856 



LEDUM 



LEEK 



in N. America. Allied to Rhododendron, but corolla 

 polypetalous. Fls. rather small, %-% in. across, long- 

 pedicelled, in terminal, umbel-like racemes; calyx lobes 

 and petals 5, spreading; stamens 5-10: capsule nodding, 

 5-celled, separating from the base into 5 valves, with 

 many minute seeds. The Ivs. contain a volatile oil, with 

 narcotic properties; the Ivs. of L. latifolium are said 

 to have been used during the war of independence as 

 a substitute for tea, hence the name "Labrador Tea." 



paliistre, Linn. WILD ROSEMARY. One to 2 ft. high: 

 Ivs. linear or linear-oblong, revolute at the margin, dark 

 green and somewhat rugose above, densely f errugineous- 

 tomentose beneath like the young branches, %-\% in. 

 long: stamens 10: capsule ovate. May, June. N. hemi- 

 sphere, in N. America from Newfoundland to Alaska. 

 L.B.C. 6:560. Var. dilatatum, Gray. Lvs. broader: cap- 

 sule more oblong. N.W. coast of N. Amer., Japan. Var. 

 decumbens, Ait. With procumbent stems and shorter 

 usually oval Ivs. 



latifdlium, Ait. (L. Groenldndicum, Oeder). One to 

 3 ft., similar to the former, but Ivs. broader, oblong or 

 linear-oblong, 1-2 in. long, tomentum beneath often 

 whitish at first: stamens 5-7: capsule oblong. May, 

 June. Canada to Brit. Col., south to Pa. and Wis. 

 L. B. C. 6:534 and 11 : 1049 (as L. canadense). J. H. III. 

 31:20 (as L.palustre). Gn.34,p.31. 



L. buxifblium, Berg.=Leiophyllum buxifolium. L. glandu- 

 Ibsum, Nutt. Shrub, to 6 ft,: Ivs. oblong or oval, glabrous, 

 glaucous and glandular beneath: stamens 10. July, Aug. B.C. 

 to Calif. B.M. 7610. ALFRED REHDER. 



LEE A (James Lee, Scotch nurseryman, 1715-1795). 

 Leeacece. About 20 species of tropical, oriental small 

 trees or shrubs, some of which are cult, as young plants 

 in warm conservatories for their colored foliage and 

 stately habit. Lvs. alternate, 1-3 times pinnate; Ifts. 

 entire or serrate; tendrils none: fls. small or large, red, 

 yellow or green, in cymes; calyx 5-toothed; petals 5, 

 connate at the base and with the tube of stamens : ovary 

 3-6-celled; cells 1-ovuled: fr. a berry. By Bentham and 

 Hooker this genus was placed in the order Ampelidese, 

 which others call Vitaceae. Vitis differs in having the 

 climbing habit, ovary 2-celled; cells 2-ovuled. The first 

 species mentioned seems to be valued particularly for 

 its fls. : the others are foliage plants which are presum- 

 ably distinct horticulturally, but 2 of them may not be 

 good botanical species, and cannot be distinguished with- 

 out a knowledge of the flowers. 



Leeas are tropical house plants. L. amabilis has 

 beautiful, silvery, vine-like foliage. It makes a hand- 

 some plant for pillar-posts, and does exceedingly well 

 planted out; but it should be given a season of rest dur- 

 ing winter time by a partial drying out, when it will 

 loose most, if not all, its foliage. This practice should 

 be followed in any case. It may also be grown as a 

 trained specimen in pots. Peaty soil is often recom- 

 mended, but good light loam, with plenty of drainage, 

 does equally well. 



A. Foliage green. 



cocclnea, Planch. Lvs. 3-pinnate; Ifts. 5 on each main 

 division of the leaf, oblong-lanceolate, dentate, margin 

 recurved: fls. 60 or more in a trichotomous, flat-topped 

 cluster about 3 in. across, scarlet in bud, the 5 spread- 

 ing lobes of the corolla pink above; stamens yellow, ex- 

 serted, each fl. about % in. across. Burma. B.M. 5299. 

 It begins to flower when only a foot high, but the main 

 stalk of the clusters is only an inch or so long. Adv. by 

 John Saul, 1893. 



