HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



EUL 



This is taller and more erect than that, and the 

 leaves are longer and more robust. The flower 

 stalks appear in September, and the plant at 

 this time is from four to six feet high. The 

 flower panicles are at first brownish, with erect 

 branches, and not at all showy, but as the flow- 

 era open, the branches of the panicle curve over 

 cracefully in a one-sided manner, and bear a 

 stronc resemblance in form to what is known as 

 a 'Prince of Wales' feather;' each of the indi- 

 vidual flowers, which are very numerous upon 

 each branch of the cluster, has at its base a tuft 

 of long silky hairs, and these contribute greatly 

 to the feathery lightness of the whole. When 

 Mr. Hogg sent this, it was accompanied by 

 another variety of the same grass, which did not 

 survive the effects of the journey. Upon a sec- 

 ond visit to Japan, he procured other plants of 

 this last variety, which reached this country in 

 good condition. This variety, which it is pro- 

 posed to call Eulalia Japonica, var. Zebriim, the 

 'Zebra-striped Eulalia, ' or Zebra Grass, in all that 

 relates to form, habit, and its flowers, is quite like 

 the other, but differs most essentially in the man- 

 ner of its variegation. In the older variety the 

 leaves, according to the usual manner of varie- 

 gation in grasses, have the markings run length- 

 wise of the leaf, while in this Zebrina variety 

 they ran crosswise. The leaves present alternate 

 bands of green and cream-white, of varying j 

 width, but with the colors quite well denned, 

 and producing a most singular effect. Japan is 

 remarkable for the great number of plants with 

 variegated foliage that it has contributed to our 

 collections, but we have not seen any variegation 

 that interested us so much as this peculiar grass. 

 We have seen but one other plant with its varie- 

 gation so singularly disposed, and that was also 

 from the same country. In the quaint little gar- 

 den attached to the Japanese Bazar at the Cen- 

 tennial Exhibition was a Bulrush, (Stirpus,) the 

 cylindrical stems of which were marked trans- 

 versely, though the markings were much less posi- 

 tive than in the grass in question. Aside from the 

 ornamental effect of its peculiar transverse mark- 

 ings, this variety has great interest for us in a 

 physiological or pathological point of view. It 

 is claimed by some that all variegation of foliage, 

 or at least that in which the green of the leaf is 

 changed to white or yellow, is an indication of 

 disease, and this view is strongly maintained in 

 spite of the numerous instances in which the 

 variegated plants are more vigorous and hardy 

 than typical plain green ones of the same spe- 

 cies. To those who hold this view that varie- 

 gation is due to disease this Zebrina variety of 

 Eulalia presents a difficult problem. As the cir- 

 culation of the juices of the leaf must take place 

 in a lengthwise direction, the nutriment for 

 each green portion of the leaf must pass through j 

 one of the colored sections, and those who re- i 

 gard these white, or whitish, bands as marks of j 

 disease, will be puzzled to account for the occur- 

 rence of green sections of the leaf which, though ! 

 placed directly between two ' diseased ' portions l < 

 remain in perfect health throughout the whole i 

 season of growth." The Eulalias are perfectly 

 hardy in this latitude, and are valuable acquisi- 

 tions to the garden, not only for the grace and 

 elegance of the foliage, but for the flowers as i 

 "dried grasses." They keep for years, present- j 

 ing somewhat the appearance of an ostrich i 

 feather. Propagated by division or by seeds, i 

 which, however, do not produce variegated 

 leaves. 



EUP 



Euonymus. Burning Bush. From en, well, and 

 onoma, a name; literally, of good repute. Linn. 

 Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Celastracece. 



An extensive genus of low-growing trees and 

 shrubs, mostly of an ornamental character. E. 

 atropurpureus, a native species, is a valuable 

 shrub for the border, on account of its hand- 

 some foliage, its abundance of purple flowers, 

 and its copious crimson fruit in autumn. This 

 species is what is commonly called Burning 

 Bush. It grows freely in almost any soil or sit- 

 uation, preferring a moist one. Japan has fur- 

 nished several species with ornamental foliage, 

 that are among our most useful plants for single 

 specimens, for baskets, or window gardens. .E. 

 radicans variegata has leaves of green and white, 

 is a rapid grower, and hardy south of New York. 

 It is readily increased by cuttings. The Japan 

 species are evergreen. They were introduced 

 in 1804. 



Eupatorium. Named after Mithridates Eupater, 

 King of Pontus, who discovered one of the spe- 

 cies to be an antidote against poison. Linn. 

 Syngenesia-jEqualis. Nat. Ord. Asteracece. 



An extensive genus, consisting for the most 

 part of native hardy herbaceous plants. A num- 

 ber of species are grown in the green-house for 

 their white flowers, which are produced freely 

 in winter. Of our native kinds, E. ageratoides, 

 White Snake-root, is the most valuable as a 

 flowering plant. The flowers are pure white, 

 borne in terminal clusters or heads. The plant 

 grows about four feet high, is very branching, 

 and prefers a thick shade. It flowers late in 

 August, and is very showy for nearly a month. 

 E. perf'oliatum, Bone-set, has, outside of the 

 "regular practice," considerable reputation as a 

 tonic stimulant, and is often administered in 

 the form of a tea, made from the leaves, in cases 

 of intermittent fevers. They are readily in- 

 creased by root division or from seeds. 



Euphorbia. Named after Euphorbus, physician 

 to the King of Mauritania. Linn. Dodecandria- 

 Trigynia. Nat. Ord. Euphorbiacece. 



This is an extensive and variable genus, in- 

 cluding species with the aspect of trees or large 

 shrubs, and through every gradation, downward 

 to the humblest annual weeds, all of them re- 

 markable for an acrid milky juice. Notwith- 

 standing the extent and variety of the genus, 

 there are comparatively few of its members in 

 cultivation ; the principal of them being E. 

 splendens, E. jacquiniflora, (fulgens or prunifolia,) 

 and Bojeri. These do best in the hot-house, and 

 are well deserving attention for their rich red 

 or crimson flowers, and amply repay the little 

 trouble occasioned. These species are all much 

 improved by frequent stopping, as it induces a 

 more dense habit, and consequently a greater 

 display of flowers. It is worthy of remark that 

 the first flowers that expand in each season on 

 E. splendens are in pairs, but those which follow 

 are each time increased in duplicate ratio, so 

 that those which open last are commonly as 

 many as eight together. The other perennial 

 species require to be treated in the manner of 

 Cacti, and the remainder respectively as they 

 belong to the hardy or tender classes of annual, 

 biennial, or perennial plants. E. corollatn, a na- 

 tive species, is a free-flowering plant, and val- 

 uable for florists' use, or for cut-flowers. They 

 are small, greenish white, in general appearance 

 like the Forget-me-not. This species is readily 

 propagated by root division. The French sub- 

 stitute the seeds of E. lathyriis for the English 



