HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



EEL 



Half-hardy low trees and shrubs, with pinnate 

 leaves and very curiously-shaped seed pods and 

 flowers, (which are of a dark golden yellow.) 

 They are ornaments to the lawn, but must be 

 protected in winter. The species are all na- 

 tives of New Zealand. Propagated by cuttings. 

 Introduced in 1772. 



Eel-Grass. See I'allisneria. 



Egg-Plant. The Egg-Plant of our gardens is 

 Stfanum melongena, a native of North Africa. It 

 was first introduced into England in 1596, but 

 for a long time was little known or used, owing 

 much to the climate being unsuited to the per- 

 fect development of the fruit. In India and 

 other hot countries it is a favorite article of food, 

 and for many years it has steadily grown in fa- 

 vor in this country. In India it is served up 

 with sugar and wine, and in Italy and France it 

 is used in stews and soups. Of this species 

 there are several varieties, the favorite being the 

 ' Improved New York Purple," which is a strong 

 grower, the plants yielding from five to eight 

 fruits, some of which are of enormous size; the 

 size, however, depends much on the soil and 

 method of culture. For perfection of growth, 

 a very rich soil, plenty of moisture, and warm 

 weather are required, with the addition of fre- 

 quent hoeings. Under such circumstances, 

 fruit seven inches in diameter and eight to nine 

 inches long, and weighing five to six pounds, is 

 easily obtained. There are several other species 

 occasionally met in our gardens, one having 

 bright scarlet, another white fruit, each abox\t 

 the size of a hen's egg, which are chiefly grown 

 as curiosities. The white variety is edible, how- 

 ever, and is perhaps the most delicately flavored. 

 Seeds should be sown about March 1st, in a 

 temperature at no time lower than 70 degrees 

 F., and from the seed bed pricked out in shallow 

 boxes, and from these, again, into small flower 

 pots, to be planted out in the open ground 

 when all danger from frost is past, since the 

 plant . being tropical, is at all times sensitive to 

 cold. 



Eglantine. Rosa rxbiginosa. Sweet Brier. 



Egyptian Lotus. See Nymphwa lotus. 



Ehretia. In honor of D. 0. Ehret, a celebrated 

 German botanical draughtsman. Linn. Pentan- 

 'li'iu-.Wonogynia. Nat. Ord. Ehretacea>. 



A small genus- of very beautiful tropical trees 

 and shrubs, producing large corymbs of fra- 

 grant, mostly white flowers. None of the species 

 is under cultivation. 



Elaeis. The Oil Palm. From eUiia, the olive ; 

 similarity of expressing oil from the fruit. 

 Linn. DioKda-Hexagynut. Nat. Ord. PalmacecK. 



This interesting genus of Palms consists of 

 but few species, the minor ones being natives 

 of South America. R (Juineensis, the most im- 

 portant species, abounds on the west coast of 

 Africa. It grows to the greatest perfection in 

 shady places, where the trees attain u height of 

 twenty feet. The immense groves interspersed 

 with the larger vegetation of that country, gives 

 the landscape an indescribable beauty. The 

 fruits of this species are borne in immense, 

 dense heads, measuring from one to two feet 

 long, and from two to three feet in circum- 

 ference, the individual fruit, or nut, being 

 about an inch and a half long by an inch in 

 diameter. These fruits yield the Palm Oil of 

 commerce, the collecting of which is the princi- 

 pal industry of the Negroes in many parts of 

 Africa, but more particularly on the west coast. 

 Theoil is obtained by bruising the fruit, boiling 



ENC 



in water, and skimming it off as it rises to the 

 surface. The Palm Oil of commerce is about the 

 consistence of butter, of a deep orange yellow, 

 becoming lighter upon being exposed to the air, 

 and when fresh it emits a sweet violet odor. In 

 Africa this oil is used as butter under the name 

 of qhea. A soup is also made of it, that forms 

 an important article of food. The vast produc- 

 tiveness of the plant is evident from the fact, 

 that the importations into Great Britain alone, 

 in 1860, amounted to more than eight millions 

 of dollars. The chief uses to which this oil is 

 applied is in the manufacture of candles, Palm 

 Oil soap, and for lubricating oil for machinery. 



Elder. See Sambucus. 



Elecampane. See Jnulu. 



Elephant's Foot. See Testudinaria. 



Elseocarpus. From elala-, the olive, and karpus, 

 fruit; resemblance of the fruits. Linn. Dodecan- 

 dr'M-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. LUiacece. 



A genus of handsome trees belonging to the 

 Linden family. They are natives of South 

 America, Australia, and the East Indies. The 

 flowers are white or green, quite showy. The 

 rough bony fruit, or stone, has a sculptured 

 appearance, and is used for necklaces and other 

 articles of ornament. The fruit is surrounded 

 by an edible pulp, and is pickled like olives. 

 The bark of some of the species affords an excel- 

 lent dye, varying from light brown to deep 

 black; it is highly valued for its permanency. 



Elseodendron. Olive Wood. From elaia, an 

 olive, and dendron, a tree , alluding to the re- 

 semblance. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Cdastracece. 



A genus of medium-sized evergreen trees, 

 common in Africa, India, the South of Europe, 

 and is also abundant in the Holy Land. The 

 trees grow from thirty to forty feet high, much 

 branched, with rough, scraggy trunks. The 

 fruit is considerably esteemed. The tree fur- 

 nishes the Olive Wood, used so much in turning, 

 and various small works, such as boxes, charms, 

 trinkets, and small cabinet work. The fruit 

 yields an oil something like that of the true 

 Olive, Olea Europcva, though of an inferior 

 quality. 



Elichrysum. See Hdichrysum. 



Elisena. An ancient name of romance. Linn. 

 Hexandria-Mongynia. Nat. Ord. AmaryttidacecK. 

 A small genus of strong-growing bulbs from 

 Peru. The flowers are borne in a cluster, on a 

 scape nearly three feet high, pure white and 

 fragrant, closely resembling Ismene. They re- 

 quire green-house treatment. To bring them 

 into flower, water should be withheld after their 

 season's growth, until the flower spike appears, 

 when they should have the warmest position 

 in the green-house, with plenty of air and 

 water. Propagated by offsets. Introduced in 

 1837. 



Elettaria. A synonym of Amomum, which see. 



EUobocarpus. Pod Fern. From en, in, lobos, a 

 pod, and karpos, a seed vessel ; alluding to the 

 appearance of the divided fronds. Linn. Orypto- 

 gamia-FUices. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacecv. 



E. oleraceijis, the only species, io a beautiful 

 Fern from Tranqueb, whence it was introduced 

 in 1818. It should be grown in the warm green- 

 Elm. See Ulmus. 



Encholirion. A genus of brotndiacecK, consisting 

 of a few Brazilian herbaceous plants, usually 

 referred to Vriesia, which see. 



Encephalartos. From en, within, krpbale, the 



