HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



201 



SAL 



cicluous trees and low-growing shrubs. Some 

 are timber trees, that attain a height of eighty' 

 feet, with a diameter of trunk from four to six 

 feet. One of the species, .S. herhacea, creeps so 

 near the ground that it forms on the Swiss 

 mountains a kind of turf, not rising more than 

 an inch in height. The genus consists of up- 

 ward of two hundred species, but few of which 

 claim special notice. The Weeping Willow is 

 8. Babylonica, a native of the Levant. The Os- 

 ier or Basket Willow is S. viminalis, common 

 throughout Europe. 5. laurifolia is a low-grow- 

 ing tree or shrub with broad glossy foliage, and 

 is a tine subject for the lawn. All the species 

 grow rapidly in moist places. They are freely 

 propagated from cuttings, every one rapidly 

 making a rooted plant when well firmed in the 

 soil. In this manner the Osier Willow is often 

 grown on banks of rivers and streams to prevent 

 the washing away of the banks. The Colt place, 

 near Hartford, is protected in this way, and a 

 willow-ware factory has been established in con- 

 nection with it. The cuttings may be twelve to 

 eighteen inches long, inserted half their depth 

 in the soil at a foot or so apart each way. 



Salpiglossis. From salpinx; a tube, and ylossa, a 

 tongue; alluding to the tongue-like style in the 

 mouth of the corolla. Linn. Didynamia-Angios- 

 permia. Nat. Ord. Scraphulariacece. 



Very beautiful half-hardy annual plants, na- 

 tives of Chili. The seeds should be sown in 

 February on a slight hot-bed, or in the green- 

 house, and the young plants should be planted 

 out in May. When grown in pots it should be 

 frequently shifted, always into a pot only a lit- 

 tle larger than the previous one, so as to make 

 the plant bushy. It varies very much accord- 

 ing to the soil and situation in which it is 

 grown; and if kept through the winter in a 

 green-house, it will become partly woody. 

 There are many different kinds, some of which 

 are made species by some botanists, but which 

 are now generally allowed to be only varieties. 

 Many gardeners sow the seeds in autumn, and 

 keep the plants in frames all the winter, that 

 they may flower early in spring. They flower 

 freely in autumn, if the seed is sown about May 

 where it is to grow. Introduced in 1824. 



Salsify. Oyster Plant. See Tragopogon porrifo- 

 lius. Cultivation same as for Carrot or Parsnip. 



Sal via. Sage. From salvo, to save; in allusion 

 to the healing qualities of the Sage. Linn. Di- 

 andria-31onogynia. Nat. Ord. Lamiacecn. 



This extensive genus is composed of hand- 

 some flowering plants, some of which are hardy 

 and herbaceous, while, others are tender, and 

 assume a half shrubby character. They are par- 

 ticularly useful for filling large beds in the 

 flower garden through the summer, where such j 

 kinds as S. patens, blue; & splendens, scarlet; 

 and S. fulgfns, red, are very showy. 8. s)>le>iden.-> 

 is a native of Mexico, and was introduced in 1822. 

 It is one of the best for garden decoration. Of 

 S. splendens, within the past few years, we have 

 had many singular and beautiful varieties, one 

 being pure white, another scarlet and white 

 striped, and last year, 1879, gave us a distinct 

 crimson color. There are also several beautiful 

 species that were grown in the green-house for 

 the sake of their flowers in winter, but are not 

 much valued now for that purpose. S.cfficinQlis 

 is the common culinary herb. There is a very 

 pretty variegated variety of this, grown in the 

 border as an ornamental plant. Propagated by 

 seeds or cuttings. 



SAN 



Sambucus. Elder. From sambuca, a musical in- 

 strument, which is supposed to have been made 

 of Elder-wood. Linn. Penlandria-IYigynia. Nat. 

 Ord. CaprifoliacecK. 



The common Elder of our hedgerows is S. 

 Canadensis, and it may be considered typical of 

 the order. Few of the species are considered 

 of much value, though S. Canadensis is used to 

 some extent to make a domestic wine. The 

 most ornamental of the species is ,S. pubens, 

 which has large, loose panicles of bright scarlet 

 berries. This species is occasionally found in, 

 moist high grounds from New York southward. 

 It is very abundant and beautiful on the slopes 

 of the Alleghany Mountains. 



Samphire. See Salicornia. 



Eanchesia. Derivation of name not given. Linn. 

 Diandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. AcanihaceoK. 



A small genus of evergreen green-house shrubs 

 from Bolivia. There are but two described spe- 

 cies. S. nobilis varieyata, the only one intro- 

 duced to any extent into our green-housos, is a 

 very beautiful free-growing plant. The leaves 

 are large, oblong, deep green, and boldly striped 

 with rich golden yellow. The flowers are clear 

 yellow, issuing from crimson bracts. It re- 

 quires to be grown in a warm, moist house, in 

 light, rich soil. It is readily increased from 

 cuttings. 



Sandal-wood. See tiantalum. 



Sanguinaria. Blood-root. From sanguis, blood; 

 all the parts of the plant yield a red juice when 

 cut or broken. Linn. Polyandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Papaveracece. 



The only described species of this genus is 6'. 

 Canadensis, popularly known as Blood-root. It 

 is a beautiful hardy herbaceous plant, found in 

 the woods throughout the United States. Ite 

 flowers are pure white, borne singly on a slen- 

 der stem about six inches high. It is one of the 

 earliest and most attractive "Wild Flowers." 

 It can be easily transferred to the flower gar- 

 den. The petals are greatly increased in size 

 and number by good cultivation. It should be 

 planted in rich soil and partial shade. 



Sanicula. Sanicle, Black Snakeroot. From sano, 

 to heal ; supposed healing effects of Sanicula 

 Europea. Linn. Pentandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Apiacea;. 



A genus of weeds of no special interest beyond 

 their supposed medicinal qualities. 



Sanseviera. In honor of M. Sansevier, a Swed- 

 ish botanist. Linn. Ikxandrui-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. LUiacece. 



A very singular genus of plants, found chiefly 

 in Africa and the East Indies. They are stem- 

 less perennial plants, throwing out runners, and 

 having only root-leaves, which are thick, fibrous, 

 and fleshy, and usually sword or lance-shaped, 

 from two to three feet long, and from two to 

 four inches wide. When young they are marked 

 with pale-colored cross-bands, but ultimately a 

 uniform shining green. S. Zeylanica is the spe- 

 cies mostly grown in the green-house, the mark- 

 ings being more distinct and positive. The na- 

 tives call the plant Bow-string Hemp, because 

 of the strong and fine quality of the fiber it 

 yields, and which is used in the manufacture of 

 cordage and fine string. They should be grown 

 in strong heat, with plenty of moisture. Propa- 

 gated by division. Introduced in 1731. 



Santalum. Sandal-wood. From its Persian 

 name, sandul, signifying useful. Linn. Tetran- 

 dria-Monoytinia. Nat. Ord. Santalacea*. 



The species of this genus are trees or shrubs. 



