HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



191 



HOC < 



all wood for posts, or where it comes in contact 

 with the earth. It is one of our most valuable 

 lumber trees, and is largely used for various 

 mechanical purposes. R. hispida, or Hose Aca- 

 cia, is a handsome shrub, with long racemes of 

 beautiful rose-colored flowers without fragrance ; 

 a marked contrast to the foregoing species. It 

 is a native of the Southern States, from Virginia 

 southward. It is commonly cultivated with or- 

 namental shrubs. 



Rochea. Named after M. de la Roche, a botanical 

 writer. Linn. Pentandria-Pentayynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Orassidacea?. 



A genus of green-house evergreen succulents, 

 allied to Crassida, and requiring the same gen- 

 eral treatment. They are natives of the Cape 

 of Good Hope. Several of the species are under 

 cultivation, their singular leaves and bright 

 flowers making them attractive specimens. H. 

 falcata is one of the best. Propagated by cut- 

 'tings. 



Rocket. See Hesperis. 

 Rocket Larkspur. See Delphinium ajacis. 

 Rock Cress. See Arabia. 

 Rock Lychnis. See Viscaria. 

 Rock Rose. See Cislus. 



Rodriguezia. Named after E. Rodriguez, a Span- 

 ish physician and botanist. Linn. Gynandrla- 

 Monandr'M. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



Epiphytal Orchids, natives of South America. I 

 There is but one species generally cultivated, 

 H. secunda, which has flower spikes from six to 

 nine inches long, with carmine red flowers ar- 

 ranged on one side. It blooms freely in the 

 autumn and winter months, requiring the same 

 care given the Cattle^a. Introduced in 1820. 

 Roella. In honor of William Roell, Professor of 

 Anatomy at Amsterdam. Linn. Peniandria-Mon- 

 ogyniu. Nat. Ord. Campanulacece. 



Cape plants, generally with blue flowers, 

 which have somewhat of the dazzling glossy hue 

 of Venus's Looking Glass. The shrubby kinds 

 are of low growth, and rather difficult to propa- 

 gate ; but the annual species are of very easy 

 culture, and only require the usual treatment 

 of half-hardy annuals. 

 Roffia. See Raphia. 



Rogiera. In honor of M. Charles Rogier, a Bel- 

 gian statesman. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Cinchonacecv. 



A small genus of evergreen shrubs from Cen- 

 tral America, allied to Rondeletia. In general 

 appearance they resemble the Lauristinus. The 

 flowers are bright pink. They are very pretty 

 green-house plants. Increased by cuttings. 

 Rohdea. In honor of M. Rohde. Linn. Hexan- 

 dria-MonogynM. Nat. Ord. Orontacece. 



R. Japnnica is the only known species of this 

 genus. It is a green-house herbaceous, nearly 

 aquatic plant, and a very interesting one for the 

 green-house, having dark green foliage and 

 spikes of creamy white flowers, which are suc- 

 ceeded by spikes of showy fruit. 

 Roman Hyacinth. See Hyacinth. 

 Romeria. Purple Horned-Poppy. In honor of 

 John James Romei; Professor of Botany at Land- 

 shut. Linn. Poly andria-Monotjy nut. Nat. Ord. 

 PapaveracecK. 



This is a very beautiful purple annual flow- 

 er; but, unfortunately, its beauty is so very 

 short-lived that it is difficult to find a perfect 

 flower, as one or two of its petals drop almost 

 as soon as the flower expands. It is quite 

 hardy, and only requires to have its seeds sown 

 in the open border in April. 



ROS 



Rondeletia. In honor of William Rondelet, M.D., 

 a famous natural historian of Montpellier. 

 Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Cincho- 

 nacece. 



Beautiful hot-house plants, with white, blue, 

 or reddish flowers, natives of the East and West 

 Indies. 7?. odorata, which is the most common, 

 has terminal corymbs of scarlet flowers greatly 

 resembling those of Ixora coccinea. The flowers 

 are produced in great abundance. One of the 

 best known in our collections is R. speciosa, 

 bearing orange scarlet flowers freely. Propa- 

 gated by cuttings. Introduced in 1752. 



Rosa. Rose. From the Celtic rhod, red, the pre- 

 vailing color of the flowers. Linn. Icosandria- 

 Polygynia. Nat. Ord. Rosacece. 



We find mention of the Rose in the earliest 

 writings, both sacred and profane. So invaria- 

 bly have the writers seemingly been intoxicated 

 with its beauty that they have entirely forgot- 

 ten or ignored its early history and culture, 

 leaving us in profound ignorance as to the ori- 

 gin of some of our most highly-prized species 

 or varieties. It was undoubtedly very general- 

 ly esteemed, and used for ornamentation on 

 both public and private occasions. As an in- 

 stance, it may be mentioned that the Romans 

 put it to a very significant use at some of their 

 private feasts or dinners. A rose was placed over 

 the principal door, and he who passed under it 

 silently bound himself not to reveal anything 

 that was said or done within; hence arose the 

 saying, sub-rosa, under the Rose; and even now 

 to tell a friend anything sub-rosa implies that he 

 shall not reveal it. The limit of this work will al- 

 low but a brief history and description of the 

 various classes. The species, numbering up- 

 ward of one hundred, are found disseminated 

 throughout America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

 Australia, so prolific in rare and beautiful flow- 

 ers, has not as yet contributed a single species, 

 while Siberia, Iceland, Greenland, and Karnt- 

 schatka are fairly represented. China, Persia, 

 and India have furnished some of the finest spe- 

 cies. From all this material cultivators have 

 created varieties almost innumerable. From JR. 

 spinosissima, the type of thosa indigenous to 

 Great Britain, nearly three hundred varieties 

 have sprung, which are known as Scotch Roses, 

 though these are not as much valued as many 

 other classes. The Cabbage or Provence Rose 

 (R. centifolia) is one of the best known and old- 

 est of the family. It is a native of Eastern Cau- 

 casus. It is supposed to be the hundred-leaved 

 Rose of Pliny. It was introduced into the Brit- 

 ish gardens in 1596. More than a hundred fine 

 hybrid varieties have been produced by the 

 French and English gardeners between this and 

 R. Qallica, which are known under the general 

 name of Provence Roses. They are all very 

 beautiful and fragrant, and all distinguished by 

 their close, cabbage-like form, the curving in- 

 ward of their petals, and their slender foot- 

 stalks, which give a peculiarly graceful and 

 drooping appearance to the fully developed 

 flowers. The Unique Provence is claimed to be 

 of English origin, having been observed for the 

 first time in 1777, growing in a cottage garden. 

 It was probably one of those accidental varia- 

 tions of flowers commonly termed "sports," 

 which sometimes take place in plants, one 

 branch, shoot, or sucker producing striped or 

 variegated flowers, while the original remains 

 self-colored. The Unique Provence is pure 

 white, of full size, globular form, and exceed- 



