71 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



DRA 



of the species, and is extensively grown for bas- 

 kets, window gardens, or the conservatory, the 

 yivid coloring of its leaves rendering it at all 

 times attractive. For the hot-house, many other 

 of the species are considered more desirable and 

 interesting because of their varied and rich tints 

 of color, and their gracefully recurved foliage. 

 Nearly all the species are admirably adapted for 

 decorative purposes. For the sub-tropical gar- 

 den or forthe lawn, D. indivisa ( Cordyline indivisa, ) 

 is the best, being of graceful habit, rapid growth, 

 and not affected by sunshine, storm, or drought. 

 This species is a native of New Zealand, and is 

 readily increased from seed. The other species 

 are propagated by placing the stems on the prop- 

 agating bench in sand, with a bottom heat of 75, 

 and covering them with sphagnum about one 

 inch in depth, which should be kept at all times 

 moist; in a short time an eye will break forth from 

 nearly every joint. The most forward of these 

 may be removed from the stein from time to 

 time, which will soon strike root in sand with 

 bottom heat. The old stem should not be re- 

 moved until its reproductive powers are exhaust- 

 ed. The species are pretty generally distributed 

 throughout all tropical and sub-tropical coun- 

 tries, and were first brought to notice about 1820. 



Dracocephalum. Dragon Head. From drak-on, 

 a dragon, and keptiale, a head; referring to the 

 gaping flower. Linn. Didynamia-Gymnospermia. 

 Nat. Ord. Lamiaeece. 



This genus consists of both hardy annuals and 

 perennials, several of which are well known as 

 garden flowers, among which may be found D. 

 MoUIavicum, the Moldavian Balm, a hardy annual 

 with blue flowers. Several hardy species, per- 

 ennials, natives of Siberia, have beautiful large 

 blue flowers. One very pretty species, D. par- 

 vMorum, is sparingly met in the Northern and 

 Western States. All are propagated by seed or 

 root division. Introduced in 1731. 



Dragon. Arum. See Arisa*ma. 



Dragon Head. See Dracocephalum. 



Dragon Root. Ariswma Dracontium. 



Drimia. From drimys, acrid; referring to the 

 juice of the bulbs. Linn. Jlfxandria-Monogunia. 

 Nat. Ord. LiHacev. 



A small genus of green-house bulbs from the 

 Cape of Good Hope. The flowers are white, pur- 

 ple, red, green, and variegated, and resemble 

 the Ixias, though not as showy. The juice of 

 the bulb is very acrid, causing blisters when ap- 

 plied to the skin. Propagated by offsets. In- 

 troduced in 1800. 



Drooping Sorghum. See Sorghum cernuum. 



Drop-seed Grass. The common name of the ge- 

 nus tporobolus, applied because the seeds are 

 loose, and easily scattered. The several species 

 are common in dry barrens. 



Dropwort. See SpircKa. 



Drosera. Sun-dew. From droseros, dewy. Linn. 

 Pentandria-Penlagynia. Nat. Ord. Droseracew. 

 American, British, and Australian plants, with 

 hairy leaves and curious flowers, which require to 

 be grown in moss, mixed with leaf mould, kept 

 moist, and during the heat of the day covered with 

 a bell glass. The hairs on the leaves support drops 

 of water in the hottest weather, and being very 

 irritable, close on any insect that may chance to 

 touch them, like those of Dioncea muscipula, 

 Venus's Fly-trap, the leaf bending over the in- 

 sect, and holding it imprisoned. The Italian 

 liqueur called Rossoglia is said to take its name 

 from one of the species being used in its compo- 

 sition. This is one of the plants experimented 



DRY 



with by Mr. Darwin, from which he was led to 

 believe that some plants feed on insects. 



Dryas. From Druudes, the goddesses of the 

 woods, to whom the oak was sacred. The leaves 

 of D. octopetala, a Scotch plant, on which the 

 genus was founded by Linnasus, resembles small 

 oak leaves ; and he, in playful mood, made Dryas 

 the badge of Virgil's Dryades, after the manner 

 of the Scottish clans. Linn. Icosandrln-Poly- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Rosacea;. 



A delicate genus of dwarf, modorately-spread- 

 ing plants, with neat evergreen leaves, and 

 strawberry-lito flowers. All have white flowers 

 except D. Drummondii, which are of a sulphur 

 yellow. They are all of easy culture, but require 

 a moist, shaded situation. They are natives of 

 Great Britain and the United States. Propa- 

 gated by division and seeds. 



Drynaria. From dry*, a tree ; dwelling among 

 trees. Linn. Oryptogamia-Filices. Nat. Ord. Poly- 

 podiacece. 



An extensive genus of green-house Ferns from 

 India and the Pacific Islands. 



Drypis. From drypto, to lacerate ; leaves armed 

 with spines. Linn. Pentandria-Trigynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Caryophyttaceaj. 



D. spinosa is a beautiful little trailing plant, 

 well adapted for growing upon rock-work ; itn 

 pretty blue flowers being produced so as to 

 completely cover the ground. It is increased by 

 cuttings. This plant is a native of Italy, and 

 was introduced in 1795. 



Durra. See Sorghum vulgare. 



Dutchman's Breeches. Dicentra cucullaria. 



Dutchman's Pipe. See Aristolochia sipho. 



Duvaua. In honor of M. Duvau, a French botan- 

 ist. Linn. Moncecia-Octandria. Nat. Ord. Ann- 

 cardiacecK. 



Singular half-hardy shrubs from Chili. The 

 leaves of the plants of this genus, if thrown upon 

 water, will start and jump about in a very ex- 

 traordinary manner. They have a strong smell 

 of turpentine. The flowers are white, produced 

 in small spikes, and are succeeded by dark pur- 

 ple berries. They require green-house treatment. 

 Propagated by cuttings. Introduced in 1830. 



Dwarf Dandelion. Krigia Virginica, a small, 

 hardy annual, with yellow flowers resembling a 

 small Dandelion, common in New England and 

 Southward. 



Dyckia. Named in honor of Prince Salm-Dyck, 

 a German author of a splendid work on succu- 

 lents. Linn. Hexandria-Triyynia. Nat. Ord. Bro- 

 meliacecK. 



A small genus of green-house plants, resem- 

 bling the Pineapple in miniature, or a small 

 Pitcairnia. D. rariftora is a very showy plant 

 with orange-colored flowers. One or two other 

 species of the same general character have been 

 introduced into the green-house. Propagated by 

 division or from seeds. 



Dyer's Green- Weed. See Genista tindoria. 



Dyer's Rocket, or Dyer's Weed. A popular 

 name of Reseda, latiola, allied to Mignonette. 



Drymonia. From drumonia, woodland; their habi- 

 tation. Linn. Didynamia-Angiospermia. Nat. Ord. 

 Gesneracew. 



A small genus of South American shrubs, of 

 climbing habit, found in moist or marshy situ- 

 ations. Flowers large, not unlike the Gesnera. 

 A few species have been introduced into the 

 green-house, and are quite ornamental. They 

 should be grown in baskets filled with turf and 

 pieces of wood, and need a moist, warm house. 

 Propagated by cuttings. Introduced in 1806. 



