DAIS 



DAMASK VIOLET 



453 



S. Africa or Madagascar. Tender deciduous shrubs: Ivs. 

 opposite, often crowded at the ends of branches: fls. in 

 terminal heads; perianth tube cylindrical, often curved; 

 stamens 10, in adouble series, the alternate ones shorter, 

 upper or all exserted ; style exserted. The plants are 

 prop, by cuttings of half ripened wood. 



cotinifolia, Linn. Lvs. oppo- 

 site and alternate, oblong or 

 obovate, acute at both ends: in- 

 volucre a half shorter than the 

 fls. : head about 15-fld. : fls. Kin. 

 across ; fragrant. South Africa. 

 B. M. 147, 



672. Wild Aster, or 

 Michaelmas Daisy. 



DAISY (i. e., day's eye, in 

 allusion to the sun-like form of 

 the flower). A name which 

 properly belongs to the Bellis 

 perennis of Europe, a low 

 early - flowering composite, 

 which, in its double foims 

 (Fig. 669), is widely known as 

 a garden plant (see .fie His). The 

 American congener is B. in- 

 tegri folia, Michx., an annual 

 or biennial, very like the Old 

 World species, ranging south- 

 westward from Kentucky; it is not domesticated. In 

 N. America, the word Daisy is applied to many field com- 

 posites, particularly to those of comparatively low growth 

 and large flower-heads. Unqualified, the word is com- 

 monly understood to mean Chrysanthemum Leucanthe- 

 mum (Fig. 670), an Old World plant which has become 

 an abundant field weed in the eastern part of the coun- 

 try. This plant is also commonly known as the Ox -Eye 

 Daisy, although in parts of New England it is known as 

 Whiteweed, and the term Ox-Eye is applied to Rudbecltia 

 hirta (Fig. 671), which has a yellow-rayed head. Kin to 

 the Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum are the Paris Dai- 

 sies, or Marguerites, of the conservatories (see Chry- 

 santhemum). The wild Asters (Fig. 672) are called 

 Daisies, especially Michaelmas Daisies, in many parts 

 of the country, particularly west of New York. Spring- 

 flowering Erigerons also are called Daisies. The Swan 

 River Daisy is Brachycome iberidifolia (Figs. 255, 256). 

 The African Daisy is a species of Lonas. L H. B. 



DALBERGIA (N. Dalberg, a Swedish botanist, 1730 to 

 1820). Legumindsw. About 60 species of trees, shrubs, 

 or climbers, belonging to tropical regions all over the 

 world. One species only introduced to S. Calif., and 

 most likely to prove of great interest as a timber tree. 

 Experiments in Egypt have shown its most remarkable 

 property of standing severe droughts, as well as sub- 

 mersion for a long period. Lvs. alternate, odd-pinnate, 

 without stipules : fls. small, numerous, purple, violet or 

 white, in forking cymes or irregular cyme-like panicles. 



The Sissoo tree is worth trial in nearly frostiess dis- 

 tricts, especially along sandy river banks. It improves 



sterile lands. The wood is very elastic, seasons well, 

 does not warp or split, is easily worked, and takes a fine 

 polish. It is also a durable wood for boats. The tree is 

 raised easily from seeds or cuttings, and is of quick 

 growth. The demand is greater than the supply in 

 India, and the tree is cult, for timber. (F. von Mueller, 

 Extra Trop. Plants. ) Other species of Dalbergia are of 

 economic value. 



Sissoo, Roxb. A good sized tree, 80 ft. high in India: 

 Ivs. pinnate; leaflets 5, alternate, stalked, obovate, ab- 

 ruptly acuminate, pubescent beneath : fls. white, in short, 

 axillary panicles. In India considered one of the best 

 timbers, whenever elasticity and durability are required. 

 F. FRANCESCHI and W. M. 



DALECHAMPIAi after the French savant, Dalechamps, 

 1513-1588). Euphorbiacew. This genus contains a tropi- 

 cal shrub rarely cultivated for its showy rose-red bracts. 

 In 1867, Hooker said it was one of the noblest plants 

 introduced for many years, comparable only with the 

 Bougainvilleas, and surpassing them in size of bracts 

 and brilliancy of color. It is presumably inferior to 

 Euphorbia pulcherrima as a florists' plant, but is worth 

 trial in the finer conservatories. The genus has about 

 50 species widely scattered in warm regions, shrubs, 

 twiners or tall climbers, some of which have white bracts. 

 Cult, in a warm house. Prop, by cuttings. 



Koezliana, Muell. Arg. Erect shrub, 3-4 ft. high, much 

 branched, leafy: Ivs. 6 in. long, sessile, obovate -lanceo- 

 late, acuminate, entire, or with coarse obtuse teeth above 

 the middle, narrowed to a cordate base: bracts 2-2% in. 

 long, broadly heart-shaped, sessile, toothed, membra- 

 nous, nerved, rose-red, with other smaller bracts: fls. 

 small, yellow, clustered. Mex. B.M. 5640. Var. alba, 

 Hort., has white bracts. 



DALIBAED A (after Thomas Dalibard, French bota- 

 nist). Rosacece. A low-growing, native, hardy her- 

 baceous perennial plant, with foliage resembling a 

 violet and fls. like those of a strawberry. It is a shy, 

 modest plant, flowering from June to August in shady 

 woods. It is rarely cultivated in alpine gardens and 

 rockeries, being a slow-growing plant, liking a deep 

 fibrous soil and a sheltered position. Prop, by cuttings. 

 The genus has lately been referred to Rubus, but it 

 differs utterly in habit, in the carpels being usually well 

 defined instead of indefinite and the akenes dry instead 

 of drupaceous. 



repens, Linn. (Rubus Dalibdrda, Linn.). Fig. 673. 

 Tufted, creeping: Ivs. heart-shaped, wavy-toothed: fls. 

 white, 1 or 2 on each scape; calyx 5-6-parted, 3 of the 

 divisions larger and toothed ; petals 5 ; stamens numer- 

 ous; pistils 5-10. Common in northern woods. D. 85. 

 In Fig. 673, a shows the perfect flower; b, c, akenes of 

 the cleistogamous fls. 



DAMASK ROSE. Rosa Damascena. 

 DAMASK VIOLET. Hesperis matronalis. 



671. Yellow field Daisy, or Brown-eyed Susan- Rudoeckia hirta. 



