HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



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propagated by suckers. But these, with all the 

 Cycads, are now largely imported by firms in 

 New York and other largo cities, mostly 'from 

 Central America, and thus plants are obtained 

 at once from their native habitat that would 

 take many years to grow by the slow processes 

 of artificial propagation. When received they 

 are, of course, in a dormant state, without roots 

 or leaves, and should be placed in partially 

 damp moss, in a temperature of 70, until they 

 begin to grow. They are then potted in small- 

 sized pots, amply drained, in a soil mixed with 

 half its bulk of Sphagnum (moss.) 



Zanthoxylum. See Xanthoxylitm. 



Zauschneria. Named in honor of M. Zauschner, 

 a German. Linn. Octandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 



Z." Californica, the only, known species, is a 

 hardy herbaceous plant, native of California. It 

 is of branching habit, and produces large ra- 

 cemes of Fuchsia-like flowers, bright crimson 

 and very showy. It makes a handsome pot 

 plant, and is also very showy in the border. 

 Propagated by division or from seed. Intro- 

 duced in 1847. 



Zea. Maize, Indian Corn. Linnaeus named this 

 genus from zao, to live; in reference to the nu- 

 tritive properties of the plants. Linn. Monoscia- 

 Iriandria. Nat. Ord, Graminacece. 



Indian Corn, Zea Mays, is unquestionably an 

 American plant, having been found under culti- ' 

 vation by the Indians on the discovery of the j 

 New World. It is said to grow wild in some of 

 the West Indian Islands and in Central and 

 South America. There is only one ascertained | 

 species, although numerous varieties have been 

 produced. The many varieties are so distinct 

 in their general habit of growth, size, and shape 

 of the kernel, as to raise the question of their 

 "being distinct species, which, however, is not 

 probable. We know of no other plant that so 

 readily adapts itself to circumstances, or one 

 that will so completely change its habit of growth 

 in so short a time. The writer once brought a 

 few ears of Corn from near Quebec, the farthest 

 point north that Corn is known to ripen. The 

 stalks from which the ears were taken were not 

 three feet high, yet each produced two small 

 ears of very hard Corn of excellent quality. This 

 seed was sown in Central New York at the same 

 time and under the same conditions as other 

 Corn, only in a separate field. This crop came 

 to maturity in less than sixty days after plant- 

 ing, ready for the harvest. The next year the 

 best seed of the crop were sown, in confidence of 

 similar results; but, on the contrary, it adapted 

 itself to the climate, and took the same length 

 of time to grow and ripen as the common sorts, 

 and it also grew to as great a height, which was 

 fully two feet higher than it grew the first year. 

 From that fact it is easy to see what great changes 

 may be brought about by cultivation. The va- 

 rieties known as Sweet or Sugar Corn are best 

 suited for use in the unripe state. They have 

 been greatly improved in the past twenty years 

 "by careful selection, and thousands of acres of 

 these kinds are grown for canning, particularly 

 the variety known as Stowell's " Evergreen." Z. 

 Japomwi, varier/ata, of recent introduction, is 

 beautifully striped white and green, and is un- 

 surpassed as a "Variegated Grass." It requires 

 exactly the same culture as the ordinary Maize; 

 though, being variegated, its growth is weak- 

 ened, and, under the same conditions, it grows 

 one-third lower than the ordinary green sorts. 



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It can be used with fine effect for the ' ' back 

 row " or " center " of large beds in massing. 

 Zebra Grass. See Eulalia zebrina. 

 Zebra Wood. See Omphalobium. 

 Zephyranth.es. From zephyros, the west wind, 

 and anfhos, a flower. Linn. Hexandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. AmaryllidaceoK. 



A very beautiful genus of hardy and half- 

 hardy bulbous plants, natives of the Southern 

 States, South America, and the West Indies. 

 The flowers are white, pink, and rose-colored, 

 and are produced singly on slender scapes 

 about six inches high. One of the best species 

 is Z. Atamasco, generally known as Amaryllis 

 Atamasco, and in our cottage gardens as Fairy 

 Lily. This species has beautiful pink flow- 

 ers, which are produced in great abundance 

 during the entire summer. The bulbs may be 

 planted in the open border early in spring, and, 

 with slight protection during winter, they may 

 remain undisturbed a number of years. The 

 bulbs are about one and a half inches in diame- 

 ter and two inches long. It is a native of the 

 Southern and Southwestern States. It increases 

 rapidly by offsets. Z. Candida, a species with 

 pure white flowers and small, rush-like leaves, 

 is a native of Lima and Buenos Ayres. The 

 bulbs are quite small, and grow in large clus- 

 ters. It is very free flowering, and nearly 

 hardy. Introduced in 1822. 



Zichya. In honor of Countess Molly Zichy, a noble 

 Austrian lady, fond of botany. Linn. Diadelphia- 

 Decandria. Nat. Ord. Fabacece. 



These are handsome green-house climbers, 

 closely related to Kennedya, from which they are 

 chiefly distinguished by having their flowers ar- 

 ranged in whorls on the end of an attenuated 

 foot-stalk. They require plenty of water, both 

 at the roots and over the foliage in dry, hot 

 weather, and a support for their flexile stems. 

 The trellis should be as large as may be conven- 

 iently attached to a pot, as they extend over a 

 considerable space. In the autumn the branches 

 should be pruned closely back, and the plants 

 kept torpid through the winter. The several 

 species that constitute this genus are natives of 

 Swan Eiver, and were introduced in 1834. Prop- 

 agated by seeds or cuttings. 



Zingiber. Ginger. The Indian name. Linn. 

 Honandria-Monogynia: Nat. Ord. ZingiberacecK. 



The most important species of this genus is 

 Z. qfficinale, the roots or rhizomes of which fur- 

 nish the well-known Ginger of commerce. This 

 plant is believed to be a native of Asia. It was 

 naturalized in the West Indies soon after their 

 discovery by the Spaniards ; indeed, at so early 

 a period that it is scarcely believed to be an ex- 

 otic, and is supposed to have been found in- 

 digenous on the islands. Acosta relates that a 

 person named Francisco de Mendoza first trans- 

 planted it from the East Indies into New Spain, 

 where its cultivation was diligently pursued by 

 the Spanish Americans to a considerable extent, 

 as, from the testimony of the same author, 

 22,053 cwt. were exported thence to Europe in 

 1547. This plant is now extensively cultivated 

 in the West Indies, especially in Jamaica, from 

 whence we receive our main supply. Thero are 

 several varieties of Ginger known in commerce; 

 they are, however, of the same species, as the 

 white and black Ginger simply indicates a .dif- 

 ferent method of preparation. Ginger is also 

 largely grown in the East Indies and Africa, but 

 not of so good a quality as that of the West In- 

 dies. 



