126 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



, MAG 



A magnificent genus of ornamental tr< * and 

 shrubs, thus far found only in the United States, 

 China, and Japan. It is composed of ever- 

 Tcen and deciduous hardy and half-hardy 

 trees and shrubs. The flowers are white, pur- 

 ple or greenish white, and are remarkable for 

 their fragrance. M. '" ll nnta (Cucumber Tree) 

 grows from thirty to fifty feet high, and is com- 

 mon in moist woods from New York to Ohio and 

 southward. M. ijlanca ^Small or Laurel Magno- 

 lia, Sweet Bay) is a low-growing deciduous 

 tree, in some localities called Swamp Sassafras. 

 It is also known by the name of Beaver Tree, 

 because the roots are eaten by beavers, which 

 animals also make use of the wood in construct- 

 ing their huts or nests. This species is common 

 in swamps in New Jersey and southward. The 

 flowers are single, produced on the ends of the 

 branches, greenish white, and delightfully fra- 

 grant. They are collected and Hold in the mar- 

 kets and streets of New York in large quantities. 

 ]f. cordata is the Yellow Cucumber Tree of Geor- 

 gia, M. orandijirira (Great Laurel) is justly en- 

 titled to its sp'ecific name, as it is one of the 

 most noble and beautiful of American evergreen 

 trees, remarkable for the majesty of its form, 

 the magnificence of its foliage, and the beauty 

 of its flowers. This is a large tree, growing from 

 sixty to one hundred feet high; the foliage is 

 thick, brilliant on the upper surface, and rusty 

 colored underneath; the flowers are pure white, 

 six to eight inches across, and very fragrant. 

 It is a native of the Carolinas and westward, but 

 not hardy north of Washington. There is one 

 specimen in Philadelphia, well protected, that 

 blooms annually. M. inacrophyUa is a compara- 

 tively rare species, being only occasionally met 

 in the woods from Florida to Tennessee. It 

 rarely attains a height of sixty feet. It is a de- 

 ciduous tree of perfect form, with leaves from 

 fine and a half to three feet long, clustered at the 

 summit of the branches. The flowers are pure 

 white, with a purple spot at the base of the 

 petals, and are from eight to twelve inches in 

 width, and deliciously fragrant. This species 

 is not considered sufficiently hardy to withstand 

 the severity of our winters. It is to be regretted 

 that it has such a reputation, as it is in a great 

 measare unjust. It might not succeed in the 

 more exposed situations, but there is scarcely a 

 fine suburban place around New York that has 

 not some sheltered, cosy corner in which this 

 noble tree would not delight to grow. There is 

 upon the Manice estate at Queens, Long Island, 

 r. tree of this species that was planted more 

 than fifty years ago, and is now fifty or more 

 feet high, with a boll a foot in diameter. There 

 is upon this tree every year hundreds of flowers, 

 and it is no less conspicuous in autumn, with 

 its large heads of bright scarlet fruit. It also 

 does well up the Hudson River. Young trees 

 are easily produced from seed. As soon as 

 the seed is ripe, it should be gathered, and kept 

 in common brown sugar during the winter, and 

 sown in early spring. M. conspicuft, or M. Yulan, 

 is a native of China, where it attains a height of 

 forty or fifty feet. It is perfectly hardy in this 

 latitude, and remarkable for the great number 

 of white flowers produced in spring, before the 

 leaves are developed. M. purpurea, a Japanese 

 species, has deciduous leaves, like the former, 

 and is in all respects similar, except that the 

 flowers are purple outside and white within. 

 These two species contrast finely when planted 

 together upon the lawn. M. fuscata, a green- 



MAM 



house evergreen from China, is a low-growing 

 shrub, with small glossy leaves, and dull purple 

 flowers of exquisite fragrance. There are many 

 other species and varieties, but those described 

 are the best representatives. 



Mahernia. An anfc/rum of Hertnarmia, an allied 

 genus. Linn. MonaddphfarPentandria. Nat. Ord. 

 Byttneriacece. 



A genus of neat little green-house shrubs, 

 growing about two feet high, and remarkable for 

 the profusion of their fragrant yellow, or red 

 and yellow flowers. M. odoratt, the yellow, is 

 the best known. They are easily grown in the 

 green-house with ordinary treatment. All the 

 species are from the Cape of Good Hope, and 

 were introduced early in the present century. 

 They are increased by cuttings. 



Mahogany Tree^ See Sirietenia. 



Maiden Hair Iwn. See Adiantum. 



Maiden Hair Tree. See Srdisburia. 



Maize. See Zea. 



Malcolmia. Named after W. Malcolm, a celebrat- 

 ed nurseryman. Linn. Tetmdynamia. Nat. Ord. 

 Brassicacece. 



A genus of herbaceous plants, mostly annuals. 

 The species are chiefly natives of the south of 

 Europe, and produce white or purple flowers 

 disposed in racemes. Most of the species are 

 but little grown. .17. niaritima is the well-known 

 Virginian Stock of our gardens. They all grow 

 from seed sown in spring. 



Mallow. See Malm. 



Malope. From nudos, soft or tender; referring 

 to tne texture of the leaves. Linn. M>nudclphia- 



a. Nat. Ord. Malvaceae. 



Annual plants with very handsome flowers. 

 M. trijida, of which there are two kinds, one with 

 crimson and the other with white flowers, is 

 rather dwarf ; but M. grandiflora will grow four or 

 five feet high in a good soil and an open situation, 

 bearing very large and showy brilliant crimson 

 flowers. All the kinds are quite hardy, and only 

 require sowing in April or May in the open 

 border, and thinning out and transplanting, 

 when the young plants are three or four inches 

 high. Natives of North Africa. Introduced m 

 1808. 



Malva. Mallow. From inalacho, to soften; refer- 

 ring to their emollient qualities. Linn. Mona- 

 delpkia-Polyandria. Nat. Ord. Mali-acece. 



This is a group of plants remarkable for then- 

 large, showy flowers ; but the coarseness of the 

 leaves and loose manner of growing deprive the 

 genus of much of the interest it would otherwise 

 have. The genus consists of tender, half-hardy, 

 and hardy perennials and annuals, all of the 

 easiest culture, according to their respective 

 kinds. M. moschata, the Musk-Mallow, derives 

 its name from the peculiar musky odor given off 

 by all parts of the plant when kept in a confined 

 situation, particularly in dry weather; but it is 

 seldom powerful enough to be smelt in the open 

 air. This species is a hardy herbaceous peren- 

 nial, common in waste places in Great Britain. 

 ^[. ratundffolia has become naturalized until it is 

 quite a nuisance in our gardens and yards. 



Malvaviscus. See Achania. 



Mammee Tree. See Maminea. 



Mammee Apple. See Jfammea. 



Mammea. Mammee Tree. Niamey is the native 

 name. Linn. Polyandria-Monoyynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Gusiacea:. 



M. Americanst, a native of the West Indies, 

 produces the Mammee Apple, or South Ameri- 

 can Apricot, which is very much valusd in 



