HENDkERSON'8 HANDBOOK OF PLANTo. 



149 



ODO 



A somewhat extensive genns of fragrant and 

 aromatic plants, mostly natives of India. The 

 most important of them are 0. basiiicum, the 

 Sweet or Common .Basil, a tender annual, intro- 

 duced from India in 1548, and . minimum, the 

 Dwarf or Bush Basil, a native of Chili , and in- 

 troduced in 1573. The leaves of both species 

 have a strong aromatic smell, and arc much used 

 in seasoning soups and various other djshes. 

 Odontoglossum. From rxlons, a tooth, and rjlossa, 

 a tongue; tooth-like processes on the lip or la- 

 bellum. Linn. Gynandria-Monandria. Nat. Ord. 

 Orchidacfce. 



A very extensive genus of epiphytal Orchids, 

 found principally in the cool mountain regions 

 of Mexico, Peru, New Grenada, and Venezuela. 

 Very many of the species have been introduced 

 into the green-house, and are greatly prized by 

 cultivators for their magnificent flowers, which 

 are remarkable both for their size and the beauty 

 of their colors. Many of the species have pure 

 white flowers, variously spotted; some have a 

 powerful odor of violets. With but few excep- 

 tions, they require to be grown in a moderately 

 cool house. Propagated by division. 

 GSnocarpus. From oinos, wine, and karpos, a 

 fruit; yields palm wine and oil. Linn. Moncecia- 

 Hexanaria. Nat. Ord. Palmacea?. 



An exclusively South American genus of lofty 

 Palms, consisting of several species, some of 

 which yield largo quantities of sweet-tasted oil, 

 which is excellent for cooking, and is much used 

 for burning in lamps. 



(Enothera. Evening Primrose. From oinos, wine, 

 and tlt.era, imbibing; the roots of (E. biennis were 

 formerly taken after meals as incentives to wine- 

 drinking. Linn. Odandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Onagracecn. 



A genus of annual, biennial, and perennial 

 plants, many of which are common throughout 

 the United States, and others are natives of 

 South America and the Eastern Continent. 

 Some of the species are ornamental, and would 

 find favor in most gardens, but for the fact of 

 their being natives. Some of the annuals arc 

 truly magnificent, producing flowers nearly six 

 inches in diameter. Some of the species are 

 grown in the garden, and many more might be. 

 First introduced into Europe in 1629. 

 Oil of Ben. See Morinf/fi. 

 Oil of Bergamot.. See MentJia citrata. 

 Oil Palm. See E'ceis. 

 Oil of Origanum. See Origanum. 

 Okra. See Hibiscus escidentus. 

 Old Man's Beard. Sao Geropogon. 

 Old Witch Grass. See Panicum capttlare. 

 Olea. Olive. From daia, olive. Linn. Diandria- 

 Monoqynia. Nat. Ord. Oleacsce. 



The tree that produces the Olives and Olive 

 Oil of commerce is a low-branching evergreen, 

 growing from twenty to thirty feet high. The 

 leaves bear some resemblance to those of the 

 Willow, only they are softer and more delicate. 

 The flowers are as delicate as the leaves, and are 

 produced in small axillary bunches, from wood 

 of the former year, and appear from June until 

 August. At first they are of a pale yellow; but 

 when they expand their four petals, the insides 

 are white, and only the center of the flower yel- 

 low. The matured wood of the Olive in hard 

 and compact, though rather brittle; its color is 

 reddish, and it takes a fine gloss; on which ac- 

 count the ancients carved it into statues of the 

 gods, and the moderns make it into snuff-boxes, 

 and various trinkets, tht-t find a ready sale to 



ONC 



travelers in Eastern lands. An observing vis- 

 itor to the Holy Land from New York says : 

 " There is annually more olive-wood sold from 

 the Mount of Olives to pilgrims than ever grew 

 there." The Wild Olive is found indigenous in 

 Syria, ,Greecc, and Africa, and on the lower 

 slopes of the Atlas. The cultivated one grows 

 spontaneously in many parts of Syria, and is 

 extensively cultivated in the south of France, 

 Italy, and Spain, and has been, from all the ac- 

 counts we can gather, from the earliest periods 

 of the earth's history. The young Olive bears 

 its fruit at two years old; in six years it pays 

 the expense of cultivation; after that period, in 

 good years, the produce is the surest source of 

 wealth to the farmer. A common saying in Italy 

 is, if you wish to leave a lasting inheritance to 

 your children's children, plant an Olive. Be- 

 sides its use for the production of oil, the unripe 

 fruit is used as a pickle. For this purpose they 

 are steeped in an alkaline solution, to extract 

 apart of the bitter flavor; they are next washed 

 in pure water, and afterward preserved in salt 

 and water, to which fennel, or some aromatic, is 

 sometimes added. The O.fragrans is a native 

 of China, and is highly odoriferous, both in the 

 foliage and flowers, and on this account is much 

 esteemed by the Chinese, who use the leaves to 

 adulterate and flavor tea. It is also a favorite 

 green-house plant. It is readily increased in 

 spring by cuttings of well-ripened wood. 0. 

 Americana, a native species, common from North 

 Carolina to Florida, is an evergreen shrub or 

 small tree, producing axillary racemes or pani- 

 cles of small white fragrant flowers, and a bitter, 

 astringent fruit about the size of a pea. 

 Oleander. See Cerium. 

 Olive. See Oka. 

 Olive Wood. See E'wodendron. 

 Olfersia. Named after Olfers, a German botanist. 

 Linn. Cryptogam'M-F dices. Nat. Ord. Polypodi- 

 acecK. 



A genus of hot-house Ferns common in the 

 West Indies, South America, and occasionally in 

 the East Indies. There are many species, but 

 few of which are under cultivation. 

 Omphalobium. From omphnlox, the navel, and 

 lobofi, a pod. Linn. Decandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Confiraceir. 



'A small genus of tropical trees that furnish 

 the beautiful Zebra Wood of the cabinet-makers. 

 The species are mostly confined to Africa and 

 India. 



Omphalodes. Venus's Navelwort. From ompha- 

 los, the navel, and eiJo.v, like ; the fruit resembles 

 the navel. Linn. Pentandria-Munogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. BoraginacecK. 



An interesting genus of hardy annuals and 

 perennials. They are natives of Southern Eu- 

 rope, Asia Minor, and the Caucasxis. 0. linifolia 

 is a common border annual, known as Venus's 

 Xai-eluiort. The flowers are white, tinged with 

 blue. 0. verna is a charming, low-growing 

 perennial, with creeping shoots, heart-shaped 

 leaves, and brilliant blue flowers, like the For- 

 get-me-not; sometimes, from its habit, called 

 Ui-eeping Forget-me-not. It is propagated by di- 

 vision. 



Oncidium. From ogkos, a tumor; the plants be- 

 longing to this genus have warts, tumors, or 

 other excrescences at the base of the labellum. 

 Linn. Gynandria-Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchida- 

 cea>. 



This is perhaps the most extensive and varied 

 genus in the order to which it belongs. Some 



