HENDEESON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



153 



ORN 



from the gardens into the meadows, and taken 

 almost complete possession, and become very 

 troublesome. 0. cuudatam, a tender species from 

 the Cape of Good Hope, has very large, watery- 

 looking bulbs; the leaves are broad and very 

 long, and they wither and shrivel up at the tip, 

 so as to have a round, tail-like appearance; 

 whence their common name, Long-tailed Orni- 

 thogalum. This species is sometimes called 

 Onion Lily, and is a favorite with the Chinese, 

 who grow it in dishes filled with water and 

 gravel. Its tenacity of life is most remarkable, as 

 it will grow anywhere and under almost any cir- 

 cumstances, in water or hung up against a wall 

 in a dry room, in rich earth or poor, indoors or 

 out, and, with slight protection, will endure our 

 winters. Its flower scape is from two to four 

 feet in length, and it keeps in bloom for several 

 months. There is but little beauty in the flow- 

 ers of most of the species. There are some, 

 however, that have long been grown in the 

 green-house, and are still esteemed. All the 

 species are increased by offsets. 



Ornus. Flowering Ash. From oreinos, ancient 

 name of the Ash ; applied on account of the re- 

 semblance and aflinity. Linn. Diarulria-Mono- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Oleacecv. 



Hardy, white-flowered, deciduous trees. The 

 genus includes about a dozen species, all inter- 

 esting on account of their clustered panicles of 

 pure white flowers, borne at the extremities of 

 the branches. In Sicily several of the species 

 are extensively grown under the name of Manna 

 Ash, the trees yielding the saccharine substance 

 commercially known as Manna, the properties 

 of which are purgative instead of nourishing ; 

 consequently it could not have been the Manna 

 that sustained the Hebrews in the wilderness, 

 although it is the only substance known by that 

 name at the present day. 



Orontium. Golden Club. Derivation of name 

 obscure. Linn. Hexandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 OrontiacecK. 



This genus consists of two species of aquatic 

 plants. 0. aquaticniii, is common in ponds from 

 Maine to Florida, near the coast. 0. Japonicum, 

 a native of Japan and the East Indies, has 

 leaves like Lily of the Valley, green on the up- 

 per side, and covered with very minute hairs, 

 so that they look like fine velvet. These leaves 

 are readily eaten by cattle and swine in spring. 

 The seeds are boiled and eaten like Pease by 

 the natives. This species makes a beautiful 

 plant for the aquarium. 



Orobus. Bitter Veitch. From oro, to excitq. and 

 bous, an ox; nourishing food. Linn. Dladdphia- 

 Decanlria. Nat. Ord. Fabacece. 



An extensive genus of hardy herbaceous per- 

 ennials. A well-known type is O. vernus. Mod- 

 ern botanists now include it with Lathyrus. 



Osage Orange. See Madura. 



Osbeckia. Named after Peter Osbeck, a Swedish 

 naturalist. Linn. Octandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Meiastomaeeeit. 



A genus of green-house evergreen and decidu- 

 ous shrubs and herbs, natives of tropical Asia, 

 Africa, and the adjoining islands. The flowers 

 are small, of rose, purple, or violet, borne in 

 terminal racemes. The plants are rarely met, 

 excepting in large collections. 



Osier. See Salix vimiivilis. 



Osmorhlza. Sweet Cicely. From osme, scent, 

 and rliiza, a root; roots sweet scented. Linn. 

 Pentandrin-Dii/i/nifi. Nat. Ord. Apinrxr. 

 A small genus of uninteresting herbaceous per- 



OXA 



cnnials. They are common in rich, moist woods, 

 and popularly known as Sweet Cicely. 



Osmunda. Flowering Fern. From Osmunda, one 

 of the names of Thor, a Celtic deity. Linn. Oryp- 

 toijaniki-Fiices. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacea;. 



A genus of ornamental Ferns, found widely 

 distributed throughout the temperate regions of 

 both hemispheres. A well-known species is 0. 

 regalifi, or Royal Fern. There are several species 

 common in swamps and wet places through- 

 out the United States. Most of them bear trans- 

 planting well, and make beautiful plants for & 

 shady border. 



Ostrya. Hop Hornbeam, Iron Wood. From 

 ostryos, a scale; scaly catkins. Linn. Monoecia- 

 Polyandria. Nat. Ord. Corylacea;. 



O. Virginica, the only native species, is a tree 

 of moderate size, remarkable for the extreme 

 hardness of its wood. It is of slow growth, 

 forms a compact top, with small green leaves. 

 The furrows of its bark are extremely fine, by 

 which it is readily distinguished. 



Oswego Tea. See Moneavta. 



Othonna. Ragwort. From othone, linen ; refer- 

 ring to the soft, downy clothing of the original 

 plant. Linn. Syngenesia-Necessaria. Nat. Ord. 

 Asteracece. 



An extensive genus, the species of which are 

 mostly coarse-growing green-house or frame an- 

 nuals, perennials, and low shrubs. With but 

 few exceptions the flowers ara yellow. They are 

 natives of the Cape of Good Hope and the Afri- 

 can shores of the Mediterranean. But few of the 

 species merit a place in the garden. 0. crassi- 

 folia, one of the Cape species, is a handsome and 

 showy plant, of a trailing habit, with singularly 

 glaucous and fleshy leaves, and handsome yellow 

 flowers, opening only in the sunlight. It is par- 

 ticularly well adapted for planting under shrubs, 

 or for baskets, vases, or rustic designs. It grows 

 freely in a light soil, and is increased by cuttings 

 and leaves. 



Ostrich Fern. See Siruthiopteris. 



Ouvirandra. Lattice or Lace-leaved Plant. From 

 ouuirandrano, the native name; signifying water- 

 yam, the roots being eatable. Linn. Hexandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Juncaginacece. 



A genus of aquatic plants, natives of Madagas- 

 car. They are popularly known as the Lattice or 

 Lace-leaved Plants, from the singular appearance 

 of the leaves, resembling open lattice-work, or 

 apparently consisting of only a skeleton of 

 nerves. The leaves grow in radiating clusters 

 from the rhizome, and float just beneath the 

 surface of the water, presenting a flat side to the 

 light. The plant is not only curious, but a 

 valuable one to the natives of Madagascar, who 

 collect its fleshy, farinaceous roots as an article 

 of food. It grows on the margins of running 

 streams in shallow water. It is rare in collec- 

 tions. One of the most interesting plants for the 

 aquarium. 



Oxalis. From oxys, acid ; the leaves have an. 

 acid taste. Linn. Decandria-Pentagynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Oxalidacere. 



This genus comprises a great number of spe- 

 cies, differing widely in their habits and man- 

 ner of growth. Some are annuals, some herba- 

 ceous perennials, some green-house shrubs. 

 Many have tuberous roots, others are bulbs. 

 Some are tender, others perfectly hardy. The 

 flowers are always handsome in form and beau- 

 tiful in color. The leaves vary considerably, 

 but they are most commonly trifoliate, and 

 slightly acid. Many of the species are grown in. 



