HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



147 



NIE 



found it was spread over the whole continent of 

 America, where it had been cultivated from 

 time immemorial. The pleasantly soothing ef- 

 fects of this new herb were so enticing that it 

 soon found patrons among the adventurers, and 

 in an almost incredibly short time after their re- 

 turn to Spain, tobacco-smoking began to be 

 practiced in Europe; but it did not gain much 

 ground among the nations of the North until 

 the famous Sir Walter Raleigh and his compan- 

 ions introduced the custom into England in 

 1586. At first it met with the most violent op- 

 position; kings prohibited it; popes fulminated 

 bulls against it; and sultans sentenced smokers 

 to the most cruel kinds of death. Persecution, 

 however, only helped to spread it. In spite of 

 all penalties, the custom rapidly progressed, un- 

 til, at the present day, it may be said to be almost 

 universally practiced by both civilized and un- 

 civilized man." 



Nierembergia. In honor of John Eusebius Nie- 

 rembertj, a Spanish Jesuit, author of a History of 

 Nature, Antwerp, 1635. Linn. Pentandria-Monc- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. SolanacecK. 



A very interesting genus of annuals and green- 

 house herbaceous perennials, natives of Central 

 and South America. These interesting little 

 plants well deserve attention. N. jUicaulis and 

 N. yracUis are among the most beautiful of the 

 class of plants adapted for embellishing the 

 flower garden in summer, or " turning out," as 

 it is termed. A few specimens of either, in a 

 tolerably good situation, will keep up a display 

 from June till cut off by the autumnal frosts; 

 nor are the other species, N. aristata and N. ca- 

 lycina, deficient in beauty, though not so well 

 adapted for this purpose, because of their more 

 extended habit. N. rivularis, more recently in- 

 troduced, is one of the best, bearing white flow- 

 ers with a pale yellow center. It is a low- 

 growing plant, and is in flower from June till 

 fall in the open border. This species is much 

 used in cemetery decoration. Cuttings should bo 

 taken about midsummer, and struck in a cold 

 frame, potting them off when well rooted, and 



S reserving them through the winter on a dry, 

 ght shelf of the green-house. By a little 

 judicious management in autumn, such as 

 re-potting a tolerably good plant about the mid- 

 dle of September, and encouraging it to grow, 

 flowers may be had through a great part of the 

 winter. Cuttings may also be put in during the 

 winter in the green-house, which will make fine 

 plants for the border in the spring. 



Nigella. Love-in -a-Mist, or Devil-in-the-Bush. 

 From nisjer, black; the color of the seeds. Linn. 

 Polyandria-Pentagynia. Nat. Ord. Rammculacea>. 

 Annual plants, with showy flowers, which are, 

 however, almost hidden by their leafy involu- 

 cres. N. Hiapanica is the handsomest species. 

 They only require sowing in March or April in 

 the open border; or they may be sown in 

 autumn, as they will stand the winter without 

 protection, and will thus be ready to flower early 

 in summer. They are mostly natives of the 

 south of Europe, and have long been in cult'va- 

 tion. 



Night Blooming Cereus. See Cereus. 



Night Blooming Jasmine. See Oestrum. 



Nightshade. See Oolanum, 



Niphaea. From niphos, snow; in allusion to its 

 pure white flowers. Linn. Dulyncm 'a-.lmjiosper- 

 miii. Nut. Ord. 



A small genus of green-house herbaceous per- 

 ennials, with pure white flowers. The genus 



NUY 



is allied to AcMmenes ; it requires the same treat- 

 ment, and is increased in the same manner. In- 

 troduced from New Granada and Guatemala in 

 1841. 



Niphobolus. From niphobolos, covered with 

 snow; referring to the white covering of the 

 spore cases. Linn. Oryplofjamia-Filices. Nat. 

 Ord. Potypodtacece. 



A genus of Ferns found in the East Indies, 

 Australia, and Africa. They were separated 

 from Polypodium, to which they bear a close re- 

 semblance. Some of the species are very beau- 

 tiful, and well adapted for the Fern- case. They 

 may be grown in a warm and sunny house, but 

 must be sparingly watered. Propagated by 

 spores. 



Nitraria. From nitrum, niter; first found by 

 Schreber near the niter works in Siberia. Linn. 

 Dodecandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Malpiyhwxce. 

 Low shrubs with white flowers, which are very 

 hardy, and will groV well in situations exposed 

 to the sea. In gardens, the ground in which 

 they grow should be occasionally watered with 

 water in which saltpetre has been dissolved. 



Noisettia. Named after L. C. Noisette, a French 

 nurseryman. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. ViolacecK. 



N. longifolia, the only species, is a green-house 

 evergreen shrub, introduced from Cayenne in 

 1824. The flowers are cream color, produced in 

 large clusters. Propagated by cuttings. 



Nolana. From nola, a little bell ; the form of the 

 flowers. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Nolanacece. 



Trailing annual plants, with pretty blue flow- 

 ers, that only require sowing in early spring in 

 the open border. N. atriplicifolta, the handsom- 

 est species, strongly resembles Convolvulus minor. 

 ' Natives of Chili and Peru. Introduced in 1825. 



Norway Spruce. See Pinus excelsa. 



Nothochlaena. From nothos, spurious, and c/ifcti- 

 na, a cloak; some of the species appear to have 

 an involucre. Linn. Utyployamia-FUices. 'Nat. 

 Ord. Polypodiacecu. 



An extensive genus of green-house Ferns 

 found in almost every tropical and sub-tropical 

 country. It is related to Polypodium, differing 

 only in the sort. Several of the species have been 

 introduced into the Fern-house, and among 

 them, N. argcnten, a fine Silver Fern, and N. 

 flavens, a very beautiful miniature Golden Fern. 

 Propagated by spores. 



Nuphar Yellow Water Lily. From naufar, the 

 Arabic for Water Lily. Linn. Polyandria-Mono- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Nymphacecv. 



The several species included in the genns are 

 common in ponds and stagnant water in the 

 Middle, Northern, and Western States, and are 

 known as Yellow Water Lilies. 



Nut Grass. See C'yperus. 



Nutmeg. See Hyristica. 



Nutmeg Geranium. See Pelargonium. 



Nuttallia. Named in honor of Professor Nuiall of 

 Cambridge, Mass., an eminent botanist. Linn. 

 Monadelphia-Polyandria. Nat. Ord. Malvacea'. 



A genus of very pretty hardy herbaceous 

 plants, with racemes of white, pink, or purple 

 flowers. They are natives of the Southern 

 States and California. They would, in this lat- 

 itude, require a slight protection during winter. 

 They are increased by seeds or division. 



Nux Vomica. See Strychnos. 



Nuytsia. Fire Tree. Named after T. Nuyts, a 

 Dutch navigator. Linn. Hexandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Loranthacece. 



