HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



135 



MOL 



Moldavian Balm. See Dracocepkalum. 



Moltkia. Named after Count Gadske Moltke, a 

 Danish noble. Linn. Pentandrior'Mfmogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. BorayhKH-nr. 



M. ccerulea, the only species, is a hardy her- 

 baceous perennial, with beautiful blue flowers. 

 It is a native of Persia, and grows freely with 

 ordinary garden culture. Propagated by seeds 

 or root division. Introduced in 1829. 



Momordica. Balsam Pear, Balsam Apple. From 

 mnrdeo, to bite ; the seeds have the appearance of 

 being bitten. Linn. Moncecia-Monadelphia. Nat. 

 Ord. Cuatrbitacece. 



A small genus of annual and perennial climb- 

 ing herbaceous plants, with coarse leaves and 

 inconspicuous flowers, either white or yellow. 

 M. charanlia, an East Indian species, is the Bal- 

 sam Pear of our gardens. It has bright orange 

 yellow, pear-shaped fruit, from four to six inches 

 long, and covered all over with little wart-like 

 protuberances. When ripe the fruit splits open 

 and turns back, and its bright red seeds give it 

 a showy appearance. M. balsamina, Balsam Ap- 



S'.e, is in all respects the same, excepting that 

 e fruit is smaller and nearly round. They 

 grow best in a light rich soil, with a sunny as- 



Ct, and should be trained over a trellis or on 

 sh. Seed should be sown early in spring. 

 Monarda. Horse Mint. Named after M. Monar- 

 dez, a physician of Seville. Linn. Diandria-Mo- 

 notjynia. Nat. Ord. Lamiacece. 



A genus of hardy herbaceous perennials, com- 

 mon from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin. They are 

 mostly coarse-growing, and of but little beauty. 

 M. didyma, Oswego Tea, has bright red, showy 

 flowers, and is sometimes cultivated under the 

 name of Bee Balm. 

 Moneywort. See Lysimachia. 

 Monkey Flower. See Mhmtlus. 

 Monkey Puzzler. See Araucaria imbricata. 

 Monk's Hood. See Aconitnm. 

 Monochcetum. A synonym of Heterocentron, which 



see. 



Monogramma. From monos, one, and gramma, a 

 writing; referring to the spore or seed-cases. 

 Linn. Oryptoyamia-Filices. Nat. Ord. Polypodia- 

 cecK. 



A small genus of very small Ferns from the 

 West indies, requiring a warm green-house. 

 Monolopia. From monolopus, a single covering; 

 referring to the flower covering. Linn. Synyene- 

 sia-Superftua. Nat. Ord. Asteracece. 



California woolly annuals, allied to Chrysan- 

 themum. There are but two species: one, M. 

 major, with yellow flowers, is rather showy; the 

 other is a mere weed. 



Monopsis. From monos, one, and opsis, a face; 

 the flowers are regular, not bilabiate. Linn. 

 Penfandria-Monotjynia. Nat. Ord. LobeliacecK. 



This little annual deserves far more attention 

 than it has hitherto received. It bears a resem- 

 blance to the well-known Lobelia yracilis, except 

 that its flowers are round, the segments being 

 equal instead of bilabiate, as in Lobelia. The 

 Monopsis requires the treatment usual for the 

 other plant mentioned, and in the same situa- 

 tions has a much better effect, its flowers being 

 of the same color, but from their form are more 

 showy. It is from the Cape of Good Hope, and 

 at present is seldom seen. Introduced in 1812. 

 Monotropa. The generic name of the //<// 



Pipe or CWp.se Plant. 



Monsonia. Named after Lady Ann J/o//x//. Linn. 

 MMOddphia-Dodeecmdria. Nat. Ord. Grcrax 

 A genus of very beautiful herbaceous plants, 



MOR 



nearly allied to the Geraniums, but with much 

 larger flowers. They are now rarely seen, but 

 well de 



in 1774. 



Monstera. Name not explained. Linn. Heptan- 

 dria-Monoyynia. Nat. Ord. Orontacece. 



A genus of climbing stove epiphytes, former- 

 ly known as Dracontium. Several of the species 

 are cultivated in collections of plants with 

 ornamental foliage. M. deliciosa, a Mexican spe- 

 cies, has a succulent fruit, with a luscious pine- 

 apple flavor. It is better known among us as 

 Philodendron pertusum. Most of the species have 

 holes in their leaves at irregular intervals, the 

 natural causes of which are not at all under- 

 stood. Propagated by cuttings and seeds. 

 Montbrettia. In honor of M. Monibret. Linn. 

 Monodelphia-Triandria. Nat. Ord. Iridacece. 



A small genus of bulbs with yellow flowers, 

 from the Cape of Good Hope. They have the 

 general appearance and habit of the Ixia. Un- 

 less protected by a frame during winter they 

 must be kept in the green-house. Propagated 

 by offsets. Introduced in 1825. 

 Moonseed. See Menispermum. 

 Moon-Flower. A popular name of Ipomcea Bona- 



nox. 



Moonwort. See Botrychium and Lunaria. 

 Moose Horn Fern. See Platycerium ^Ethiopica. 

 Moose-wood. See Dirca. 



Morsea. Named after R. Moore, an English bot- 

 anist. Linn. Triandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Iridacece. 



Bulbous plants with very handsome flowers, 

 nearly allied to Ixia, from which genus they 

 have been removed. They are generally grown 

 in pots. When they have done flowering, they 

 should be kept dry till they begin to grow in 

 spring. When planted in the open ground 

 they should be protected from frost and heavy 

 rains. Natives of the Cape of Good Hope. 

 Propagated by offsets. Introduced in 1758. 

 Morenia. In honor of M. Moreno. Linn. Dicecia- 

 Hexandria. Nat. Ord. Palmacecv. 



A small genus of hot-house Palms from Peru, 

 requiring the same treatment as the Chamce- 

 dorea. 



Mprina. Named after L. Morin, a French botan- 

 ist. Linn. Diandria-Monoyynia. Nat. Ord. Dip- 

 sacacecv. 



A. small genus of hardy herbaceous perennials. 

 M. lonyifolia, a native of the mountains of the 

 north of India, is a showy plant, growing two or 

 three feet high, and flowering freely from July 

 until October. Its habit of growth resembles 

 the Acanthus ; the flowers resemble those of the 

 Verbena, only they are larger, and produced in 

 whorls around the stem. The general appear- 

 ance of the plant is weedy. 



Moringa. Horse-radish Tree. From moringo, 

 the Indian name. Linn. Decandria-Monoyynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Moringm-fr. 



The three species that compose this genus are 

 green -house evergreens from North Africa, 

 Western Asia, and the East Indies. The root of 

 one of the species, M. pterygospermia, is pungent 

 and stimulant, and is used by the natives for 

 Horse-radish. The fruit of this species is called 

 Ben Nuts, from which is extracted a fluid oil 

 called Oil of Ben, used by watchmakers. 

 Mormodes. From mormo, a goblin ; referring to 

 the strange appearance of the flowers. Linn. 

 Gynandria-Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