AA. Foliage colored or variegated. 

 B. Lvs. marked bright red ; veins white. 

 Micholitzii, Hort. Introduced by Sander & Co., 1899, 

 from Guinea, but not distinguished in their description 

 from L. amabilis, var. splendens, which is probably 

 still cult, in Eu. 



amabilis, Hort. Veitch Lvs. pinnate: Ifts. 5 or 7, lan- 

 ceolate, acuminate, serrate, upper surface velvety, deep 

 bronzy green, with a broad white stripe; veins white at 

 the bases : young Ivs. pale pinkish brown. G.C. II. 

 17:493. Gn. 21, p. 352. Var. sp!6ndens, Lind., is marked 

 with bright red and has a red stem. I H. 31:518. 



BB. Lvs. flushed bronze ; veins rosy. 

 sambucina, Willd. (L. Itoehrsidna, Hort. Sander! 

 Lvs. pinnate; Ifts. 6% in. long, 2% in. wide, oblong 

 cordate at the base, acuminate, coarsely crenate. India 

 Malaya, Philippines, trop. Australia. A very variabl 

 species. The above synonymy is the judgment of M. T 

 Masters in G.C. 111.23:245. F.E. 10:554. A. F. 13:1284 

 Gng. 6:278. T D HATFIELD and W. M. 



LEEK (Allium Porrum), a flat-leaved, bulbous, hard 

 biennial, is probably a native of the Mediterranean re 

 gion, where, particularly in Egypt, it has been used fo 

 culinary and medicinal purposes since prehistoric time 

 All parts of the plant possess an offensive, pungeu 

 odor and acrid taste due to an essential oil character!* 

 tic of its close relative, the onion. In medicine, th< 

 bulb, like the onion, is used as a renal stimulant. Th 

 blanched stems and leaves are much employed in conti 

 nental cookery as a flavoring for soups, stews, etc. 

 boiled and served like asparagus, and in the raw state 

 Except in the larger cities and among our foreign popu 

 lation, the Leek is little used in America. The see( 

 should be sown in a well-prepared, light, deep, rich 

 moist loam in a nursery bed or coldframe. The sit< 

 should be open, the subsoil dry. When six or eigh 

 weeks old, or about 5 inches tall, the young plants 

 should be set 9 inches asunder, in drills 3 to 6 inches 

 deep and 18 inches apart. Shortening both roots 

 stems is often advised. As the plants grow, the 

 should be drawn loosely roxind the stems and k 

 leaves to insure blanching. When blanched Leeks 

 not desired, the plants may be cultivated like oni< 



1254. A papilionaceous flower Sweet Pea. 



Showing the banner, standard or vexillum at s ; 

 the wings at w, the keel at k. 



indeed, except for earthing up, the cultural methods em- 

 ployed for these two crops are identical. Leeks are mar- 

 keted in bunches like young onions and, for winter use, 

 are stored like celery. As a second crop to follow early 

 cabbage, spinach, etc., they are in general favor with 

 market-gardeners. In soups and stews the rank odor 

 disappears, leaving a mild and agreeable flavor. 



M. G. KAINS. 



Leek, though of the onion family, and also a biennial, 

 is differently treated and used. The object in its cul- 

 tivation is to develop the leaves in such a manner that 

 they become numerous; the flower-stem does not appear 

 before the second year, hence the necessity of growing 

 it to full size the first year. 



Sow the seed in March in a seed-bed (with slight 

 torn heat), in drills 2 or 3 inches apart; when 1 

 enough, thin out to stand 1 inch apart in the row, 

 they may attain the thickness of a fair sized straw. 

 May or early June the seedlings are transplanted in thi 

 open ground; they are then cut half-way down and 

 should also be set deep, so they will begin blanching 

 when they attain a fair size. The soil best suited is 

 rich, moist, light loam : prior to the transplanting it 

 should be well prepared with well-rotted stable manure, 

 if possible. The plants are generally set in drills 12 

 15 inches apart, and 6 to 9 inches apart in the drills 

 They should be well cultivated, and when errowin 

 freely should be earthed up slightly with the hand 

 tivator or hand-hoe. Some of the successful gard 

 still cultivate them on the celery-trenching system; 

 this means they can be watered more thoroughly 





