HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



71 



DIM 



they are liable to overgrow themselves. Propa- 

 gated by cuttings of firm side shoots in March 

 or April. Natives of New Holland. Introduced 

 in 1794. 



Dimorphanthus. From dimorphus, two formed. 

 Linn. Pentandria - Pentagynia. Nat. Ord. Aru- 

 liacece. 



This genus is composed of herbs and shrubs, 

 natives of China and Japan. Some of the ' 

 species are very ornamental plants for the 

 green-house or garden. D. Mandc.huricus is a 

 deciduous shrub, said to be perfectly hardy. ; 

 Its handsome multifid leaves are nearly three 

 feet long, and of the same width, which gives 

 the plant a magnificent outline. The young 

 shoots of D. edalis are a delicate article of food, 

 much prized by the Chinese. They are in- 

 creased by seeds and from cuttings. 



Dion. From (its, two, and oon, an egg; referring 

 to the two-lobed scales which compose the large 

 cones of the cycad, bearing a large nut-like seed 

 at the bottom of each scale ; otherwise from 

 seeds being borne in twos. Linn. DicRcia-Dodi'- 

 caijynia. Nat. Ord. Cycadacea;. 



D. edule, the only species, is a beautiful Palm- 

 like plant. Its simple Zamia-like stem is com- 

 pletely covered with wool, and bears deep green 

 pinnate leaves, whose leaflets are sword-shaped 

 and sharp pointed. The cone consists of flat 

 scales covered with wool, each scale bearing two 

 large seeds of the size of Chestnuts, that yield 

 a large quantity of starch, which is used as ar- 

 row-root. D. edule is extensively cultivated as 

 nn ornamental green-house plant here. Propa- 

 gated by suckers and seeds. It is a native of 

 Mexico, and was introduced in 1844. 



Dionaea. Venus's Fly-trap. Dione, one of the 

 names of Venus. Linn. Decandria-Monogyniu. 

 Nat. Ord. Droceracea?. 



D. muscipula, the only species, is indigenous 

 to the swamps of North Carolina and other 

 Southern States, Aside from all the fables 

 about this plant, it is one of extreme interest to 

 cultivators, owing to the irritability displayed 

 by the stipulary fringes on the winged leaves. 

 The lamina of the leaf itself is divided by the 

 midrib into two nearly semicircular halves, each 

 of which is fringed with stiff hairs. This leaf ex- 

 actly resembles a miniature rat-trap. When the 

 hairs are touched by a fly or other insect, the 

 sides of the leaf are brought together with a 

 sudden spring, imprisoning the intruder. Mr. 

 Charles Darwin and other writers claim that the 

 Dioncea not only catches and kills the insects, I 

 but that its tissues absorb or feed upon them. 

 Our experiments, carefully and extensively 

 made during the summer of 1878, were such as 

 to cause strong doubts of the correctness of this 

 theory. The Diotnva is easily grown in sphag- 

 num moss, kept very moist when the plants 

 are in a growing state. They do rather the best 

 when grown in a Wardian case or under a bell 

 glass, and are always interesting from their sin- 

 gular insect catching peculiarity. 



Dioscorea. Yam. After Pedacius Dioscorides, a 

 Greek physician. Linn. Dicetia-Hexayynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Dioscorini'iii'. 



A genus of tuberous-rooted plants that are 

 extensively grown in Africa and the East and 

 AVest Indies for food. The roots grow to a great 

 size, are mealy, and considered to be easy of di- 

 gestion. They are roasted and eaten instead of 

 bread. The introduction of the Dloxcoriii huln- 

 tas into this country as an article of food some 

 years ago created qtiite a sensation ; although 



DIP 



we did not get a very valuable esculent, we got 

 a beautiful hardy climber, with clean, glossy 

 foliage and sweet-scented flowers, that are -pro- 

 duced in spikes at the base of the leaves. This 

 species was introduced from the West Indies in 

 1733. D. vUlosa, Wild Yam, is quite common 

 in the thickets of New England and to the 

 South and West. 



Diosma. From dios, divine, and osme, odor ; 

 referring to the powerful perfume which char- 

 acterizes the species. Linn. Ptntandria~Mono- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Rutacece. 



There is quite a large number of the species, 

 all from the Cape of Good Hope. First intro- 

 duced in 1731. 



Diospyros. Date Plum, Persimmon. From dios, 

 divine, and pyros, pear; literally celestial food. 

 Linn. Polygamia-Digynia. Nat. Ord. Ebenacea;. 



D. Virtjiniana is the Persimmon of our woods, 

 common from New York southward. Ebony 

 wood is obtained from several species of this 

 genus. The best and most costly kind, with 

 the blackest and finest grain, is that imported 

 from the Mauritius, which is yielded by D. reti- 

 cidata. It is only the heart of the tree that 

 yields the black ebony; the outer portion, or 

 sapwood, being white and soft. The Japanese 

 Persimmon is the best fruit in Japan. Their 

 horticulturists have, by selection and cross- 

 fertilization, developed this fruit until it occu- 

 pies the same position with them that the 

 Apple does with us. It is described as one of 

 the finest fruits in the world, and ranges in 

 weight from eight to twenty ounces. Prof. Asa 

 Gray says: " He who has not tasted Kaki (the 

 Japanese Persimmon) has no conception of the 

 capabilities of the Diospyros genus. " The trees 

 are ornamental, especially when in fruit, pro- 

 lific bearers, and free from worms and insects. 

 It has proved about as hardy as our native spe- 

 cies. 



Diplacus. From dis, two, and plakos, a placenta; 

 alluding to the splitting of the capsule, to each 

 valve of which is attached a large placenta, and 

 under its edges are found the slender subulate 

 seeds. Linn. LUdynamia-Digynia. Nat. Ord 

 Scrophutariacece. 



This genus, consisting of three or four spe- 

 cies, is closely allied to Mimulus, the principal 

 difference being in its shrubby habit and the 

 seed capsule. D. ylutinosuft, a native of Califor- 

 nia, was long cultivated under the name of 

 Mimulus glulinosus. It is an erect, branching 

 plant, becoming more or less branching at the 

 base. The flowers are rather large, solitary in 

 the upper axils, and vary from a pale yellow to 

 a rich orange or scarlet. All the varieties are 

 desirable plants for the green-house or shady 

 border. Propagated by cuttings. 



Dipladenia. From diploos, double, and aden, a 

 inland; referring to the presence of two gland- 

 like processes on the ovary. Linn. Pentundria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Apocyniicm . 



A genus of very beautiful climbing green 

 and hot-house shrubs from Central America and 

 Brazil. The flowers are red, purple, rose, yellow, 

 etc., and are produced in terminal clusters in 

 great abundance, and some few kinds flower when 

 quite small. Most of them require to be grown 

 in rather a high temperature. Propagated by 

 cuttings. Introduced in 1841. 



Diplazium. From diplazo, to double; referring 

 to the double covering of the spore cases or seed 

 vessels. Linn. Cryptoyamia-FHices. Nat. Ord. 

 Polypodiacea: 



