102 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



HEL 



era, are tender annuals from South Atrien, Aus- 

 tralia, and Tasmania. The name." Everlasting 

 Flower" is promiscuously applied to the plants 

 of this genus and their allies. The arrangement 

 of them in bouquets and floral designs is an ex- 

 tensive business in France and Germany. 1 hey 

 urow freely from seed, and thrive best in a light 

 dry soil made tolerably rich. Introduced from 

 Swan River in 1863. 



Hellebore. See Hellc'iorns. 



Helleborus Hellebore. From helei,,, to cause 

 death, and bora, food; in reference to its poison- 

 ous quality. Linu. Polyandria-Poli/gynia. Nat. 

 onl Bomtacufaeao?. 



This genus consists of hardy herbaceous per- 

 ennials, growing best under the shade of trees. 

 The "Christmas Rose," H. niger, is one of 

 the most interesting plants belonging to this 

 genus, on account of its flowering in winter or 

 very early in spring, before almost every other 

 flower If grown in a frame it will be true to its 

 name, 'and flower freely during the Christmas 

 holidays. It is increased by division of the roots. 

 Introduced from Austria in 1596. 



Helmia. In honor of Dr. C. Heim, a German ec- 

 clesiastic. Linn. Dicecia-Hexandr'ui. Nat. Ord. 

 Dioscoreaceo'. 



A genus of handsome climbers, allied to the 

 Dioscarea or Yam, and requiring the same treat- 

 ment. 



Hemerocallis. Day Lily. From hemera, a day, 

 and kulloa, beauty; alluding to the beauty and 

 duration of the flowers. Linn. He.randria-Mono- 

 lynia. Nat. Ord. Liliacea:. 



Strong perennial plants, with yellow or cop- 

 per-colored flowers. They are perfectly hardy, 

 and thrive best in a moist, shady situation. 

 The more common sorts are unworthy of culti- 

 vation, n.flm'u, a native of Siberia, has beau- 

 tiful clear yellow flowers, borne in clusters on tall 

 scapes. If in a shady border they remain some 

 time in flower. Propagated by division of root. 



Hemionites. From hfinionos, a mule; supposed 

 to be barren. Linn. Orjfptoffftmia-flUees. Nat. 

 Ord. Polifpodiacece. 



A small genus of Ferns, with simple palmate 

 fronds, natives of the tropics of both the New 

 and Old Worlds. They are exceedingly inter- 

 esting plants for the hot-house, where they must 

 be grown. They are increased by division. In- 

 troduced in 1798. 



Hemlock. See N>u/ and Conium. 



Hemlock Spruce. See Abies. 



Hemp. See <'<tnn<tl\s. 



Henbane. See 1 lyoscyamns. 



Hen and Chicken Daisy. See BeUis perennis 



Hen and Chickens. A popular name for one of 

 the Houseleeks, Semperufottm soboljfenan. 



Hepatica. From hepnticos, relating to the liver; 

 referring to the lobed leaves. Linn. Polyandria- 

 Polygynia. Nat. Ord. Ranunculi n-m . 



A small genus of hardy herbaceous perennials, 

 one of our earliest "wild flowers,' 1 and very 

 common in the woods throughout the Eastern 

 and Northern States. It succeeds well in a 

 shady border. 



Heracleum. Cow Parsnip. From herades, a plant 

 consecrated to Hercules. Linn. Pexiandria-Di- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Apiacefi:. 



A genus of large, coarse-growing, hardy per- 

 ennials and biennials, bearing lurge umbels of 

 white flowers. They are all too weedy in ap- 

 pearance for the flower garden, being suitable 

 only for large masses in rocky places difficult to 

 cultivate 



HET 



Herbertia. Named after Dr. Herbert, Dean of 

 Manchester, a distinguished investigator of bulb- 

 ous plants. Linn. Monadelphia-Triandria. Nat. 

 Ord. Iridacece. 



Very pretty speciesfrom South America, nearly 

 hardy, requiring only the protection of the frame. 

 It does well grown in pots. The flowers resem- 

 ble the Iris, and are of various colors, blue and 

 white predominating. Propagated by offsets. 

 Introduced in 1830. 



Herb Bobert. See Geranium Eoberiimu-n. 

 Hercules' Club. See Aralia spimsa. 

 Herd's Grass. The New England name of Phle- 

 um pmiense. 



In Pennsylvania Agrostis vulgaris is commonly 

 called Herd's Grass. 

 Heron's Bill. See Erodium. 



Herpestis. From herpestes, a creeping thing; in 

 reference to the creeping stems. Linn. Didy- 

 namia-Anfjiospermia. Nat. Ord. Scrophulariacea;. 

 An extensive genus of herbaceous perennials, 

 chiefly aquatics, common throughout all tropi- 

 cal countries. There are also several species 

 found in marshy places in the Southern and 

 Western States. The species are mostly unin- 

 teresting. H. reflexa, a species of recent intro- 

 duction, is a valuable plant for the aquarium. 

 Herrania. Derivation of name not given. Linn. 

 Pentandria-Peniagynia. Nat. Ord. Bj/ttneHac/KS, 



This genus consists of three or four species of 

 evergreen trees, natives of South America, and 

 one from Australia. They have palm-like heads, 

 composed of large digitate leaves. They are 

 very showy, but too lirge for general green-house 

 cultivation. 



Hesperantha. Evening Flower. From liesperos, 

 the evening, and anthos, a flower. Linn. Trian- 

 dria-Monorjynia. Nat. Ord. Iridacew. 



A genus of Cape bulbs closely allied to the 

 Ixia. The species are;remarkable for expanding 

 their sweet-scented flowers in the evening; 

 hence their name. The flowers are mostly 

 white, sometimes stained on the outside with 

 purple or brown. Propagated by offsets. Cul- 

 ture same as Ixia. Introduced in 1825. 

 Hesperis. Rocket. From hesperos, the evening ; 

 the Rockets being sweeter toward evening. 

 Linn. Tetradynamia. Nat. Ord. Brassicacew. 



These flowers, though very common, are 

 rarely well grown, as they require a great deal 

 of care to bring them to perfection. They are all 

 perennials; and as soon as they have done flow- 

 ering they should be taken up and transplanted 

 into fresh and very rich soil, which must be of 

 a light and friable nature. Thus treated, the 

 double white and double purple varieties of 

 Hesperis mntronalis will attain extraordinary 

 size, and will flower splendidly. Propagated by 

 seeds or division of roots. 



Hesperoscordum. Literally, the Onion of the 

 West ; from hesperos, the west, nnd skurdon, gar- 

 lic. Linn. Ilexandria-Monoyynia. Nat. Ord. Lil- 

 iacK. 



A small genus of Californian bulbs, allied to 

 the Attium, with large and showy flowers, blue 

 and white. They have a strong smell of garlic, 

 that is a barrier to their introduction to the 

 flower garden. 



Heterocentron. From heteros, variable, and ken- 

 iron, a sharp point. Linn. Octandria-Munog-ynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Melasto-macecK. 



A genus of free-flowering under-shrubs from 

 Mexico. There are but two species, one, H. 

 album, with white, the other, H. roseum, with 

 crimson-purple flowers, produced in axillary or 



