212 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



SOL 



tioned. They are all natives of Central and 

 South America, and were introduced in 1836. 



Solandra. Nightshade. Named after Dr. Solan- 

 der, a Swede, companion of Sir Joseph Banks in 

 his voyage around the world, and collector of the 

 botanical notes made during the expedition. 

 They are preserved in the British Museum, and 

 exhibit deep learning and great research. Linn. 

 Pentandria-Monoffynia. Nat. Ord. Solanacece, 



A genus of coarse-growing green-house ever- 

 green shrubs and climbers, natives of tropical 

 America and the East Indies. The flowers are 

 large and trumpet shaped, like the Datura, to 

 which they are allied. They grow readily in the 

 green-house, and make showy plants, the objec- 

 tion to them being that they are coarse. They 

 are increased readily from cuttings. Introduced 

 in 1820. 



Solanum. The derivation of this word is quite 

 uncertain; some derive it from Sol, the sun; 

 others say it is Sulanum, from sus, being service- 

 able in the disorders of swine; and others assert 

 that it is from solor, to comfort, referring to its 

 soothing, narcotic effects. Linn. Pentandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Solanacece. 



This very extensive genus is composed of a 

 great number of varied forms, from that of a 

 tropical tree to the creeping indigenous weed, 

 Nightshade ; and it also includes plants whose 

 active property is a most decided poison, and 

 at the same time yields several very important ar- 

 ticles of food. The Potato, S. tuberosum, the Egg 

 Plant, 8. mdongena. are some of the species, and 

 the Tomato, Lycopersicon esculenlum, is hardly a 

 distinct genus. But very few species of Solanum 

 can be recommended for ornamental purposes. 

 S. Jasminoides, from South America, is a desir- 

 able climber for the green-house. It produces, 

 with but little trouble, an immense number of 

 axillary clusters of pure white flowers, and the 

 plant continues in bloom a long time. It is 

 a rapid grower, and suitable for a back wall, or 

 to train around pillars. S. Dulcamara is the 

 ehrubby Bitter-Sweet of the hedges, the fruit of 

 which is a deadly poison. It is not indigenous, 

 but has become naturalized from Europe. S. 

 ciliatum, a native of China, is a pretty shrubby 

 species, on account of its fruit, which is of the 

 size of the Siberian Crab Apple, of a bright red 

 color, and remarkable for the long time it lasts 

 on the plant, which is more than two years. S. 

 capsicastrum is the Jerusalum Cherry of the 

 cottage garden. S. Carolinense, or Apple of 

 Sodom, has beautiful scarlet fruit, and is well 

 worthy of cultivation as an ornament for our 

 gardens or green-houses at the north, though in 

 some of the Southern States it is deemed one of 

 the worst weeds. 



Soldanella. A diminutive of solidus, a shilling- 

 shape of the leaves. Linn. Pe>itanfhia-Mononunia 

 Nat. Ord. Primulacece. 



A small genus of beautiful little Alpine plants 

 very suitable for rock-work. They are half-hardy 

 herbaceous perennials, with purple or blue flow- 

 ers, natives of Switzerland. They will not stand 

 the hot, dry weather of this country unless great 

 care is taken to keep them shaded from the 

 mid-day sun, and they must not be allowed to 

 get dry. Propagated by division or from seeds. 



Solea. Green Violet. In honor of W. Sole, author 

 of an essay o: A the genus Mentha. Linn. Pentan- 

 dna-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. ViolacecK. 

 _ 8. concolor, the only known species, is common 

 in woods from New York southward. 



. olidago. Golden Hod. From solidarc, to unite; 



SOP 



supposed healing properties. Linn. 

 Superflua. Nat. Ord. AsteracecK. 



A very extensive genus of hardy herbaceous per- 

 ennials, indigenous to and common throughout 

 the United States. There are fifteen species on 

 Long Island. The beauty of the plant would 

 warrant its cultivation, had not nature's hand 

 rendered it entirely unnecessary. 



Sollya. Named in honor of Richard Horsman 

 Solly, a vegetable physiologist and anatomist. 

 Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Pittos- 

 poracecK. 



A small genus of slender, twining evergreen 

 shrubs of much beauty. Their leaves are nar- 

 row, quite smooth, of a deep glossy green on the 

 upper surface, and paler beneath. The flowers 

 are deep blue, and produced in terminal cymes 

 or clusters of from six to ten flowers each. Though 

 properly green-house plants, they are well adapt- 

 ed for summer flowering in the open border. 8. 

 heterophylla, typical of the genus, is a native of 

 the Swan River country, where all the species 

 are found. It was discovered by Mr. Drummond, 

 and sent to England in 1836. It is increased 

 either by cuttings or from seed, the latter being 

 preferable. All the species are hardy from Vir- 

 ginia southward. 



Solomon's Seal. See Polygonaium multiflorum. 



Sonchus. Sow Thistle. From somphos, hollow; 

 the stems are hollow. Linn. Syngenesia-Monogy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. Asteraceoe. 



The more common species of tl is genus are 

 coarse roadside weeds, naturalized from Europe. 

 One or two species with yellow flowers, from the 

 Madeira and Canary Isles, are very ornamental. 

 They belong to the green-house, but are rarely 

 met. 



Sonerila. From Sootli-Soneri-tta, the Khassee name 

 of one of the species. Linn. Ociandria-Monogy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. Mdastomaceas. 



A very extensive genus of East Indian plants, 

 remarkable in the order for having all the sev- 

 eral parts of their flowers in whorls of three, 

 or trimerous, as it is technically called. The 

 plants are mostly herbaceous, though sometimes 

 sub-shrubby, and of variable habit; some with 

 and others without stems; some glabrous and 

 others hirsute; and some with different kinds of 

 leaves on the same plant. Their flowers are 

 mostly purple or violet, borne on a scaphoid ra- 

 ceme. Some of the hot-house species are beau- 

 tiful plants, 8. Hendersonii, with its handsomely 

 marked foliage, being one of the best. It re- 

 quires a warm, moist atmosphere to succeed 

 well. It will grow best in a soil composed 

 chiefly of leaf mould and sand. Propagated by 

 cuttings and from seeds. 



Sophora. Altered from sophera, the Arabic name 

 of a leguminous tree. Linn. Decandria-Monogy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. Fabacece. 



A genus of deciduous trees, hardy herbaceous 

 plants, and green-house evergreens. The Sopho- 

 ra Japonica is a medium sized tree, grows freely, 

 and produces its large bunches of cream-colored 

 flowers in August and September. The droop- 

 ing Sophora, however, though only considered a 

 variety of the tree, is very distinct. It is a trail- 

 ing shrub, sending out shoots six feet or eight 

 feet long in a single season; and when it is graft- 

 ed on a stock of 8. Japonica, ten or twelve feet 

 high, these long, sweeping shoots, the bark of 

 which is a bright green, have a peculiarly graceful 

 appearance. The Sophora will grow in any soil, 

 but a poor one suits it better than a rich one, its 

 leaves seldom drop even in the driest seasons. 



