BLECHNUM 



BLOOMERIA 



167 



roots, with a drier atmosphere than most other Ferns re- 

 quiiv. to prevent fronds from turning brown during win- 

 ter months. Average temp. 60-05 F. Soil, equal parts 

 of rich loam and leaf -mold or peat. The spores of most 

 Blechnums germinate very freely if sown on 

 a compost of loam and leaf -mold or peat in 

 equal parts, and placed in a moderately 

 moist and shady position in a temp, of 60- 

 65 F. Some of the species send out creep- 

 ing rhizomes, which develop young plants at 

 the cuds. When of sufficient size these may 

 be detached and potted, and in a short time 

 they will develop into good specimens. 

 Some very attractive spe- 

 cies are found among the 

 hardy British Blechnums. 

 Cult, by N. N. BRUCKNER. 



A. Pinnce strongly decurrent 



at the base, joining with 

 the one next below. 



Brasili6nse, Desv. Grow- 

 ing from a stout, slightly ar- 

 borescent trunk 1 ft. or more 

 long : Ivs. 2-3 ft. long, 1 ft. 

 or more wide, with the pinnae 

 set at an acute angle with 

 the rachis, the lower much 

 shorter and more distant. 

 Braz. S. 2:4. 



nitidum, Presl. Habit of 



B. Brasiliense, but much 

 smaller: Ivs. pinnate; pinnae 

 oblong-falcate, thickish, 2-4 

 in. long, serrate. Braz. 

 Plant 1-2 ft. high. 



Corcovad6nse , R a d d i . 

 Pinnae not cut to the rachis, 

 much crowded and shorter 

 than the last; longest pinnae 

 less than 6 in. long, attenu- 

 ate at the tips; Ivs. crimson 

 when young, and gradually 

 turning to a metallic hue 

 before becoming perma- 

 nently green. By some con- 

 sidered a variety of B. Bra- 

 siliense. Braz. Var. crispum, Hort., with wavy edges, 

 may be commoner in cult, than the type. 



AA. Pinnce contracted at the base to the midrib, 

 forming a very short stalk. 



occidentals, Linn. Lvs. from an erect caudex, which 

 is covered with brownish scales : Ivs. 9-18 in. long, 4-6 in. 

 wide, with the pinnae truncate or even cordate at the 

 base and slightly falcate. Mex. and W. Ind. to Braz. 

 See Fig. 240. 



serrulatum, Rich. Growing from an ascending nearly 

 naked rootstock : Ivs. 1-2 ft. long, 6-15 in. wide, with 

 numerous narrow pinnae, which are contracted at the 

 base and of nearly uniform width throughout ; margins 

 finely serrulate; texture coriaceous. Fla. to Braz. 



B. orientdle, Linn., is a large East Indian and Polynesian 

 Fern, with Ivs. often 3 ft. long ; well worthy of cultivation. 



L. M. UNDERWOOD. 

 BLEEDING HEART. See Dicentra. 



BLEPHARIS (Greek, eyelash,- referring to fringed 

 bracts). Acanthacece. An unimportant genus of dwarf, 

 often spiny shrubs and herbs, allied to Acanthus, and of 

 similar culture. 



carduifdlia, T. Anders. (Acanthus carduifdlius, Linn. 

 Acantlibdium carduifdlius, Nees). Plant villous : Ivs. 

 lanceolate, sinuate-dentate, spiny : spike terminal, 

 cylindrical : bracts roundish, palmately 5-spined at 

 the apex. 



BLETIA (Louis Blet, Spanish botanist). Orchiddcece, 

 tribe Epidendrece. Terrestrial or epiphytal herbs, widely 

 distributed : Ivs. plicate, membranaceous, sheathing the 

 St., erect. This genus lends itself readily to cultivation, 



240. Blechnum occidentale. 



but is not showy enough to be popular. They need a 

 lon.y season of rest. The commonly cult, kinds are ter- 

 restrial, and thrive in ordinary orchid loam. 



hyacinthina, R. Br. Lvs. about 1 ft. long: fls. looking 

 down, in various shades of purple, on a scape about 1 ft. 

 high. China. B.M. 1492, as Cymbidium hyacinthinum. 

 Stands some frost. 



verecunda, R. Br. The first exotic Orchid introduced 

 (1731). Racemes showy and branching, 2-3 ft. : fls. pur- 

 plish. W. Ind. ; also in Middle and E. Fla. 



Shepherdii, Hook. Very like the last, and perhaps a 

 form of it : fls. deep purple ; center of labellum yellow. 

 B.M. 3319. 



Sherratiana, Bateman. Lf.- blades pointed at both 

 ends: fls. large, more showy than in the above, brilliant 

 lilac or rose color; labellum purple, with 3 golden yellow 

 lines. New Grenada. B.M. 5646. 



patula, Hook. Fls. deep pink-lilac, numerous and large 

 (2 in. across). B.M. 3518. Requires culture given 

 Cattleyas. 



campanulata, La Llave & Lex. Fls. bell-like, purple, 

 with white center. Mex. Not common in cult. 



B. aphylla, Nutt., is a native species growing as far N. as 

 N. Carolina. B. Tdnkervillece, R. Br., is a Phaius. 



OAKES AMES. 



BLIGHT. An indefinite term, popularly used to desig- 

 nate any sudden and inexplicable death of plants. The 

 term is now restricted by botanists to parasitic diseases. 

 These diseases are of two classes, those due to bacteria 

 or microbes, and those due to parasitic fungi. For an 

 account of these troubles, see Diseases. 



ELITE. See Chenopodium. 

 BLOODROOT. See Sanguinaria. 



BLOOMERIA (named for Dr. H. G. Bloomer). Lili- 

 aceve. A genus of two species, natives of southern 

 California. In every way they are closely allied to 

 Brodiaea, but differ in having the perianth parted 

 nearly to the base. Bloomerias have a flattish conn, 

 much like Crocus, covered with fiber, and not often pro- 

 ducing offsets. The Ivs. are 

 radical, slender, and grass- 

 like; scape slender but stiff, 

 6 to 18 in. high, naked, ex- 

 cept for short bracts be- 

 neath the many-rayed um- 

 bel ; pedicels slender, 

 jointed; fls. nearly rotate, 

 less than an inch across, 

 orange. Bloomerias prefer 

 a sandy, warm and well- 

 drained soil. In northern 

 California, with a minimum 

 temperature of 15 above 

 zero, they are perfectly 

 hardy. In a colder climate, 

 a covering of straw or leaves 

 or a position in the cold- 

 frame would be a judicious 

 precaution. Plant early, and 

 see that the soil is light and 

 sweet. They like the sun, 

 and are good for forcing. 

 The light soil and warmth of 

 a pot more nearly approxi- 

 mates natural conditions 

 than the open 

 ground does in cool- 

 er climates. After 

 ripening, it 

 is best to dig 

 and replant 

 in fall. The 

 seeds grow 

 readily, and 

 the plants 

 241. Bloomeria aurea (X %). flower in 3 



to 4 years. 



aurea, Kellogg. Fig. 241. Scape roughish, 6-18 in. : 

 If. %-%in. broad: fls. numerous, bright orange, in a 



