128 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



MAP 



arms, while the labellum corresponds to the 

 dress. The flowers are purple and yellow. 

 Propagated bv root division. Introduced in 

 1808 



Maple. See Acer. 



Maranta. Arrowroot. Named after B. Maranti, 

 an Italian botanist. Linn.Monandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Marantao " . 



A genus of tropical herbaceous plants, pretty 

 extensively disseminated from the West to the 

 East Indies. Some of the species are among 

 the finest ornamental leaved plants in cultiva- 

 tion. M. zebrina has leaves two feet long and i 

 six inches wide, of a rich deep green, beauti- ! 

 fully shaded with a purplish green, and has a j 

 soft appearance, resembling the finest velvet, j 

 It is a native of Brazil, and was introduced in 

 1815. Many other well-known species are equally 

 ornamental, and occupy a prominent position 

 in choice collections. Several of the species are 

 cultivated in the East and West Indies for the 

 starch that is contained in their tubers, which is 

 very nutritive, and is commercially known as ] 

 Arrowroot. The term Arrowroot is said to be ! 

 derived from the fact that the native Indians ! 

 used the roots of these plants as an application I 

 to wounds inflicted by poisoned arrows. The j 

 green-house kinds are of easy culture, heat and i 

 water being the main requirements while grow- | 

 ing; they should also be shaded from the sun. j 

 We have found it an excellent and economical : 

 plan to grow them during the summer months j 

 in between large foliaged plants, such as Palms, 

 which gives them the necessary conditions of 

 shade and moisture. Increased by division. See 

 Calathea, to which many Marantas have been 

 transferred. 



Marattia. Named after J. F. Maratti, an Italian 

 botanist. Linn. Cryptogamia-FUices. Nat. Ord. 

 PolypodiactfE. 



Coarse-growing Ferns, of but little merit in a 

 collection. They require a hot-house. They 

 are natives of South America, aud the Eastern 

 and Pacific Islands. Propagated by spores. 



Marcgravia. In honor of George Marcgram, a | 

 German who published a Natural History of 

 Brazil in 1718. Linn. Polyandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Marcgratnacea;. 



M. umbellata, one of the best known species, is 

 a sub-parasitical creeping shrub. At first it is 

 radicant, like some Ferns; but as it advances 

 the stem becomes shrubby, adhering still by its 

 fibers to the trunk of some tree, to the top of 

 which it frequently runs, at length dividing 

 into loose pendulous branches, commonly ter- 

 minating with umbels of white flowers. It is a 

 native of the cool wooded mountains of Jamaica. 

 It appears in such a variety of forms that it has 

 been mistaken for different plants in the differ- 

 ent stages of its growth. The genus is remark- 

 able for the transformation of its smaller leaves 

 into hollow, tubular bodies, resembling the 

 pitchers of some other plants. It succeeds well 

 in the green-house, and is propagated by cuttings 



Mare's Tail. See SfeprCj 



Marianthus. From Marian, Mary, and anthos, a 

 flower; dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Linn. 

 Pentandria-Monogunia. Nat. Ord. PUtisporacea>. 

 A small genus of green-house deciduous climb- 

 ers, natives of Australia. One species has pretty 

 pale blue, spotted flowers, but it is seldom cul- 

 tivated. Propagated by cuttings. Introduced 



Marica. From maraino, to flag; referring to the 

 ephemeral nature of the flowers, which last 



MAK 



hardly a day. Linn. Triandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Irldacea;. 



A small genus of fibrous-rooted plants, with 

 very beautiful, but transient flowers, somewhat 

 resembling the ligridla. They all grow freely, 

 and are increased by division, or from seed. 

 They require the protection of the green-house 

 while at rest during winter. They are natives 

 of Central and South America, and were first 

 brought into notice in 1782. 



Marigold. See Calendula and Tagetes. 



Marjoram. See Origanum. 



Marking Nut Tree. See Semecarpits. 



Marrubium. Horehound. From marrdb, a He- 

 brew word signifying a bitter juice; in allusion 

 to the extreme bitterness of the plants. Linn. 

 Didynamia-Gyrnnospermia. Nat. Ord. Lamiacff. 

 M. vulgare is the common Horehound of our 

 gardens. The plant is a native of Europe, but 

 has become naturalized, and is as familiar as 

 an indigenous plant in the United States. Of 

 the several species, this is the only one valued, 

 and this only for its tonic properties. 



Marshallia. Named for Humphrey Marshall, of 

 Pennsylvania, author of Arbuytrum Americanum, 

 one of the earliest works on the trees and shrubs 

 of this country. Linn. Syngenesia-^Equalis. Nat. 

 Ord. Asferacece. 



A genus of herbaceous perennials, common to 

 Virginia and southward. The leaves are alter- 

 nate, entire, and glabrous; flower scape about 

 one foot high, with a single terminal head of 

 purple or rose flowers, resembling those of the 

 Scabious. 



Marsh Mallow. See AJOuea. 



Marsh Marigold. See Galtha. 



Marsh Rosemary. See < Statice. 



Marsilea. Linnaeus dedicated this genus to the 

 Count L. F. Marsigli, founder of the Academy of 

 Sciences, Bologna. Linn. Oryptogamia-Musci. Nat. 

 Ord. MarsileacecK. 



A genus of curious, low-growing aquatics, 

 inhabiting Brazil, Australia, Africa, and the 

 south of Europe. They are termed pseudo- 

 ferns, and are very interesting plants for the 

 aquarium. 



Martinezia. In honor of Balthassar Martinez, a 

 Spanish naturalist. Linn. Moncetia-Hemndria. 

 Nat. Ord. Palmacece. 



A small genus of Palms, mostly of dwarf 

 habit, natives of Central America. A few of the 

 species are under cultivation for decorative pur- 



Martynia. Named after Dr. Marlyn, once Pro- 

 fessor of Botany at Cambridge, England ; he died 

 in 1768. Linn. Didynamia-Angiospermia. Nat. 

 Ord. Pedaliacece. 



A genus of hardy and half-hardy annuals, 

 growing from two to three feet high, branching, 

 with heart-shaped leaves, the whole being cov- 

 ered with clammy hairs. Some of the species 

 are quite ornamental, but too coarse-growing 

 for a handsome border plant. M. proboscidcn is 

 indigenous to southern Illinois and southward, 

 but is most common on the banks of the Missis- 

 sippi. It is grown in the garden for the young 

 seed pods, which are used to some extent for pick- 

 ling. They require to be placed three feet apart 

 each way; at that distance, in rich soil, the 

 plants will completely cover the ground. Seed 

 should be sown where it is to grow in April and 

 May. 



Maruta. The generic name of May-weed. See also 

 Colula. 



Marvel of Peru. See Mirabilis. 



