HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



101 



HED 



A beautiful genus, deserving a place wherever 

 space can be afforded them ia the hot-house. 

 They will attain a height of from three to five 

 feet, and flower profusely, fully proving the fit- 

 ness of the term, ''Garland Flower," applied to 

 them. There are a large number of species.mostly 

 from the East Indies. They are propagated by 

 division of the plants, before re-potting in spring, 

 after a season of partial rest. Introduced in 

 1820. 



Hedysarum. The French Honeysuckle. From 

 hedysaron, the name of a papilionaceous plant 

 described by Theophrastus. Linn. Diadelpldi- 

 Decandria. Nat. Ord. Fbbacew. 



The many species are handsome flowering 

 plants, embracing annuals, biennials, and per- 

 ennials, which require only the usual treatment 

 of their respective kinds. They are increased 

 by division of the roots and by seeds. H. gy- 

 mnsia remarkable for the property possessed by 

 its leaves of setting up a spontaneous motion, 

 independent, as far as observation reaches, of 

 all external impressions. Without being touched 

 or excited by heat, light, wind, or rain, some- 

 times a single leaflet, sometimes a whole leaf, I 

 oscillates or gyrates, continuing to move for an 

 indefinite time, and ceasing without a known 

 cause. The species are found throughout Eu- 

 rope, and have long been under cultivation. 



Helenium. Sneeze Weed. Named after the 

 beautiful Helena, the cause of the Trojan war. 

 Linn. Syngenefiia-Supoflua. Nat. Ord. Asteracea'. 

 A small genus of showy, hardy herbaceous 

 plants, with a few hardy annuals. The flowers 

 are mostly large and yellow, somewhat resem- 

 bling those of Rudbeckia, which similarity pre- 

 vents their introduction to the flower garden. 

 //. aidumnale, the only native species, popular- 

 ly known as Sneeze Weed, is a showy plant, 

 growing from two to three feet high. It is com- 

 mon Southward. 



Helianthemum. Sun Rose. From helios, the 

 sun, and anthcmon, a flower. Linn. Polyaiidria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Cistaceci;. 



Low shrubs, generally used for planting on 

 rock-work, and strongly resembling the Cistus 

 or Rock Rose. As most of the species are rather 

 tender, they require protection during win- 

 ter. For this reason they are cither grown in 

 pots, which are placed on the rock-work among 

 the stones, or taken up and re-potted in winter, 

 to be planted out again in spring. They are 

 generally increased by seeds, which ripen in 

 abundance. 



Helianthus. The Sun Flower. From helios, the 

 sun, and anthos, a flower; in reference to the 

 common but erroneous opinion, that the flow- 

 ers always turn their faces toward the sun. 

 Linn. Syiujenesia-Siipeiflua. Nat. Ord. Asleracefi'. 

 An extensive genus of hardy annuals and 

 herbaceous perennials. The annual of this name, 

 11. annuus, though a native of Peru, is of the 

 hardiest of its kind, as it only requires sowing 

 in the open border. The flowers are immense 

 in size, averaging a foot in diameter; color yel- 

 low with a dark disk. Immense as these flowers 

 are, fashion has decreed that they be worn by 

 many of the ladies at many of the summer re- 

 sorts at the present writing. It is not, however, 

 suitable for any situation, unless there be abund- 

 ance of room, on account of the large size of 

 its stalks and leaves. The perennial kinds are 

 much smaller, and very ornamental. They are 

 quite hardy. Several of the annual species are 

 ! xtcnsively grown in marshy districts, because 



HEL 



they are supposed to absorb malaria. //. iubc- 

 roifus is the well-known Jerasakm Artichoke. 

 There are a large number of species common 

 throughout the United States. California fur- 

 nishes a species with very large double flowers, 

 one of the best under cultivation. 



Helichrysum. Everlasting Flower. From he- 

 lios, the sun, and chryaon, gold; in allusion to 

 the brilliant flowers. Linn. Syngenesia-L'olyga- 

 mia-Superflua. Nat. Ord. Asteraceai. 



The genus consists of annuals, hardy herbace- 

 ous perennials, and evergreen shrubs, the two 

 latter rarely met except in botanical collections. 

 The common yellow Everlasting, It. l>radeatum, 

 is a hardy annual that only requires sow- 

 ing in the open border. H. bicolor is a very 

 slight variety, merely differing in having the 

 outer petals tipped with copper color; but //. 

 macranthxm has white flowers tipped with pink, 

 and is very handsome. This species is a native 

 of the Swan River colony. It may either be 

 sown in the open ground in April, to flower in 

 autumn, or in a hot-bed in February, to plant 

 out in May. 



Helcia. From helcium, a horse-collar; in reference 

 to the curious formation of the flowers. Linn. 

 Gynandria-Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchvdacerv. 



II. san'jmnolenta, the only species, is a beauti- 

 ful terrestrial Orchid from the Peruvian Andes. 

 Its flowers are produced in great profusion on 

 single stalks from the base of the bulbs; the 

 sepals and petals yellowish, beautifully marked 

 with reddish brown; lip large, white, marked 

 with purplish crimson. It requires to be grown 

 in a cool house. Increased by division. 



Heliconia. From Helicon, a hill consecrated to 

 the Muses; from its affinity to tho genus Musa. 

 Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Musaceat. 

 A genus of interesting plants from the West 

 Indies and South America. Their fruit is eaten 

 by the natives, though inferior to the Banana. 

 It requires the same general treatment as the 

 Maranta, but is too large for general green-house 

 cultivation. Propagated by division of plant. 



Heliophila. From helios, the sun, and phileo, to 

 love; referring to the sunny aspect where they 

 delight to grow. Linn. Tetr adynamia, Nat. Ord. 

 UrassicacecK. 



Beautiful little annual plants, natives of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, generally with blue flow- 

 ers, and very long, slender stems. The seeds 

 should be sown on a hot-bed in February, and 

 the plants planted out in a warm open situation 

 in May. 



Heliotrope. See IMiotropium. 



Heliotropium. Heliotrope. From helios, the sun, 

 and irope, twining; in reference to the curled or 

 twining flower branch. Linn. Triandria-Mono- 

 f/ynia. Nat. Ord. Ehretiacece. 



This genus of interesting plants consists of 

 hardy and tender annuals and green-house 

 shrubs. Of the latter, H. Peruvianum is the well- 

 known Heliotrope, a general favorite from its 

 delicious fragrance. It grows freely in the open 

 border. After the first of September, and until 

 killed by frost, the plant is a complete mass of 

 bloom. It is also largely grown in the green- 

 house for cut flowers in winter. Propagated by 

 ciittings. Introduced from Peru in 1757. 



Helipterum. From helios, the sun, and pteron, a 

 wing. Linn. Syntjenesia-l^olyjamia-Supeiflua. Nat. 

 Ord. Aster<'fir. 



An extensive genus, separated from Hdichry- 

 smit, with which it was formerly classed. The 

 species, commonly known as Everlasting Flow- 



