HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



TEI 



T. uniflora has very pretty white flowers with a 

 greenish-gray stripe on each petal. They are 

 borne on slender scapes. The plants continue 

 in flower a long time, and in the open border 

 appear early in spring. T. laxa, the Californian 

 species, has glaucous leaves, and a inany-flow- 

 ered umbel of deep blue flowers. All the spe- 

 cies are desirable, and suited either to green- 

 house culture or the open border. Propagated 

 by offsets. First introduced in 1832. 



Triticum. Wheat. From tritum, rubbed; in al- 

 lusion to its being originally rubbed down to 

 make it eatable. Linn. Triandria-Digynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Grantinacece. 



This genus includes annual and perennial 

 grasses, some of which are the most useful and 

 important plants in cultivation, while others 

 are the most troublesome pests the farmer and 

 gardener have to contend against. T. vulgare, 

 Wheat, has more intrinsic value than any other 

 plant grown. The native country of the Wheat 

 is unknown. In its present form it is older 

 than history. There is no record of its having 

 been found growing icild. Those who have 

 given the most time and study to ascertain its 

 origin, presume it is a native of Southern Europe 

 and Western Asia, a development of the genus 

 JEijilops. This is, however, mere speculation. 

 Many varieties of Wheat have been produced by 

 culture and cross-breeding, without, however, 

 materially changing the grain. T. repens is the 

 pest commonly known as Couch or Quick Grass, 

 a perennial that is most tenacious of life, and 

 which, when once established, will destroy all 

 other crops, and can be exterminated only with 

 the greatest exertion and difficulty. 



Tritoma. From treis, three, and tenmo, to cut ; 

 in allusion to the three sharp edges at the ends 

 of the leaves. Linn. Hexandria-Afonogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. LiliacecB. 



The Tritoma, or Red-Hot Poker plant, and also 

 Flame Flower, as it is popularly known, is a 

 very beautiful half-hardy herbaceous plant, na- 

 tive of the South of Africa. The genus consists 

 of about half a dozen species, the finest being 

 T. uvaria grandiflnra, a plant admirably adapted 

 for single clumps on the lawn, or among shrub- 

 bery, where its tall spikes of orange-red flowers 

 make an effective display from August until De- 

 cember. This plant will usually live through the 

 winter in the latitude of New York without pro- 

 tection, if planted in a dry soil; but it will well 

 repay the slight protection required (by three or 

 four inches of dry leaves around the root) to 

 secure it against /all danger from frost. The 

 flowers are not at'all injured by a few degrees of 

 frost, and it is not an uncommon sight to see its 

 tall spikes in perfect flower in December. They 

 are readily increased by seed or by division of 

 the roots, which should be done in early spring. 

 .This genus was first introduced in 1707, though 

 it has not been long common in our gardens 

 here. 



Tritonia. From trtton, a weather-cock; in allusion 

 to the variable direction of the stamens in the 

 various species. Linn. Triandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. IridacecK. 



A very pretty genus of low-growing bulbous 

 plants from the Cape of Good Hope. The flow- 

 ers are tubxiliir, borne on slender scapes, the 

 colors being orange, white, yellow, and blue. 

 They are half-hardy, and should have the pro- 

 tection of a frame during winter, and may be al- 

 lowed to remain undisturbed for a number of 

 years. T. aurea, bearing beautiful orange-col- 



TRU 



ored flowers, is one of the best, and much es- 

 teemed. This is now Crocosmia aurea. They 

 are increased by offsets. Introduced in 1815. 



Trollius. Globe Flower. From fro/, the German 

 for round; globular flowers. Linn. Polyandria- 

 Polygynla. Nat. Ord. Ranuncidacece. 



A genus of hardy, yellow-flowered, herbaceous 

 plants. T. laxus, the only native species, has 

 flowers twice the size of the Buttercup, of a pale 

 greenish-yellow color. T. Earopceus, a native of 

 Great Britain, has much larger flowers, and of a 

 brighter color, and is common in old cottage 

 gardens. Propagated by seeds or division. 



Tropeeolum. Nasturtium. From tropaion, a 

 trophy; the leaves resemble a buckler, and the 

 flowers an empty helmet. Linn. Octandria-Mo- 

 nogynia. Nat. Ord. Tropceolacece. 



An extensive genus of hardy annuals and 

 green-house tuberous and herbaceous peren- 

 nials, all natives of tropical America. The 

 tuberous-rooted varieties are confined to Peru. 

 The well-known annual plants called the Nas- 

 turtium are common in every garden, and only 

 require sowing with the other hardy annuals in 

 spring. There were formerly only two kinds 

 of the annual Tropreolums, T. major and T. 

 minor, but since 1830 numerous varieties have 

 been raised. One, with very dark flowers, is 

 called T. minor atrosanguineum, and another, 

 with dark stripes, is T. minor venustiim. The 

 young shoots of these plants are succulent, and 

 taste like the common land Cress, the botanical 

 name of which is Nasturtium, and hence they 

 have received their popular name. Besides the 

 hardy annual kinds, there are several tender 

 species, most of which are kept in the green- 

 house. The best known of these is Tropeeolum 

 tricolorum, with flowers marked red, black, and 

 yellow, which has tuberous roots, and such very 

 weak and slender stems, that it is found neces- 

 sary always to train them over a wire frame, as 

 they are quite unable to support themselves. 

 In Paxtons "Magazine of Botany" it is stated 

 that the tuber of the root should not be buried, 

 but only placed on the surface of the soil, so that 

 the fibrous roots may penetrate it. This, it is 

 said, will enlarge the size of the tuber in " a truly 

 astonishing manner;" and though the plants 

 will not appear healthy the first season, they 

 will afterward become extremely vigorous. It 

 is also recommended to use double pots for 

 these plants, and fill up the interstices w.ith 

 river sand, which should always be kept moist. 

 Substantially the same plan has been followedin 

 this country for many years, and found to succeed 

 well. T. brackyceras may be treated in the same 

 manner, and it would probably succeed with T. tu- 

 berosum, aspecies which it is very difficult to throw 

 into flower under ordinary treatment, but which 

 grows best in the open ground, in rich soil, and 

 with plenty of air and light. T. peregrinum, 

 the Canary Bird Flower, was formerly considered 

 a green-house plant, but it is now found much 

 better to treat it as a half-hardy annual, raising 

 the seeds on a hot-bed, and planting them out 

 in May near some trellis-work or other sup- 

 port, which the plant will soon cover in the 

 most graceful manner, producing hundreds of 

 its elegant, fringe-likes pale-yellow flowers. 

 Propagated from cuttings and by seeds. Intro- 

 duced in 1596. 



Truffle. (See Tuber.) A species of Fungus found 

 in various parts of Europe, and much esteemed 

 as a rare dish. It grows under the ground, and 

 was formerly sought after with dogs trained for 



