolens. Dill is a hardy bien- 

 nial plant, P. native of Spain, and has been un- 

 der cultivation in English gardens for nearly 

 three hundred years. The plant grows upright, 

 and resembles Fennel, only it is smaller. The 

 flowers are borne in an umbel, and appear in 

 July. The whole plant is strongly aromatic. 

 The leaves are used in pickles, and fco give flavor 

 to soups and sauces. It was formerly included 

 in domestic medicines. It is readily grown 

 from seed in any good garden soil. 



Dillwynia. In honor of L. W. Dillwyn, a British 

 patron of botany. Linn. Decandria-Monogyni'i. 

 Nat. Ord. Fabacece. 



Handsome green-house plants, of neat habit 

 of growth, free to flower, and of easy cultivation. 

 An airy part of the green-house should bs allot- 

 ted to them in winter, and through the summer 

 they will be benefited by being placed out of 

 doors. It is essential, in order to produce 

 handsome plants, that the young shoots be fre- 

 quently stopped while the plants are young, or 



