358 



HENDEBSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



GAL 



plants have tonic qualities and others are 

 used for dyeing. There are ten known 

 genera and about 380 species. Galium, 

 Asperula, and Rubin are examples of the 

 order. 



Galls. Excrescences of various kinds and 

 forms produced in plants by the presence 

 of the larvse of different insects. 

 Gamo. In Greek compounds means, united 

 by the edges ; thus, gamophyllus signifies 

 leaves united by their edges; gamosepa- 

 lous means monosepalous; gamopetalous, 

 monopetalous. 



Ganglia. The mycelium (which see) of cer- 

 tain Fungi. 



Gas Tar or Coal Tar. This has been used 

 to a considerable extent on wood-work 

 as a preservative, such as benches, gut- 

 ters, posts, and other parts of green- 

 house structures. We are inclined to 

 believe it is of very little value for that 

 purpose, unless for gutters or other out- 

 side wood- work, and then only if it is put 

 on annually, so as to form a skin or coat- 

 ing to prevent the penetration of moist- 

 ure. Its use inside is often fraught with 

 danger, particularly whenever exposed to 

 a high temperature, say 100 degrees, as 

 a gas is evolved that is quickly destruc- 

 tive to plants. A not unusual blunder in 

 putting hot-water pipes in the green- 

 house or grapery is to paint them with 

 coal tar; and many fall into this error 

 every season, in spite of all the warnings 

 given. When the hot-water pipes have 

 been painted with coal tar, just as soon 

 as the pipes are heated up by firing, gas 

 is emitted most destructive to plants, 

 which is seen in the showers of falling 

 leaves and flowers, after a few hours of 

 firing. When any one has been unfor- 

 tunate enough to fall into this blunder, 

 there is no remedy but to take down the 



GEN 



pipes and build strong fires under them 

 sufficient to drive out every particle of 

 the gas tar. We have seen every im- 

 aginable remedy tried, but all was of no 

 avail; for the tar penetrates through the 

 pores of the metal; and though the sur- 

 face is scraped entirely clean, the gas is 

 given out on the application of heat just 

 as bad as if the surface had not been 

 scraped. So that, as we have before 

 said, there- is no known remedy except 

 the troublesome and expensive one of 

 taking the pipes down, and burning the 

 tar out of them, which is always effectual 

 if properly done. 



Gas Lime. This is the refuse lime thrown 

 out from the gas-houses, to which has 

 been ascribed great qualities, not only as 

 a fertilizer, but, at the same time, as .an 

 insect destroyer. We much doubt the 

 last quality ascribed to it, and know that 

 it is not only worthless as a fertilizer, but 

 that its use, particularly when it has been 

 used fresh, is most injurious to vegeta- 

 tion, and would therefore advise strongly 

 against its use on land for any purpose. 



Geminate. Growing in pairs. 



Gemini. Two together. 



Geminiftorous. When two flowers grow 

 together. 



Gemma. A leaf bud; leaf buds are also 

 sometimes called foliiferce gemmce, and 

 flower buds floriferce gemmce. 



Gemmule. The plumule; also the ovule. 



Gemmatio. The act of budding; the man- 

 ner in which young leaves are folded up 

 in the bud prior to its unfolding. 



Gemmation. Either the disposition of the 

 buds on plants, or the period of their ex- 

 pansion. 



Geniculate. Where any part is bent abrupt- 

 ly, so as to form a decided angle, as the 

 stems of many grasses. 



