186 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



RAS 



to such an extent that these fibers are now rarely 

 used for this purpose. It may be added here, 

 that Dr. Von Martius, the great authority on 

 Palmaceous plants, removed the above men- 

 tioned three species from Bogus, and placed 

 them together under the generic name haphia. 

 Saqns Rffia and Raplita Baffin are therefore one 

 and the same plant. These Palms require a high, 

 moist temperature for perfect development. 

 Propagated by seeds. 



.Raspberry. See Rabus. 



Rattan Palm. See Rhapis. 



Rattlesnake Grass. See Glyceria Canadensis. 



Rattlesnake Master. See Eryngium yuccce- 



Rattlesnake Orchid. See Pholldota. 

 Rattlesnake Plantain. Local name of Goodycra, 



which see. 



Rattlesnake Root. See Nabalus albus. 

 Rattlesnake Weed. See Hieracium venosum. 

 Red Bay. See Laurus Carolinensis. 

 Red Bud. See C'ercts. 

 Red Cedar. See Juniperus Virginiana. 

 Red Gum Tree. See Eucalyptus resiniflora. 

 Red Hot Poker. See Trii&rw. 

 Red Lac. See Rhus succedanea. 

 Red Root or Blood Root. Popular names for 

 the fleshy rhizomes of Sanguinaria Canadensis, 

 which see. 



Red Root. See Ceanothus. 

 Red Root. See Lacmnihes. 

 Red Snow. See Protococcus nivalis. 

 Red Top. The common name of Agrostis vul- 



f/firi", which see. 



Red Wood. An East Indian dye-wood, the pro- 

 duce of Pterocarpus santalinus, which see. 

 Reed. See Phragmites. 



Reidia. An honorary name. Linn. Afoncecia- 

 Dlandna. Nat. Ord. Euphorbiacece. 



A genus of about a dozen species of green-house 

 shrubs allied to Phyttanthus. They are small 

 bushes, having slender twigs furnished with 

 numerous small, entire leaves, bearing in their 

 axils, either singly or in clusters, small greenish 

 or whitish flowers, tipped with pink. Some of 

 the species are very pretty, though not consid- 

 ered useful flowering plants. They are mostly 

 natives of the East Indies. Introduced in 1864. 

 Propagated by seeds or cuttings. 

 Reineckia. A complimentary name. Linn. Ilex- 

 andria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. LUiacecK. 



R. carnea, formerly called Sanseviera earned, 

 the only known species, is a very pretty hardy 

 herbaceous perennial inhabiting the marshy dis- 

 tricts of Japan. It has grassy leaves six inches 

 to a foot long, from the midst of which arises a 

 flower stalk three to four inches high, bearing a 

 number of rose-colored, or purple, fragrant 

 flowers, each seated in the axil of a bract. The 

 plants are well adapted for the aquarium or mar- 

 gins of fountains. Propagated by offsets. 

 Rein Orchis. See Habenaria. 

 Renanthera. From ren, a kidney, and anthem, 

 an anther or pollen-bag, in allusion to the kid- 

 dey or reniform shape of the anthers or pollen 

 masses. Linn. Gynandria-AIonogunia. Nat. Ord 

 Orchidacece. 



A small genus of epiphytal Orchids, mostly 

 rare, and exceedingly beautiful. R. Lowii is a 

 remarkable species, a native of Borneo. This 

 species grows to a great height, and has leaves 

 from two to three feet long, with pendulous 

 flower stems ten or twelve feet in length, clothed 

 with numerous large, conspicuous flowers, re- 

 sembling some large insect. It is allied to 



RHA 



Vanda, and requires to be grown in a high, 

 moist temperature. Introduced in 1843. 

 Reseda. Mignonette. From resedo, to calm or 

 appease. The Latins considered its application 

 useful in external bruises. Linn. Dodecandria- 

 Triqynia. Nat. Ord. Resedacea;. 



For description of this genus see Mignonette. 

 Restharrow. See Ononis. 



Restrepia. Derivation of name not given. Linn. 

 Gynandria-Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A small genus of epiphytal Orchids from Cen- 

 tral America. They are very pretty little plants, 

 with curious, many-colored flowers. They are 

 of easy culture in a cool house. They should be 

 grown in pots, in leaf mould and sphagnum moss. 

 They all flower freely in summer. Propagated 

 by division. First introduced in 1813. 

 Resurrection Plant. See Selaginella convoluta. 

 Retinospora. Japan Cypress. From reline, resin, 

 and spora, spore or seed. Linn. Monoecia-Decan- 

 dria. Nat. Ord. Cimiferce. 



A genus of very beautiful hardy evergreens, 

 mostly dwarf and compact, particularly adapted 

 for lawn decoration. They are closely allied to 

 Cupressus, and are propagated in the same man- 

 ner. The Retinosporas recently introduced 

 from Japan are among the most beautiful of 

 small evergreen trees. They are fine subjects 

 for the lawn, and are hardy in the latitude of 

 New York. They also make very pretty hedges, 

 especially R. aurea. They are worthy of being 

 largely planted. Introduced in 1864. 

 Rhamnus. Buckthorn. From rham, a Celtic 

 word, signifying a tuft of branches. Linn. 

 Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Rhtimnacece. 



An extensive genus of hardy deciduous and 

 green-house evergreen shrubs, the more useful 

 and common being R. catharHcus, common in 

 Great Britain, where it is much grown as a 

 hedge plant. The fruit of this species was for- 

 merly in great demand for its medicinal 

 properties. 



Rhaphiolepis. Derivation of name not ex- 

 plained. Linn. Icosandria-Dipentagynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Rosacea;. 



A genus of evergreen shrubs found in China 

 and Japan. They are nearly allied to Cratcegus, 

 from which they rare distinguished by their 

 flowers being produced in panicles instead of 

 clusters. R. Lulled and its varieties are nearly 

 smooth evergreen shrubs, with short terminal 

 panicles of white or pink-tinted flowers of the 

 size of those of the Hawthorn. They have been 

 introduced into the green-house. R. Juponica 

 is a beautiful large-leaved species, forming a 

 bush from six to ten feet high, and commonly 

 cultivated by the Japanese, who plant it either 

 with Azaleas and other bushes, or singly, as it 

 forms a beautiful object when covered with its 

 numerous bouquets of dark crimson flowers. 

 Hardy in the vicinity of New York with slight 

 protection. They are propagated by seed. First 

 introduced in 1864. 



Rhapis. From rhapis, a needle; referring to the 

 acute awns of the corolla. Linn. Polygamia- 

 Moncecia. Nat. Ord. Palmacece. 



A small genus of Palms closely allied to 

 Cluimcerops. They are nearly all natives of East 

 ern Asia, and mostly of dwarf habit and slender 

 growth. One of the species, R.flabetUfnrmia, in 

 popularly known as Rattan Palm, and furnishes 

 the walking canes so common on the streets. 

 R. hnmilus is a rare and beautiful species, not 

 often seen in collections. Propagated by suck- 

 ers. First introduced in 1765. 



