HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



237 



UMB 



set by the readiness with which its branches are 

 broken by high winds. Its wood makes excel- 

 lent fuel, is durable, and is used for furniture. 

 There has been introduced from Texas, within 

 a few years, a marked variety called the Um- 

 brella China Tree. Several years ago we saw a 

 small specimen of this in the extensive collec- 

 tion of P. J. Berckmans, near Augusta, Ga., 

 which promised to be valuable, and now we 

 have a photograph of a tree in Abbeville, Ala., 

 taken by J. C. Mangold, to show the remarkably 

 compact habit and umbrella-like form. Mr. J. 

 A. Clendinen sends an account of the tree, from 

 which we learn that the foliage is so dense that 

 it will turn almost any rainfall. It does not 

 fruit so abundantly as the ordinary form of the 

 tree, but, what is quite remarkable, the variety 

 is reproduced from the seed. This variety of the 

 favorite China Tree will commend itself to our 

 readers in the Southern States, as it has natu- 

 rally the com pact habit that is sometimes imper- 

 fectly produced in the ordinary form of the tree 

 by severe cutting. China Berries, as the fruit 

 of the tree is usually called, are eaten by sheep 

 and goats, which in winter require but little 

 other food; cows are fond of them, but they im- 

 part an unpleasant taste to the milk. The hard 

 stone is sometimes bored and strung to make 

 ' rosaries ' and necklaces, hence the tree is 

 known in some countries as the Bead Tree." 



Umbrella Grass. The common name of Fuirena, 

 squarrosa, which see. It is common in sandy 

 wet places from Massachusetts southward. 



"Umbrella Palm. See Kentea. 



Umbrella Tree. See Magnolia umbrdla. 



Unicorn Plant. See Martynia. 



Upas Tree. See Antiaris. 



Urania. Traveler's Tree. From ouranios, sub- 

 lime ; in allusion to the stateliness of the tree. 

 Linn. Hexandria-Monocjynia. Nat. Ord. Musacece. 

 U. speciosa, the only known representative of 

 this genus, was formerly called ftavenata Mada- 

 gascariensis. It is a magnificent plant, having a 

 palm-like appearance, and is called in Madagas- 

 car the Traveler's Tree, because the leaves, when 

 cut, yield an abundant and refreshing juice, 

 with which travelers allay their thirst. The 

 leaves are of gigantic size, somewhat like those 

 of Musa ensete, but arranged in two rows on op- 

 posite sides of the stems. Young plants are ob- 

 tained by suckers or from seed. 



Urceolina. From urceolus, a small cup or pitcher ; 

 in allusion to the smallness of the cup, or nec- 

 tary, inside the flower. Linn. Hemndria-Mono- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Amarylliducece. 



A small genus of handsome summer-blooming 

 Peruvian bulbs. The flowers are yellow, red, 

 and green. They grow freely in the open bor- 

 der, and require a long season of rest. They 

 may be kept during winter like the ligridias, 

 and planted out in the border after all danger 

 from frost is past. Propagated by offsets. In- 

 troduced in 1837. 



Uropedium. From oitra, a tail, and podlon, a 

 slipper ; in allusion to the long-tailed petals. 



VAC 



Linn. Oynandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. Orchida- 

 cea'. 



A genus of terrestrial Orchids nearly related 

 to Cypripedium. It consists of only one described 

 species, U. Lindeni, a native of New Grenada, 

 and is found growing at an elevation of 8,500 

 feet above the sea level. It differs from Cypripe- 

 dium in its broader, flattened lip, and extremely 

 long-tailed petals. The leaves are about a foot 

 long, oblique at the extremity, shining, and 

 fleshy in texture. The flowers are solitary, pro- 

 duced on long peduncles; the sepals are ovate- 

 lanceolate, yellow, streaked with orange ; the 

 petals are linear-lanceolate, extended into a long, 

 narrow tail, a foot or more in length, and pur- 

 ple orange at the base. This is a remarkable and 

 very interesting plant, which should find a place 

 in every collection. It requires the same treat- 

 ment as Cypripedium. Introduced in 1849. 



Uropetalon. From oura, a tail, and petition, a 

 petal; the petals are lengthened into tail-like 

 appendages. Linn. Hexandria-Monoyynia. Nat. 

 Ord. LiliacecB. 



A small genus of Cape bulbs, very singular 

 and interesting. The flowers are green, or green 

 and orange, borne on slender scapes in terminal 

 racemes. They are tender, and must be kept 

 warm and dry during winter, and planted out 

 in the border in early spring. Propagated by 

 offsets. Introduced in 1808. 



Urtica. Nettle. From uro, to burn ; in reference 

 to the stinging properties of most of the species. 

 Linn. Monaecla- Tetrandria. Nat. Ord. Urticacecp. 



The Roman Nettle, U. pilitlifera, is sometimes 

 grown in gardens as an ornamental annual, but 

 the sting is much worse than that of U. dioir,a, 

 the common Nettle. Some of the exotic species 

 are very handsome ; as, for example, U. reticu- 

 lata, a native of Jamaica, which has red and yel- 

 low flowers and deep green leaves. There are 

 several native and naturalized species, all trou- 

 blesome weeds. 



Utricularia. Bladderwort. From utriculus, a lit- 

 tle bladder; applied to the small inflated ap- 

 pendages of the roots. Linn. Diandria-Monogy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. Anonacect}. 



A genus of curious aquatic plants, common 

 throughout the United States. They are with- 

 out interest, except that during the early rtage 

 of the plant, the small, bladder-like appendages 

 at the roots are filled with water; but when the 

 flowers are ready to expand they become filled 

 with air. After the season of flowering, the 

 vesicles become again filled with water, and the 

 plant descends to ripen its seeds at the bottom. 



Uvularia. Bellwort. The plants were formerly 

 used in diseases of the uvula ; whence the name. 

 Linn. Hexandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Liliacern. 

 A small genus of very handsome hardy herba- 

 ceous perennials, with lily-like flowers, borne 

 solitary, or rarely in pairs, on slender peduncles, 

 from the uppermost leaves. The flowers are 

 bright and greenhh yellow. There are several 

 species common throughout the United States, 

 in rich, rather moist woods. 



Y. 



Vaccaria. Cow Herb. Named from vecca, a 

 cow. Linn. Dexindria-Digynict. Nat. Ord. 

 Caryophyllacea;. 

 A coarse-growing hardy herbaceous perennial, 



formerly called Saponaria Vaccaria. It was in- 

 troduced into the garden, but has escaped and 

 become common in waste places. 

 Vaccinium. High-bash Cranberry, Blueberry, 



