116 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



LAB 



or American Black Larch, and is superior to any 

 of the species of Pine or Spruce for ship-build- 

 ing, for which purposes it is largely employed 

 in Maine and the British Provinces. The trees 

 are small and of but little value south of Maine. 

 Its southern limits are the mountains of Vir- 

 ginia. It is not so fine an ornamental tree as L. 

 Europcea, which is also a valuable timber-tree, 

 and worthy of a place on the lawn. There are 

 a number of varieties. 



Larkspur. See Delphi mum. 



Larrea. In honor of John Anthony de Larrea, a 

 Spanish promoter of the sciences. Linn. Decan- 

 dria-Monugyniti. Nat. Ord. Zyyophyllacece. 



L. Afexicana, the Creosote plant, is a shrub 

 growing from four to six feet high, very abun- 

 dant in some parts of Mexico, forming a dense 

 and almost impassable scrub, particularly on 

 the borders of the Colorado desert, where its 

 luxuriant growth puts a stop to the drifting 

 sand. Its appearance is a sure indication of a 

 sterile soil, as nothing will grow beneath it, and 

 its strong Creosote odor is so repulsive that no 

 animal will touch it. It is with great difficulty 

 that it can be made to burn, and it is conse- 

 quently useless for fuel. 



Lasiandra. From lasios, woolly, and aner, an 

 anther; alluding to the hairy stamens. Linn. 

 Dfcundria-Mon&jynia. Nat. Ord. Melastomacece. 



A large genus of green-house evergreen shrubs, 

 with handsome foliage, and producing large pani- 

 cles of beautiful purple flowers. They are easily 

 propagated from cuttings. Introduced from Bio 

 Janeiro in 1836. 



Lasthenia. Derivation of name unknown. Linn. 

 Synfjenesia-Superflua. Nat. Ord. Asteracece. 



A small genus of hardy annuals from Califor- 

 nia. The flowers are pure golden yellow, mak- 

 ing a very pretty border plant. The seed should 

 be sown in autumn or early spring. Introduced 

 in 1834. 



Lastreea. Derivation unexplained. Linn. Crm- 

 t'xjiimia-FUices. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacea:. 



An extensive genus of Polypodiaceous Ferns, 

 formerly included in the genus Aspidinm. They 

 all require green-house treatment. Some of the 

 newly-introduced species from Australia grow 

 luiuriantly in the ordinary green-house. Like 

 all of the order, a moist atmosphere is favorable 

 to their perfect development. 



Latania. Bourbon Palm. Laianier is the name 

 of the plant in the Isle of Bourbon. Linn. Due- 

 cia-jfonadelphia. Nat. Ord. Palmacece. 



A genus of fine middle-sized Palms, with 

 plaited, fan-like fronds, with spiny leaf stalks. 

 L. Borbonica is the most commonly grown in our 

 green-houses, and makes a very beautiful plant 

 for the lawn in summer. When grown in tubs 

 or large pots, this Palm is the one best suited 

 .and most largely used for the decoration of 

 hotel verandas. Thousands are now in use 

 for that purpose. Exceedingly fine specimens 

 of this beautiful Palm are now growing in the 

 Botanic Gardens at Washington. L. rufira, from 

 Uauritms is a much smaller plant, and is re- 

 markable for its red, livid leaves. The species 

 are propagated by seed, which grows freely if 

 ven a mild bottom heat. They require but 

 little attention in winter. They can be kept in 

 the green-house during winter, and given but 

 little water. In the summer give them plenty 

 of__heat and water; their growth will be in 



Lathyrus. From la, to add to, and ihauros, an 



LAV 



irritant; to increase excitement; the supposed 

 qualities of the seeds. Linn. Diaddphia-Decan- 

 dria. Nat. Ord. Fabacew. 



A large genus of very beautiful, free-flowering 

 climbing annuals and perennials, found in the 

 temperate regions of both hemispheres. AJ. odor- 

 atus, the Sweet Pea of our gardens, is a native 

 of Southern Sicily, and was first introduced into 

 England in 1701. On account of its fragrance 

 it is the most desirable of the species. There is 

 now great diversity in the colors of the different 

 varieties, some of late introduction being the 

 best in cultivation; they include white, purple, 

 black, scarlet, blue-edged, and striped sorts. The 

 Sweet Pea delights in a heavy, stiff loam, and 

 will not succeed in a light soil unless planted 

 very deep, say five inches, and the earth well 

 packed down around the plants. L. latifolius, of 

 which there are three varieties, producing pur- 

 ple, rose, and white flowers, are pretty generally 

 distributed throughout Europe. They grow from 

 six to eight feet high when properly trained upon 

 a trellis; and if planted in a moist soil will pro- 

 long their season of flowering nearly the whole 

 summer. They are extensively used in New 

 York and other large cities as cut flowers. L. 

 Migellanicus, a perennial species from Cape 

 Horn, is remarkable for the beauty of its foliage, 

 as well as for its showy blue flowers. The per- 

 ennials are propagated by root division and 

 from seed. Seedlings do not usually get strong 

 enough to flower well before the third year; they 

 will, however, produce some flowers the second 

 year. There is one perennial species, L. tuberosa, 

 occasionally met in Europe, having edible 

 tubers, which, if baked or roasted, are said to be 

 great delicacies. The flowers of this species are 

 borne in clusters on long peduncles; they are of 

 medium size, and of a rosy-pink color. There 

 are several other species under cultivation. 



Lattice Plant. See Ouvirandm. 



Laurel. See La<irus. Also Gnidia, the ancient 

 name. 



Laurel Magnolia. See Magnolia. 



Laurestinus. See Virburnum tinus. 



Laurus. Laurel. From the Celtic laur, green. 

 Linn. Enneandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Lauracece. 

 Under the common name of Laurel many dif- 

 ferent plants are met in fields and gardens, but 

 the Sweet Bay, or Noble Laurel, L. nobilis, is the 

 only one which is properly so called. It is a 

 native of Southern Europe, and is a beautiful 

 evergreen shrub or tree. In some localities it 

 grows to the height of fifty to sixty feet, always 

 retaining its shrub-like character. Its leaves 

 have an agreeable aromatic, slightly bitter taste ; 

 its flowers are yellowish and inconspicuous, and 

 its fruits are succulent, and of the size of a small 

 cherry. The leaves, because of their agreeable 

 flavor, are used in cooking and in various con- 

 fections. The dried figs that are imported into 

 this country are usually packed with these 

 leaves. This tree is not hardy enough to resist 

 the winters north of the Carolinas. Propagated 

 by layers, root cuttings, or by seed. 



Lavendula. Lavender. From lavo, to wash, in 

 allusion to the use made of its distilled water. 

 Linn. Didynamia-Gymnosperinia. Nat. Ord. La- 

 miacece. 



Mostly undershrubs, natives of the south of 

 Europe, but largely grown in England and 

 France for the sake of their perfume, and for 

 the oil,- on which this property depends. The 

 essential oil of Lavender is produced by distil- 

 lation from the flowers, and is much prized for 



