HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



IPO 



ful and useful of all the Ipomoeas. It is j 

 useful in the open air for rapidly covering [ 

 an outbuilding, a wall, or a trellis, and will j 

 flower abundantly from midsummer till fall. 

 In the green-house it will bloom the whole 

 year, but it is well to cut it in rather severely in 

 September to keep it within bounds. The 

 flowers, which are large, and of that pure sky- 

 blue so rare among flowers, are produced in the 

 greatest profusion. It is propagated by cuttings. 

 We have tried many times to raise it from im- 

 ported seed, but have never found it to come 

 true. /. leptophylla is a recently introduced hardy 

 perennial native species, with an immense tuber- 

 ous root, of half-climbing habit, and a desirable 

 plant. It is useful for grafting on. Propagated 

 by division and from seed. I. cocdnea, or Star 

 Ipomcea, a comparatively recent introduction, 

 bears a profusion of scarlet flowers, and is a very 

 desirable plant. It is raised from seed. Nearly 

 all the Ipomceas are popular plants, especially 

 with those who have an eye for grace and beauty 

 combined. 



Ipomopsis. Standing Cypress. From ipo, to 

 strike forcibly, andopsis, sight; alluding to the 

 dazzling color of the flowers. Linn. Pentandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. PoltmoniacecK. 



I. degans and /. pictii are the only species. 

 They are beautiful hardy biennials, natives of 

 South Carolina and southward. They grow 

 from four to six feet high, and are covered near- 

 ly their whole length with brilliant scarlet flow- 

 ers. Seed should be sown in early summer, in 

 a dry, sandy soil, where the water will not stand 

 in winter; they will be greatly benefited with a 

 slight mulching of leaves, not as a protection 

 against cold, but against wet and sudden 

 changes. 



Ipsea. Derivation of name unknown. Linn. Gy- \ 

 nandria-Monandria. Nat. Ord. OrchidacecK. 



This genus of Orchids is represented by /. 

 spedosa, a beautiful and rare species from Cey- 

 lon. The flowers are clear yellow with a car- 

 mine stripe on the lip. It requires the same 

 treatment as the Bletia, which it resembles in j 

 habit. It was introduced in 1840. 



Iresine. A synonym of Achyranthes, which see. 



Iris. Fleur-de-Luce. From iris, the eye; refer- 

 ring to the variety and beauty of the flowers. 

 Linn. Triandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. IridacecK. 

 There are three distinct kinds of Iris, besides 

 innumerable species, hybrids, and varieties. 

 These are, the fibrous-rooted kinds, which grow ' 

 best in a fine sandy loam, and which increase 

 rapidly every year by suckers from the roots ; 

 the tuberous-rooted kinds, which are very apt 

 to be destroyed by snails, or to rot from too 

 much wet; and the bulbous kinds, which should 

 be taken up and replanted every second or 

 third year, as the new bulbs, which are formed 

 every season, are always directly under the old 

 bulb ; and thus in the course of a few years the 

 bulbs descend so low as to be out of the reach | 

 of the air, and consequently incapable of vege- j 

 tation. Thus it will be generally found that j 

 persons in the habit of growing Irises, are always 

 complaining of losing their plants, while the 

 real fault rests with themselves for not taking 

 ^\p their bulbs at the proper time. The bulbous 

 and tuberous-rooted Irises succeed in any light 

 and dry soil. The splendid Chalcedonian Iris 

 is one of the tuberous-rooted kinds; and it not ! 

 only requires a dry soil during winter, but to 

 be allowed plenty of pure air during the whole i 

 period of its growth, or it will be very apt to J 



ISO 



damp off. Among the species of late introduc- 

 tion is /. Kcempferii, from Japan. The plants 

 are perfectly hardy, and are very free-flowering. 

 The flowers are double and single, the colors 

 pure white, purple, maroon, blue, and many 

 with the various colors marbled with white. 

 They grow readily in almost any situation, in 

 full exposure to sun, or in partial shade. They 

 are increased by division, or may be grown read- 

 ily from seed, which, if sown in the open border, 

 will make plants that will flower the second 

 year. These are really grand plants, and worthy 

 of a place in all gardens. That they do not 

 flower until near midsummer, when the season 

 of the common Iris is past, will be an additional 

 recommendation to most lovers of plants. 



Iron-weed. The popular name of Vemonia Nove- 

 boracensis, a common weed in moist grounds and 

 along fence rows, growing from two to seven 

 feet high, and bearing bright purple flowers. 



Iron-wood. The popular name of two trees that 

 furnish a hard, useful timber, the one Ostrya, 

 which is also known as Hop Hornbeam, and the 

 other Carpinus, the Common Hornbeam, or Iron- 

 wood. Both are common in most of the States. 



Ismene. Peruvian Daffodil. After Ismene, the 

 daughter of (Edipus and Jocasta. Linn. Hexan- 

 dria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. AmaryUidacece. 



A small genus of very handsome bulbs from 

 Peru, which require to be kept perfectly dry 

 during winter, and free from frost. Plant out 

 in spring as soon as the ground is warm and 

 dry. They come into flower in June and July. 

 Flowers pure white, mostly very fragrant, pro- 

 duced in an umbel on a spathe about two 

 feet high. Propagated by offsets. Introduced 

 in 1800. 



Isoloma. From isos, equal, and loma, an edge; 

 referring to the edges of the fronds. Linn. 

 Cryptogamia-Filices. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacea'. 



A small genus of East Indian Ferns ; but few, 

 if any, have been introduced into the Fern- 

 house. 



Isolepis. From isos, equal, and lepis, a scale; 

 alluding to the regularity of the scales. Linn. 

 Triandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Cyperacea.'. 



A small genus of very pretty, low-growing, 

 fine, rush-like grasses, widely distributed. 

 Some of the species have been introduced into 

 our green-houses, and cultivated for basket 

 plants, a purpose for which they are admirably 

 adapted. Propagated by division. 



Isonandra. Gutta Percha Tree. From isos, equal, 

 and ander, the male organ, or stamen ; referring 

 to an equal number of fertile and barren sta- 

 mens. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 SapotacetK. 



I. gutla, the species which yields Gutta Percha, 

 is a large forest tree, growing sixty to seventy 

 feet high, with a trunk two or three feet in 

 diameter. It is a native of Borneo, Ceylon, and 

 Malaya, where there are immense forests of this 

 and kindred species. They aro quite ornament- 

 al trees, but, from their size, only valuable for 

 the Gutta Percha they produce. 



Isotropis. From isos, equal, and Iropos, turned; 

 referring probably to the distinctly-formed 

 veins in the flower. Linn. Decandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Fabacece. 



I. striata, from Swan Kiver, constitutes this 

 genus. It is a beautiful little green-house 

 shrub, with a soft and slightly downy stem. 

 The flowers are much like those of the Choro- 

 zema, clear orange yellow, with rich, deep crim- 

 son, forked veins. They are propagated by 



