HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



219 



SPU 



Spurred Gentian. See Ilalenia deftexa. 



Squash. (L'ucurbita melopepo.) The history of the 

 Squash is more obscure than that of any other 

 vegetable of equal importance in the garden. It 

 was found in cultivation by the Indians on the 

 Island of Nantucket by the earliest settlers; 

 there was, however, but one kind, the small 

 warted Pumpkin. From this peculiar variety 

 the common Field Pumpkin is supposed to 

 have originated. Several varieties have been 

 introduced from South America, and among 

 them the Mammoth Squash from Valparaiso, the 

 seed of which was sent here by Commodore 

 Perry. Several other of our best sorts have been 

 received from there and the West Indies. Their 

 parentage, however, is entirely unknown. A 

 large number of varieties are grown under dis- 

 tinctive names, many of which are cross-breeds. 

 One hybrid variety of superior quality has been 

 produced by one of our seedsmen, who has 

 made that vegetable a specialty. 



Squaw Root. See Canopholis. 



Squaw Weed. See Senecio aureus. 



Squill. See Sc'dla. 



Squirrel Corn. See Dicentra Canadensis. 



Squirrel Tail Grass. See Hordeum. 



Stachys. Hedge Nettle. From stachys, & spike; 

 their manner of flowering. Linn. Didynamia- 

 Gymnospermia. Nat. Ord. Lamiacecv. 



A genus of shrubby and herbaceous plants, 

 common throughout the United States and Eu- 

 rope. None of the species has any special merit, 

 except S. lanala, which is used to a considerable 

 extent in the formation of white lines for rib- 

 bon borders or massing. Propagated by cut- 

 tings. 



Stadmannia. In honor of M. Siadmann, a Ger- 

 man botanical traveler. Linn. Octandria-Mono- 

 r/ynia. Nat. Ord. Sapindacece. 



A genus of lofty-growing trees, with large, 

 showy leaves, natives of Australia. The species 

 have been united with Cupania by modern bot- 

 anists. See Cupania. 



Staff Tree. See Cdastrus. 



Stag's Horn Fern. See Plalycerium alcicorne. 



Stagger Bush. See Andromeda mariana. 



Standing Cypress. See Ipomopsis. 



Stanhopea. In compliment to Earl Stanhope. 

 Linn. Gynandria-Monandria. Nat. Ord. (hchtda- 

 cece. 



A very beautiful genus of epiphytal Orchids, 

 remarkable for their extraordinary flowers, curi- 

 ous in form and richly colored, and also for their 

 singular habit of throwing the flower-stem 

 from the base of the pseudo-bulbs in a down- 

 ward direction. When first introduced (1830) 

 the plants were placed in pots in the usual man- 

 ner, and were supposed to be difficult to flower, 

 until the accidental breaking of a pot exposed 

 the flowers perishing in the soil beneath the 

 plants. This circumstance led to the prevalent 

 method of growing them in baskets made of 

 small sticks of Cedar, Locust, or other woods 

 not liable to decay, which, being open at in- 

 tervals, allows the flower spikes to protrude 

 in their natural position. Baskets about a foot 

 and a half in diameter and six inches deep are 

 sufficiently large for well-grown specimens. The 

 soil should be leaf mould and sphagnum moss, 

 about one-fourth of the latter, with small pieces 

 of charcoal intermixed for perfect drainage. 

 Some successful growers use only the moss and 

 charcoal, or potsherds. Stanhopeas require 

 plenty of water while growing. The moss should 

 be thoroughly soaked every day, and a slight 



STA 



syringing, or, what is better, a dense applica- 

 tion of steam every night and morning. Most 

 of the species make two growths in a year, and, 

 with proper management, will also bloom twice ; 

 but some care is required to have the latter 

 growth duly formed before the winter sets in, 

 or there is much danger of their rotting. If an 

 active growth can be started about the first of 

 February, the first pseudo-bulbs will be formed, 

 and the flowers fully perfected in May, which 

 leaves good time to complete the second flower- 

 ing. A temperature of from 70 to 85 will grow 

 them best, and for the winter, or resting period, 

 from 55 to 60 is sufficient. They do not re- 

 quire to be frequently shifted, but when this 

 is done, the plant should be put, basket and 

 all, into a larger one, as it is impossible to re- 

 move them without serious injury to the roots. 

 They are increased by division. 



Stapelia. Named by Linnceus after Boderus 

 Mapel, a physician of Amsterdam and commen- 

 tator on Theophrastus. Linn. Pentandria-D'ujy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. Asclepiadacece. 



This is a genus of very curious green-house 

 plants, with showy, star-like flowers proceeding 

 from the base, which smell so much like carrion 

 that flies have been known to lay their eggs up- 

 on them. As these plants are very succulent, 

 they are apt to damp off if they are grown in 

 rich soil or receive too much water. They are 

 propagated by cuttings, which should be laid 

 on the shelf for two or three days tt shrivel be- 

 fore they are planted. All the Stapelias are na- 

 tives of the Cape of Good Hope. The flowers 

 are very singular as well as showy, and would be 

 highly prized were it not for their offensive 

 odor; but, notwithstanding, they are very inter- 

 esting plants, and the odor is of no long contin- 

 uance. Introduced in 1710. 



Staphylea. Bladder Nut. Abridged from Staphy- 

 loaendron, its ancient name, from staphyle, a 

 bunch, and dendron, a tree; the flowers and fruit 

 are disposed in clusters. Linn. Pentandria- Trlgy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. Staphykuxce. 



A genus of deciduous shrubs, which are 

 widely dispersed. One species, IS. trifoliata, is 

 indigenous in the United States. It is a hand- 

 some shrub, with terminal panicles of white 

 flowers, produced in May. 



Star Flower. See Trientalis Americana. 



Star Grass. See Hypoxis. 



Star of Bethlehem. See Ornithogalum. 



Star Thistle. See Ceniaurea Calcitrapa. 



Starwort. See Aster and Stettarla. 



Statice. Sea Lavender, Marsh Rosemary. From 

 statizo, to stop ; in allusion to the powerful as- 

 tringency of some of the species. Linn. Penian- 

 dria-Pdygynia. Nat. Ord. Plumbaginacece. 



Singular plants, the foot-stalks of the flowers 

 of which are colored so as to resemble flowers, 

 while the real flowers are the white part at the 

 extremity of the purple. The handsomest spe- 

 cies belonging to the genus is <S. arboreti, a na- 

 tive of the Canaries, which is quite shrubby. 

 This splendid plant should have plenty of room 

 for its roots, and thus, when there is not a con- 

 servatory for it to be planted in, it does better 

 in the open border, with a sli ght protection dur- 

 ing winter, than in a pot in a green-house. The 

 common kinds of Statice are generally increased 

 by seeds, or by dividing the root, and they 

 should be allowed plenty of space, as they are 

 easily killed when crowded by other plants. S. 

 Limonium, the only species that is a native of 

 this country, is common in salt marshes along 



