HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



EKI 



and afterward covered with a bell glass. They 

 should then be kept in a cool house or pit, 

 where they can have an even temperature and 

 moisture. They were first introduced into Eng- 

 land in 1774. ' 



Erigeron. From er, the spring, and geron, an old 

 man; some being hoary with a downy covering 

 early in the season. Linn. Syngenesia-jEqualin. 

 Nat. Ord. AsteracefK. 



A gen us of coarse-growing, unpretending, her- 

 baceous plants, found common in waste places 

 throughout the United States. In some locali- 

 ties known as Flcabane. Plants of no value in 

 their native country. 



Erinosma. From er, the spring, and osme, to 

 smell; referring to the early flowering of this 

 sweet-scented bulb. Linn. Hexandria-Monogy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. AmaryUidacecK. 



A small genus of handsome, early, spring- 

 flowering bulbs, resembling the Snow-drop, but 

 flowering much later. E. vernum, formerly 

 called Leuwynm vermun, the best of the species, 

 is a native of Germany and Switzerland, where 

 it is common in the woods and other shady 

 places. It was introduced in 1596; is dedicated 

 to St. Agnes, the patron saint of young virgins, 

 from its loveliness and purity; and hence it is 

 called St. Agnes's Flower. The flowers are much 

 larger than the Snow-drop, pure white, with a 

 yellowish-green spot near the point of each pet- 

 al. They are perfectly hardy and are increased 

 by offsets. 



Erinus. Meaning unknown. (The wild Fig- 

 tree is the Erinos described by Dioscorides. It 

 has, however, no resemblance to the Erinos of 

 the moderns.) Linn. Didynamia-Angiospermia. 

 Nat. Ord. Scrophukiriacea}. 



This is a small genus of hardy herbaceous 

 Alpine plants, suitable for rock-work or other 

 rough, uneven situations. They are low grow- 

 ing, generally forming close tufts, producing 

 lively purple and white flowers in early spring. 

 Though perfectly hardy, they are impatient of 

 water, and, consequently, should have the pro- 

 tection of a frame in winter, unless planted in a 

 very dry situation. There are one or two ever- 

 green species from the Cape of Good Hope, but 

 they are little known. The hardy species are 

 propagated by root division or from seed. First 

 introduced into the garden in 1739. 



Eriocnema. From erion, wool, and kneme, a knee ; 

 the joints are woolly. Linn. Decandria-Monogy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. Melastomacece. 



A small genus of green-house herbaceous 

 plants, allied to the Sonerila, and natives of Bra- 

 zil. The flowers are white, produced sparingly 

 in little umbels on the end of a naked stalk. E. 

 marmomtum has beautifully variegated leaves, 

 green striped with broad bands of white. Its 

 habit is not unlike some of the Begonias. 

 Propagated by cuttings. Introduced in 1850. 



Eriophorum. Cotton Grass. From erion, wool, 

 and phoreo, to bear; in reference to the silky tails 

 or coverings of the seeds. Linn. Triaivlria-Mo- 

 nogynin. Nat. Ord. CyperacecK. 



A very interesting genus of marsh or bog 

 plants, commonly, but incorrectly termed 

 grasses. They are hardy herbaceous plants, 

 growing in dense clumps or masses, very con- 

 spicuous and interesting, on account of the 

 flowers of some of the species, the heads of 

 which appear like tufts of cotton. One of the 

 species is indigenous in this country, and seve- 

 ral of them have been naturalized from Europe. 



Eriopsis. From eria, a well-known genus of 



ERY 



Orchids, and opsis, resemblance; woolliness of 

 flowers. Linn. Qynandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 OrchidacecK. 



A small genus of Orchids, having the general 

 appearance, while growing, of the genus Eria, 

 but with gay orange-colored flowers resembling 

 the Vandas. They are natives of Mexico and New 

 Grenada, but little cultivated. 



Eriospermum. From erion, wool, and spermis, a 

 seed; woolly-seeded. Linn. Hexandria-Muno- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. LUiacece. 



A considerable genus of bulbs from the Cape 

 of Good Hope, the flowers of which precede the 

 leaves. The flowers have no special beauty, 

 and the leaves always have a deformed appear- 

 ance. 



Eriostemon. From erion, wool, and stemon, a sta- 

 men; referring to the woolly stamens. Linn. 

 Decandria-Moiwgynia. Nat. Ord. RutacecK. 



A genus of handsome green-house plants from 

 New Holland, of neat, compact habit of growth, ' 

 and free-flowering. Flowers are white or pink- 

 ish, produced singly at the axils of the leaves. 

 They require plenty of air and light. Propa- 

 gated by cuttings of young shoots in April. 

 Introduced in 1824. 



Erotiium. Heron' s-bill. Wild Geranium. From 

 erodios, a heron ; referring to the resemblance of 

 the style and ovaries to the beak and head of the 

 heron. Linn. Monadelphia-Digynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Geraniacece. 



The genus Erodium differs from the Gerani- 

 um and Pelargonium in the shape of its seed 

 vessel. In all the three the seed-pod resembles 

 the head and beak of a bird; in Geranium it re- 

 sembles a crane's bill, in Pelargonium it is a 

 stork's bill, and in Erodium a heron's bill. The 



rcies are dwarf annuals and perennials, pro- 

 sing mostly lilac and purple flowers. Though 

 interesting, their flowers will not bring them 

 into competition, for the garden, with their 

 more showy relatives, the Pelargonium and Gera- 

 nium. 



Ervum. Lentil. From eric, tilled land, in Celtic; 

 some of the species are pests in cultivated ground. 

 Linn. Diadelpliia-Tdragynia. Nat. Ord. Fabacece. 

 A genus justly classed as weeds, the only spe- 

 cies of interest being E. Lens, the common Len- 

 til, a plant of the greatest antiquity. It was 

 from the seed of this that the pottage was sup- 

 posed to have been made, for which Esau sold 

 his birthright. From that date it has been held 

 in high esteem in Egypt and Syria. It is ' con- 

 sidered an indispensable diet by the natives, 

 who undertake long journeys. It is largely 

 sold by druggists under the name of Ervalenta. 



Eryngium. Eryngo. From Erynyeon, a name 

 adopted by Pliny from Dioscorides. Linn. 

 Pentandrta-Digynia. Nat. Ord. Apiacece. 



A very extensive genus of hardy annuals and 

 herbaceous perennials, the latter being common 

 throughout Europe. E. waritimum, Sea Eryngo, 

 or Sea Holly, is a conspicuous plant along the 

 English coast ; the flowers are thistle-like, of a 

 bright blue color. E. amethystinum, a native of 

 Dalmatia, is one of the best for the border of the 

 perennial species. The flowers, as well as the 

 bracts and upper part of the stems, have a beau- 

 tiful blue tint. Of the annual species, E. Leav- 

 enworth'd, a native of Kansas and westward, is not 

 only the best of its class, but is one of the best 

 of our hardy annuals. It is very floriferous, the 

 heads are of a beautiful purple, which, if cut 

 after maturity, will keep their color for several 

 months, making them valuable for winter bou- 



