HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



STA 



the Southern coast, and is gathered in consid- 

 erable quantities for making winter bouquets. 



Stauntonia. In honor of Kir George Staunton, 

 Bart., who introduced numerous plants from 

 China. Linn. Monoecia-Hexandria. Nat. Ord. 

 Lardizabalacece. 



This genus consists of but two known spe- 

 cies, both woody climbing shrubs, from China 

 and Japan. The flowers are produced from the 

 axils of the leaves, and are apetalous. The 

 plants are of easy culture, but of no special in- 

 terest, excepting in botanical collections. 



Stellaria. Chickweed, Star Wort. From steUa, a 

 star; the flowers are star-like. Linn. Decandria- 

 Trigynia. Nat. Ord. Caryophyllacece. 



With the exception of S. Holostea, a pretty lit- 

 tle white, early spring flower, this genus is a 

 family of weeds of the most troublesome charac- 

 ter. There are several species indigenous in 

 this country, all well known. & media, common 

 Chickweed, is the most troublesome weed of 

 the garden, particularly in the fall months. 



Stenactis. Probably from stene, narrow, and ak- 

 tin, a sunbeam; from the narrow and sunlike 

 rays of the expanded flower. Linn. Syngenesia- 

 Superftua. Nat. Ord. Asteracece. 



A small genus of California hardy herbaceous 

 perennials. The flowers are purple and showy. 

 It is a desirable plant for the border. Propa- 

 gated by division or from seed. 



Stenia. From slenos, narrow ; in allusion to the 

 form of the pollen masses. Linn. Gynandria-Mo- 

 nandria. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A small genus of very handsome epiphytal 

 Orchids from New Grenada. S. fimbrwia is a 

 very showy plant. The leaves are long, narrow, 

 and dark green; the flowers are blight yellow, 

 with a paler lip, beautifully spotted with car- 

 mine, and are produced on slender scapes. 

 There are one or two other species under culti- 

 vation. Propagated by division. 



Stenomesson. From stenos, narrow, and messon, 

 the middle ; the flowers contracted in the mid- 

 dle. Linn. JIcxandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 AmaryUidacece. 



A genus of very pretty half-hardy South 

 American bulbs, with orange, scarlet, and yel- 

 low flowers, in umbels on a slender scape. The 

 bulbs may be planted out in early spring in a 

 moist situation, and they will soon come into 

 flower. They require perfect rest during win- 

 ter. Propagated from offsets. Introduced from 

 Peru in 1843. 



Stephanophysum. From Stephanos, a crown, and 

 physa, a bladder ; alluding to the inflorescence. 

 Linn. Didynamia-Gymnospermia. Nat. Ord. Acan- 

 thacece. 



A genus of tropical herbaceous plants, natives 

 of Central America and Africa. The flowers are 

 mostly scarlet, produced in axillary clusters. 

 They are very rarely cultivated. 



Stephanotis. From stephnnos, a crown, and olotis, 

 eared; the ear-like processes on the crown of 

 the stamens. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Asdepladacece. 



These noble green-house climbers grow with 

 great freedom when allowed sufficient root room. 

 They may either be planted in the border of the 

 house, and trained over the pillars and roof or 

 placed in a large pot having a good-sized trellis 

 attached to it. In either position the effect pro- 

 duced by their deep green and ample fleshy 

 leaves, enriched by numerous clusters of pure 

 white waxy flowers, is, perhaps, unsurpassed. 

 The flowers of 6'. jlorttmnda have a strong, deli- 



STO 



cious perfume, and are much valued by the bou- 

 quet-makers. This species was introduced from 

 Madagascar in 1830, and is the only one gener- 

 ally cultivated. It is much subject to the insect 

 known as Mealy Bug, and to keep it in health 

 this insect must be sponged off the stems and 

 leaves as soon as it is seen. Propagated by seeds 

 or cuttings. 



Sternbergia. Named in honor of Count Caspar 

 Sternberg, a celebrated German botanist. Linn. 

 Hexandna-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. AmaryUidacece. 

 This genus is usually known as Amaryllis Men, 

 and is sold as such by the seedsmen. There 

 are only a few species, and but little difference 

 between them ; none that an amateur would be 

 likely to notice. They are perfectly hardy, and 

 flower in the autumn before the leaves start. 

 The flowers are pure golden yellow, much like 

 a Crocus, but larger, and the petals more fleshy. 

 In the latitude of New York the bulbs should 

 have a generous covering of salt hay or coarse 

 litter before the ground freezes hard in the early 

 winter. They are natives of the South of Europe 

 and Africa. Introduced in 1596. 



Steudnera. A genus of Aracece, closely resem- 

 bling the Colocasia, which see. 



Stevensonia. A synonym of Phcenicophorium, 

 which see. 



Stevia. In -honor of Peter James Esteve, M.D., 

 Professor of Botany at Valencia. Linn. Syngene- 

 sia-jEqualis. Nat. Ord. A&teracece. 



An extensive genus of green-house perennials, 

 nearly all natives of Mexico, and chiefly white 

 flowered. 8. compacta, early flowering, and S. 

 serrata are grown in large quantities by the flor- 

 ists of New York for cut flowers for early winter 

 sales. 8. serrata variegata, a recent introduction, 

 has beautiful white and green foliage, the white 

 predominating, and it is now used very largely 

 as a white-leaved plant for massing. It can be 

 used at any height from one to three feet, by 

 ciitting back. Its flowers are equally useful as 

 the green-leaved variety. The species are all of 

 easy culture, and are propagated by cuttings. 



Stigmaphyllon. From stigma, a stigma, and 

 phytton, a leaf ; the stigma foliaceous. Linn. De- 

 cundriu-Trigynia. Nat. Ord. MalpighiacecK. 



A small genus of tropical trees and shrubs. 

 Some of the latter are clambers. They are na- 

 tives of Brazil and the West Indies. A few of 

 the species are cultivated for the sake of their 

 fine yellow flowers and beautiful foliage. 



Stipa. Feather Grass. From stipe, feathery or 

 silky. Linn. Triandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. Gram- 

 inacecB. 



8. pennata, the species chiefly grown as an or- 

 namental plant, is a hardy herbaceous perennial, 

 a native of Great Britain, and is grown for the 

 sake of its beautifully feathered beards, which 

 are used for winter bouquets, both in the nat- 

 ural color and dyed. This species is propa- 

 gated by division, or from seeds sown in spring. 



Stitchwort. See SteUaria. 



Stock and Stock-Gilliflower. See Mathiola. 



Stokesia. In honor of Dr. Jonathan Stokes, the 

 coadjutor of Withering in his arrangement of 

 British plants. Linn. tSyngenesia-^Equalis. Nat. 

 Ord. Asteracece. 



S.cyanea, the only knbwn species, is a pretty lit- 

 tle herbaceous perennial evergreen, found rarely 

 in the wet pine barrens of South Carolina and 

 westward. Flowers bright blue, produced in 

 large terminal heads. Propagated by division 

 or from seeds. 



Stone Crop. See Sedum. 



