HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



257 



ZIN 



Zinnia. Named in honor of John Godfrey Zinn, a 

 Professor of Botany at Gottingen. Linn. Synge- 

 nesia-Superflua. Nat. Ord. Asteracece. 



An extensive genus of hardy annuals, natives 

 of Mexico. When first introduced the Zinnia 

 received but little attention, as the flowers were 

 single, the colors not so bright, nor the plant so 

 effective as the double varieties now under cul- 

 tivation. The double varieties were first ex- 

 hibited by Messrs. Vilmorin in Paris in 1861. 

 They originated in India from the common sin- 

 gle Mexican varieties, and the seeds were sent 

 to France in 1858. Great improvement has 

 been made within the last ten years in this 

 flower, and our own florists and seed growers 

 have been foremost in this work. The finest 

 strains of this flower are now to be had of the 

 seed growers near New York. Some of the vari- 

 eties are truly magnificent; the dull, dingy col- 

 ors have given place to bright scarlet, clear rose, 

 pure white, orange, canary yellow, etc., and the 

 flowers are perfect in shape, and evenly imbri- 

 cated like a Camellia. Zinnias require but lit- 

 tle attention, and will grow well almost any- 

 where. For perfection of flower, the seed should 

 be sown early in a hot-bed or the green-house, 

 and once or twice pricked out before planting 

 in the open border. Set the plants two feet 

 apart each way, and they will completely cover 

 the ground early in summer. They will com- 

 mence to flower in June, and remain until killed 

 by frost. The flower lasts a long time, looking 

 cheerful until the seed is quite ripe. The fact 

 of the flowers remaining so long perfect has 

 given the plant one of its common names, 

 " Youth and Old Age." 



Zizania. The Greek name of Darnel. The mod- 

 ern plants have no relation to the ancient, being 

 natives of America. Linn. Monwcia-Hexagynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Graminacece. 



These are native plants. Z. aquatica is a large 

 reed-like aquatic plant, and is quite common in 

 marshes and on the margins of waters at the 

 South and West, and was formerly largely col- 

 lected by the Indians for food. It is a favorite 

 food with wild ducks and other aquatic birds 

 during the fall and winter months, and is a famil- 

 iar object to sportsmen. A correspondent of the 

 "American Agriculturist," Mr. K. Valentine, of 

 Wisconsin, says he has sold a thousand bushels 

 of this Wild Rice during the past five years. The 

 "Agriculturist" says : " It is the thick growth 

 of this Rice that makes the borders of the Dela- 

 ware such a favorite resort for gunners in the 

 Heed Bird season, and elsewhere it attracts nu- 

 merous ducks. Mr. V. says that he has sent the 

 seeds to nearly every State and Territory, to be 

 planted along water courses to attract wild fowl. 

 It is also sown in artificial fish ponds to afford 

 cover and shade for the young fry, a purpose for 

 which it is especially suited. It succeeds best 

 where there is a muddy bottom, and six inches 

 to two feet of water, and care should be taken to 

 place it where its roots will be covered with wa- 

 ter at all times." 



Zizyphus. Jujube. Zizouf, in Arabic, is the name 

 of the Lotus. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. RhamnacecK. 



ZYG 



An interesting genus of plants, inhabitants of 

 both hemispheres. They are all very pretty, and 

 deserve to be grown in every collection of plants. 

 The green-house and hot-house species do well 

 with ordinary treatment. The genus is chiefly 

 characterized by having a fleshy, berry-like frnit, 

 containing a one, two, or three-celled stone, with 

 a single flattened seed in each. The species are 

 mostly stiff shrubs, or sometimes small trees 

 with more or less spiny branches, their alter- 

 nate three-nerved leaves being furnished with 

 one or two thorny stipules. The fruits of sev- 

 eral of the species have an agreeable flavor. Z. 

 vulgaris, the best known species, when fully de- 

 veloped attains a height of thirty feet. The 

 fruits of this species are commonly eaten in 

 Europe, both in a fresh and dried state, and af- 

 ford the Jujubes of the shops; or rather used to, 

 for they are now chiefly made up of gum and 

 sugar, and a little tartaric acid, without the 

 Jujubes. The fruits are rather acid when fresh, 

 but when dried they are more agreeable, and 

 are given to allay cough. Perhaps the most 

 useful purpose to which this species can be ap- 

 plied is as a hedge plant. Mr. William Smith, 

 the superintendent of the Botanic Garden at 

 Washington, D. C., has been experimenting 

 with it for upward of ten years, and thinks it 

 has no equal as a hedge plant, and predicts that 

 it is certain to be largely used for that purpose. 

 It is perfectly hardy at Washington, and it is 

 Mr. Smith's opinion that it is likely to prove 

 hardy a great deal farther north. Z. Jujuba, an 

 East Indian species, yields an excellent dessert 

 fruit, and is largely cultivated by the Chinese, 

 who recognize a great number of varieties, dif- 

 fering in the shape, color, and size of the fruits. 

 Those of one variety are called Chinese Dates, 

 from their resemblance to that fruit. Z. Lotus, 

 an African species, is one of the plants supposed 

 to have yielded the seductive sweet fruits from 

 which the ancient Lptophagi took their name. 

 Another African species, Z. Badei, is the Lotus 

 mentioned by Mungo Park as being used for 

 making into bread, tasting like gingerbread, 

 and also for the preparation of a pleasant bever- 

 age. Z. spina- Chris ti is supposed by some to 

 have furnished the crown of thorns put on our 

 Savior's head. Propagated by cuttings or from 

 seed. First introduced in 1640. 



Zonal Geranium. See Pelargonium. 



Zygopetalum. From zygos, a yoke, and petakw, 

 a petal; in allusion to the adhesion of the seg- 

 ments of the perianth by their bases in the orig- 

 inal species. Linn. (Jynandria-Monandria. Nat. 

 Ord. Orchi(l('fd'. 



A genus of very handsome, free-flowering Or- 

 chids, natives of South America. They are ter- 

 restrial evergreens, and generally flower during 

 the winter or early spring months, which makes 

 them desirable. The pseudo-bulbs should be 

 well elevated in potting, and have plenty of 

 water in the growing season, which is usually 

 from May to September; after which less mois- 

 ture is required until their season of blooming. 

 They will succeed well in an ordinary green- 

 house. Propagated by division. Introduced iu 

 1828. 



