HENDERSON'S' HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



117 



LAV 



its agreeable odor. When dissolved in spirits of 

 wine, and mixed with other perfumes, it forms 

 the much-appreciated Lavender Water. This 

 oil is the essential element in the Sweet Spirits 

 of Lavender of the druggists. L. nni is the 

 species grown for these extracts, and is prop- 

 agated by cuttings or from seed. L. np'ii-tt, 

 another species, yields the Oil of Spike. All the 

 hardy species are ornamental. 



Lavatera. Named after the two Lavaters, Swiss 

 botanists. Linn. Monadelphia-Polyandria. Nat. 

 Ord. Malvaceae. 



An extensive genus of herbaceous perennials, 

 biennials, and annuals, common throughout 

 Europe and Western Asia. They are mostly 

 coarse-growing, bushy plants, of little merit. 

 The annual species are rather showy, producing 

 large purple flowers, suitable only for back 

 grounds to other plants. The seed need only 

 be sown where wanted to grow. 



Lavender. See Lavendu!a. 



Lavender Cotton. See Santolina. 



Laxmannia. Named after E. Laxmann, a Sibe- 

 rian traveler. Linn. Ilexandria-Honoyynia. Nat. 

 Ord. LUiacecK. 



A small genus of low-growing, green-house 

 herbaceous plants, from New Holland. The 

 flowers, in terminal heads on slender scapes six 

 inches high, are either white or purple. They 

 are increased by division of root. Introduced 

 in 1824. 



Lead Plant. See Amorpha. 



Leather Flower. The common name of Clematis 

 Viorna. 



Leatherwood. See Dirca. 



Ledum. Labrador Tea. From ledon, the Greek 

 name of Cistus, which this genus resembles. 

 Linn. Decaiidria-Monogynki. Nat. Ord. Ericaceae 

 A small genus of hardy, evergreen, white- 

 flowering shrubs, natives of British America. 

 See Labrador Tea. 



Leek. See Allium. 



Lemon. See Citrus. 



Lemon Grass. A popular name of one of the 

 species of Andropogon. 



Lemonia. Named in honor of Sir Charles Lemon. 

 Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Eutacea>. 

 L. spectabttis, the only species, is a green-house 

 evergreen shrub from Cuba, producing axillary 

 clusters of beautiful rose-colored flowers in Sep- 

 tember. They require but little care during 

 winter. Place them in the green-house, and 

 give but little water. During summer they 

 will require plenty of heat and water. Propa- 

 gated by cuttings. 



Lemon Verbena. See Aloyniu. 



Leonotis. Lion's Ear. From leon, a lion, and 

 ous, an ear; some resemblance in the flower. 

 Linn. Didynainia-Gymnospei*mia. Nat. Ord. Lami- 

 acece. 



A small genus of annuals and green-house 

 evergreen shrubs. Of the latter, L. leonurus is 

 a magnificent species from the Cape of Good 

 Hope, producing brilliant scarlet flowers. It 

 requires a rough sandy loam, with plenty of air, 

 and during the summer a liberal supply of 

 water, when it will not fail to grow and flower 

 finely. It is propagated by cuttings. The other 

 species are scarcely worth growing. L. cardiaca 

 is known in domestic medicine as Motherwort. 



Leopard's Bane. See Doronicum. 



Leopard Wood. See Brosimum. 



Leopoldinia. Named after the late Empress of 

 Brazil. Linn. Mmaecio-Hexandria, Nat. Orel. 



I'/lhll' !'((!. 



LEP 



A small genus of Brazilian Palms, compris- 

 ing three or four species, existing in consider- 

 able numbers on the Amazon and Eio Negro. 

 The trees are of medium size, bearing terminal, 

 smooth, pinnate leaves, and having the upper 

 part of their stems covered with a copious net- 

 work of fibers. L. Piassaba is one of the Palms 

 which yield the Piassaba or Piacaba fiber, now 

 so extensively employed by brush-makers as a 

 substitute for bristles, and also for making the 

 stout street brooms used in all large cities. Two 

 distinct varieties of this fiber are recognized in 

 commerce, one being a coarse kind obtained 

 from Attalea funifera and imported from Bahia; 

 and the other a finer kind brought from Para, 

 the produce of the Leopoldinia, which is found 

 growing in great abundance on the extensive 

 plains between the Rio Negro and Oronoco 

 Rivers, forming entire forests. It attains a 

 height of from fifteen to forty feet, and the 

 fiber, or beard, as it is usually called, which is 

 the envelope of the young leaves, hangs down 

 all round, and completely covers the trunk quite 

 to the ground, except in very tall trees, the 

 lower part of whose trunk is generally bare. 

 The brushes made from this fiber are known in 

 trade as Tampico, and for many purposes are 

 considered superior to those made from bristles. 



Lepanthes. From lepos, bark, or lepis, scale, and 

 'rnthoti, a flo ver; the plants of this genus have 

 very small flowers, and grow uon the bark of 

 trees. Linn. Gynandria-Mono'jynia. Nat. Ord. Or- 

 chidacecr. 



A genus of the dwarfest of Orchids, with the 

 habit of, and nearly related to, Pleurothattis . It 

 can only be grown under a bell-glass, among 

 damp moss, in a cool part of the house. Natives 

 of Mexico and the West Indies. Propagated by 

 division. Introduced in 1834. 



Lepidium. Cress or Peppergrass. From lepis, a 

 scale; in allusion to the shape of the pods, 

 which appear like little scales. Linn. Tetrady- 

 namia. Nat. Ord. Bratsicacefv. 



A very extensive genus of hardy annuals and 

 perennials, found distributed throughout the 

 temperate regions of the earth. The only species 

 of interest are L. sativum, the common garden 

 Peppergrass, whose nativity is attributed to 

 Persia; and L. Piscidium, found in the Society 

 and Sandwich Islands. This species, in com- 

 mon with many other plants, possesses prop- 

 erties that intoxicate fish, and the natives use it 

 for that purpose. When thrown into the water 

 it is eagerly eaten by the fish, which are, soon 

 after eating it, rendered insensible, and float 

 helplessly upon the water, and are easily taken. 

 There are several native and naturalized species 

 common in this country, all of them weeds. 



Leptosiphon. From leptofi, slender, and siphon, 

 a tube; alluding to the tube of the flower. Linn. 

 I'entandrki-Moiiotjynia. Nat. Ord. Polenioniacea'. 

 Handsome dwarf-growing California annuals. 

 Some of the species make charming bedding 

 plants. When planted in masses they form an 

 entire sheet of pure white or lilac flowers, not 

 more than eight inches from the surface of the 

 soil. They succeed well in the open border, 

 and by successive sowings may be had in flower 

 the entire summer and autumn. They are flso 

 well adapted for growing in pots to bloom in 

 winter. 



Leptotes. From leptos, slender; referring to the 

 leaves. Linn. Gynandri<t-Mon<Kjijitia. Nat. Ord. 

 Orchidocece. 

 A small genus of Brazilian Orchids. The two 



