HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



CUR 



Curvi-nerved, Curve-veined. The same as 

 Convergenti-nervose, which see. 



Cuscutacece, (Dodders.) A natural order of 

 corollifloral Dicotyledons, belonging to 

 Lindley's Solanal Alliance. The plants 

 are included by some in a sub-order of 

 Convolvulacece. They are leafless, para- 

 sitic, twining herbs, with flowers in dense 

 clusters. The fruit is two-celled, either 

 capsular or succulent; seeds with fleshy 

 albumen; embryo spiral, filiform, having 

 no cotyledons. The seeds germinate in 

 the soil in the usual way, and afterward 

 become true parasites by attaching them- 

 selves to plants in their vicinity, and 

 growing at their expense. They are very 

 destructive to some kinds of plants. They 

 are found in the temperate regions of both 

 hemispheres. There are four known 

 genera and upward of fifty species. Cus- 

 cuta, Lepidanche, and Epilinella are exam- 

 ples of the order. 



Cuspidate. Tapering gradually into a rigid 

 point; also, abruptly acuminate, as the 

 leaflet of many Ruhi. A leaf is cuspidate < 

 when it suddenly tapers to a point, as 

 Tritonia rosea. 



Cut. Where the incisions are rather deep 

 and regular, as those in the margins of 

 leaves, which extend to a greater depth 

 than where they are said to be "toothed," 

 but not so deep as " laciniate." 



Cuticle. The external homogeneous skin 

 of a plant, consisting of a tough mem- 

 brane overlying the epidermis. The 

 word is also used for the skin of any- 

 thing, including the epidermis. 



Cutis. The peridium of certain Fungi. 



Cutting. A portion of a young branch 

 which, when inserted into the earth un- 

 der suitable conditions, emits roots, and 

 is developed as a distinct individual. See 

 Propagation by Cuttings. 



CYC 



Cut-toothed. Cut and toothed at the same 

 time. 



Cya/mium. A kind of follicle resembling a 

 legume. 



Cyaneous, Cyanceus, Cyalinus. In composi- 

 tion Cyano. A clear bright blue. 



Cyanochrous. Having a blue skin. 



Cyathiform. Cup-shaped, concave. 



Cyatheinece, Cyathece. The former is a 

 principal sub-division or tribe of polypo- 

 diaceous Ferns. The latter is a section 

 of this group. 



Cyathus. The cup-like body which con- 

 tains propagula, (which see,) or the re- 

 productive bodies of Marchantia. 



Cycadacece, (Cycads.) A natural order of 

 achlamydeous Dicotyledons, belonging to 

 the Gymnospemious (naked-seeded) Alli- 

 ance. They are small, palm-like trees or 

 shrubs with unbranched stems, occasion- 

 ally dividing into two, marked with leaf- 

 scars, and having large rays in the wood 

 along with punctated ligneous tubes. The 

 leaves are pinnate, and usually rolled up 

 like a crozier while in bud. The flowers 

 are staminate or pistillate, and without 

 any envelope, (achlamydeous;) the stam- 

 inate flowers in cones, the scales bearing 

 one-celled anthers on their lower surface, 

 the pistillate flowers consisting only of 

 ovules on the edge of altered leaves, or 

 placed below or at the base of scales. 

 The seeds are either hard, or with a soft, 

 spongy covering; the embryo hanging 

 by a long cord in the cavity of the albu- 

 men; the cotyledons are unequal. The 

 plants are chiefly natives of the tropical 

 and temperate regions of America and 

 Asia, but are also found in southern Afri- 

 ca and in Australia. The plants are mu- 

 cilaginous and starchy. Cycas reuoluta, 

 one of the best known, is a native of Ja- 

 pan, and supplies a kind of starch which is 



