HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



GEO 



IB common in moist, rich places in the Northern 

 States, and is a very beautiful species ; the 

 flowers are of a deep, purplish blue striped in- 

 side the folds whitish. G. <rimta, Fringed 

 Gentian, is another quite common species in New 

 England and westward. The four lobes of the j 

 corolla are fringed at the margin, an exceptional 

 point of beauty of this species. The Alpine 

 species are mostly low growing, well adapted 

 for rock-work or pot culture. The species are , 

 increased by seed, which should be sown as 

 soon as ripe! The Fringed Gentian is partial to 

 its native home. It rarely lives if transplanted, 

 and coming into flower so late in the season, it 

 is very seldom that it ripens seed. Were it 

 readily increased it would be a very popular * 

 plant. 



Geonoma. From geonomos, skilled in agriculture; 

 it was supposed that only a skillful gardener 

 could increase these Palms. Linn. Dioscia-Hex- 

 andria. Nat. Ord. Palmaceai. 



This genus includes something like forty 

 species of Palms, the most of them without 

 special interest. 0. gracilis is a dwarf species 

 of pendant habit, resembling somewhat some of 

 the Gocos. It is quite popular for decorative 

 purposes. The species are of but little value 

 in the useful arts. They are increased from 



Geranium. Crane's Bill. From geranos, a crane; 

 referring to the beak-like torus, or projection 

 beyond the seeds. Linn. Monadelphia-Decandria. 

 Nat. Ord. Geraniacece. 



A somewhat extensive genus of herbaceous 

 plants, most of which are nardy. Two species 

 are common to this country, and several of the 

 species are classed with our native plants, hav- 

 ing been naturalized from Europe. A few of 

 the species produce handsome flowers, while 

 most of them are mere weeds. The well-known 

 Geraniums of our gardens are properly Pelar- 

 goniums, and will be found under that head. 

 Gerardia. Named in honor of John Gerard, the 

 English herbalist. Linn. Didynamia-Angiosper- 

 mia. Nat. Ord. Scrophvlariaceae. 



A genus of hardy annuals and perennials, 

 common in many of the States, particularly 

 along the seacoast. The flowers are yellow and 

 purple, and are produced in great abundance. 

 The species are extremely difficult of cultivation, 

 but spread rapidly where once introduced. 

 Geropogon. Old Man's Beard. From geron, old 

 man, and pogon, a beard ; referring to the hair- 

 like pappus which crowns the calyx in this order. 

 Linn, ayngenesia- Squalls. Nat. Ord. Asteracecv. 



There is only one species of this genus, G. 

 glaber, a native of Italy, and which is a very 

 curious plant. It is an annual, having a smooth 

 stem and leaves, and growing about a foot high. 

 The flowers are flesh-colored, and expand in the 

 form of a star only when the sun shines upon 

 them. The seeds are very curious, and it is 

 from them that the plant takes its English name. 

 They should be sovm in the open border in 

 March or April, and the plants will flower in 

 July and August. 



Gesnera. Named after Conrad Gamer, a celebrat- 

 ed botanist at Zurich. Linn. Didyiwmia-Angio- 

 spermia. Nat. Ord. Gesneracetf. 



A beautiful and extensive genus of tuberous- 

 rooted green-house plants from Mexico and 

 South America. They are remarkable for the 

 beauty of their foliage, which is singularly 

 marked, and soft as velvet, and for their long 

 spikes of brilliant-colored flowers, mostly scar- 



GLA 



let and yellow. Some of them are singularly 

 marked or spotted. One species, G. Suttoni alba, 

 from Brazil, has pure white flowers. With a lit- 

 tle care in regulating their season of rest, they 

 can be brought into flower at any desired time. 

 They require a light rich soil, a warm situation, 

 but little sun, and plenty of water, which should 

 not touch the foliage. They are easily propa- 

 gated by cuttings of young shoots, or by cut- 

 tings of leaves with a bud at the base, division 

 of the tubers, or from seeds. The latter is a 

 very interesting and simple plan. The certainty 

 that all your plants will be as good as the 

 parents, and the uncertainty as to how good, or 

 how strange they may be, furnish an addi- 

 tional stimulant to grow them in this way. The 

 seed should be sown in March, in pans or boxes, 

 in fine light compost, largely composed of sand. 

 Place the pans in a warm, moist atmosphere. 

 As soon as the seedlings are up, and commence 

 the second leaf, plant separately, an inch or so 

 apart, in shallow boxes, and from these put in 

 small pots as they grow, and let them grow there 

 for the summer. Allow them to go to rest in 

 the autumn, and let them remain in the same 

 pots during winter. As soon as they show 

 signs of life in spring, re-pot in fresh soil, and 

 many of them will come into flower during the 

 summer. The first species were introduced in 

 1814. 



Gethylis. From getheo, to rejoice; referring to 

 the sweetness of the flowers. Linn. Hexandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Amaryllidacea'. 



A small genus of the most diminutive of this 

 noble family of plants. They are green-house 

 bulbs from the Cape of Good Hope, producing 

 small white, fragrant flowers in July, singly on 

 a scape not more than six inches high. Propa- 

 gated by offsets. Introduced in 1780. 

 Geum. Avens. From geyo, to stimulate; the 

 roots of some of them, and of allied species, 

 have the same properties as Peruvian Bark. 

 Linn. Icosandria-Potyyynia. Nat. Ord. Rosicen-. 

 A genus of hardy herbaceous perennials, con- 

 taining some species of an ornamental charac- 

 ter, well adapted for the shrubbery border. G. 

 atrosanguineum, a bright blue, and G. coccineum, 

 scarlet, are very showy. Propagated by seeds 

 or from root division. 

 Giant Fennel. See Ferula. 



Gilia. Named in honor of P. S. Gil, a Spanish 

 botanist. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. PolemoniacetK. 



Handsome hardy annuals from California, 

 with white, lilac, and rose-colored flowers. They 

 are low-growing, and profuse bloomers, suitable 

 for borders or rock-work. Seed should be sown 

 in the fall, and the beds lightly covered with 

 leaves. 



Gilliflower. See Mathiola. 

 Ginger. See Zingiber. 

 Ginkgo-tree. See Salisburia. 

 Ginseng. See Panax. 



Gladiolus. From gladius, a sword; referring to 

 the sword -shaped leaves. Linn. Triandria-Mono- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Iridacece. 



This extensive and well-known genus consists 

 of upward of sixty species. With but few ex- 

 ceptions, which will be noted in their descrip- 

 tions, they are natives of the Cape of Good 

 Hope. They are remarkable for ease of culture, 

 grace of habit, and for the beauty and intense 

 coloring of the flowers, that varies from the 

 most brilliant scarlet to pure white, from clear 

 rose to pure yellow and bright purple. The 



