HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



EUR 



capers, which, if taken in quantity, prove highly 

 deleterious. For E. Poinsettei, see Poinsettia 

 pulcharrimtk. 



Eurya. From eurys, large; referring to the flow- 

 ers. Linn. Polyyamia-Mona>c'M. Nat. Ord. '/',,,- 

 stromiacece. 



This genus is composed of evergreen shrubs, 

 or low-growing trees, ftmnd in India, China, and 

 the adjacent islands. The leaves are not unlike 

 those of the tea-plap4f. The flowers are white, 

 arranged in axillary clusters. 



Eurycles. From eurys, broad, and Mas, a branch ; 

 referring to the broad leaves or branch-like foot- 

 stalks. Liiin. H'.ffiiiilrin-Monoijyn'ia. Nat. Ord. 

 Amftryllidftcea'. 



A genus of strong-growing bulbs, found in 

 the Eastern Archipelago and in New Holland. 

 This genus was formerly included in Pancra- 

 tium, from which it is distinguished by its 

 broad, nearly heart-shaped leaves, and its flow- 

 ers with a long cylindrical tube, with equal and 

 regular petals. The flowers are borne in um- 

 bels, and are pure white. They require to be 

 grown in the green-house, and must have com- 

 plete rest during winter. Planted out in May, 

 they flower finely. Propagated by suckers, 

 which should be taken off when a new growth 

 commences in spring. Introduced in 1821. 



Eutaxia. From eutaxirt, modesty; referring to 

 the delicate aspect of the flowers. Linn. Der<ai- 

 drla-Monoij-ynin. Nat. Ord. Fdltacecn. 



A genus of very pretty green-house shrubs, 

 natives of Western Australia. They are chiefly 

 low-growing and bushy, with small heath-like 

 leaves, flowers pea-shaped, produced in small 

 axillary clusters. Color, pure yellow. E. myr- 

 tifolifi is a popular green-house plant, whose 

 slender stems are often seen thickly covered in 

 the spring and summer months with its bright 

 yellow flowers. The species are increased by 

 cuttings. Introduced in 1803. 



Euterpe. After Euterpe, one of the Nine Muses. 

 Linn. Monceda-Hexandria. Nat. Ord. Pahnaceee. 

 A genus of Palms of extremely graceful habit, 

 natives of South America and the West Indies. 

 With the exception of E. montana, from the lat- 

 ter country, all are too tall growing for the 

 green-house. This species attains a height of 

 about twenty feet, and has the base of the stem 

 much swollen or bulged out. The leaf bud and 

 the central portion of the upper stem arc cooked 

 as a vegetable or pickled by the natives, and 

 highly esteemed. Propagated by seed. 



Eutoca. From eatokos, fruitful; referring to the 

 abundance of seeds. Linn. Pentaivlria-Monogy- 

 i-'in. Nat. Ord. Hydropyttacea}. 



A genus of hardy annuals, with blue, pink, 

 or lilac flowers, mostly from California. A few 

 species are found in Virginia, and South and 

 West, but are not of sufficient merit to warrant 

 their introduction into the garden. Those from 

 California are free-flowering, and of the easiest 

 culture. The seed should be sown as early in 

 spring as possible. 



Evening- Glory. See Iponuxa. 



Evening Primrose. See (EnoUn-ni. 



Everlasting Pea. See Lathyrus laiifolius. 



Evolvulus. From evolvo, to roll out, the opposite 

 to Convolvulus ; referring to the plant not 

 twining. Linn. Pentandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. 

 ' '/'ii>:oluulacea>. 



An extensive genus of annuals and perennials, 

 mostly from the East Indies and South America, 

 a few species being found in Florida. The 



EXO 



flowers of these plants are extremely beautiful, 

 mostly of a large size, and of various shades of 

 blue and white. The annuals should be started 

 in a hot-bed or green-house, and planted out as 

 soon as the weather will permit, or they may be 

 grown in pots and trained on a balloon frame. 

 The perennials should be kept dry and dormant 

 through the winter, and started in a brisk heat 

 in spring. During summer they may be grown 

 in the green-house, or in pots, and trained on a 

 trellis, or other suitable place for a climbing 

 plant. The perennials may be increased by cut- 

 tings of young shoots. First introduced in 

 1817. 



Exochprda. From exn, out of, and chorda, a cord ; 

 referring to the cords by which the seeds are 

 suspended. Linn. Icosandria-Dipentagynia. Nat. 

 Ord. RosacecK. 



This is a beautiful hardy shrub from China, 

 introduced a few years since, and as yet com- 

 paratively little known. It is in substance de- 

 scribed in the late edition of the Treasury of 

 Botany as being remarkable for the structure of 

 its fruits, which consist of five small compressed 

 bony carpels adhering round a central axis in a 

 star-like manner. From the axis or growing 

 point stand five erect placentary cords, which 

 enter the carpels on their inner face near 

 the top, suspending from the apex two thin 

 seeds. These cords remain after the carpels 

 have fallen, and have suggested the name of the 

 genus. The only species, E. grandiflora, is a 

 smooth shrub or dwarf tree, with alternate 

 nearly lance-shaped entire leaves, the stems ter- 

 minated by racemes of handsome white flowers, 

 which appear in the spring, and are about an 

 inch in diameter. They have a bell-shaped 

 calyx with a five-parted border, five rounded 

 petals, and fifteen to twenty stamens. The 

 plant is also known as fipircrrt fjrawli flora. It is 

 a beatitiful, tall-growing shrub, worthy of a 

 place on the lawn and in the shrubbery. It is 

 still a rare plant in the United States, chiefly 

 because it is difficult to propagate, and in con- 

 sequence is not easy to get. It is propagated 

 from cuttings. 



Exogonium. From em, external ; referring to 

 the cxserted stamens. Linn. Pentandria-Monoyy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. Cbni^olvuJacfce. 



The few species that are included in this 

 genus are closely allied to, and very nearly re- 

 semble the tuberous-rooted IpnmoRns. They are 

 desirable climbers, flowering freely nearly the 

 whole summer. During winter the tubers should 

 be kept dry and free from frost. E. purga, a 

 Mexican species, has beautiful salver-shaped, 

 purplish flowers, and furnishes the true Jalap 

 tubers of commerce. These are roundish, of 

 variable size, the largest being about as large as 

 an orange, and of a dark color. They owe their 

 well-known purgative properties to their resin- 

 ous ingredients. They can be rapidly increased 

 by cuttings, or by division of tubers in spring, 

 like the Dahlia. 



Exostemma. From e.ro, external, and slemmn, a 

 crown ; referring to the exserted stamens. Linn. 

 Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Cinchonacece. 



A genus of tropical trees or shrubs, valued 

 more for the medicinal properties they possess, 

 than for the beauty of their foliage or flowers. 

 They are natives of the West Indies. One of the 

 species, K. C'trHnritm, has become naturalized in 

 Southern Florida. The bark possesses the same 

 active principle as that of the Cinchona. 



