STA 



[ 848 ] 



STE 



STAVES-ACHE. Delphi'nium staphi- 

 sa'gria. 



STEEPING. See Germination. It is 

 a very unfounded idea, that by steeping 

 seeds in certain solutions the vigour 

 and fecundity of the plants to which 

 they give birth might be promoted. 

 A certain degree of heat, oxygen gas, 

 and water, are all the requisites for 

 germination, and until this process 

 has commenced, no liquid but water at 

 common temperatures will pass through 

 the coverings of a seed. So soon as 

 germination has commenced, this power 

 to exclude foreign fluids ceases, but 

 the organs starting into activity are so 

 delicate, that the weakest saline solu- 

 tions are too acid and offensive for them. 

 So utterly incapable are the infant roots 

 of imbibing such solutions, that at first 

 they are absolutely dependent, them- 

 selves, for their very existence upon 

 the seed-leaves, and if these are re- 

 moved the plant either makes no 

 further advance, or altogether perishes. 

 To hasten the germination of peas, 

 beans, &c., it is a good plan to soak 

 them in water for twelve hours pre- 

 viously to sowing ; and old seeds of all 

 kinds have had their germinating 

 powers aroused by putting them into 

 water heated to 200, and allowing 

 them to remain in it until cold. 



STELLA'RIA. Stitchwort. (From 

 stella, a star. Nat. ord., Oloveworts 

 [CaryophyllaceaB]. Linn., 10-Decandria 

 S-Trigynia.} 



A genus of weedy herbs, with the exception 

 of Stellaria holostea, one of the prettiest 

 flower-garden plants for May in the British 

 Flora. Increased by division of the roots in 

 spring or autumn, when it may be planted out 

 to flower, and may be removed in June when 

 the flowers are over. 



STENA'CTIS. (From stenos, narrow, 

 and aktin, a sunbeam ; the rays of the 

 expanded blossoms. , Nat. ord., Com- 

 posites [Asteraceaj], Linn., 19-Synge- 

 nesia 2-Superflua.} 



Hardy herbaceous. Seeds, which, if sown in 

 a slight hotbed in March, will produce plants 

 to bloom the same season ; division of the root 

 in spring. 



S. heterophy'lla (various-leaved). 1. White. 

 July. N. America. 1640. 



inuloi'des (Inula-like). 1. Red. August. 



Nepaul. 



specio'sa (showy). 2. Purple. July. Cali- 



fornia. 1831. 



S. strigo'sa (short-bristled), l. White. July. 

 N.America. 1816. 



STENA'NTHEKA. (From stenos, narrow, 

 and antliera, an anther; the stamens 

 broader than the anthers, which are 

 narrower in proportion. Nat. ord., 

 Epacrids [Epacridacese] . Linn., 5- 

 Pentandria \.-Monoyynia.} 



Greenhouse New Holland evergreens. Cut- 

 tings of young short shoots, a little firm at their 

 base, in sand, under a bell-glass, and placed in 

 a cold frame in May ; sandy fibry peat, with 

 enough of charcoal and broken pots to keep the 

 soil open. Winter temp., 40 to 45. 

 S. cilia'ta. (hair-fringed). Red. April. 



pinifo'lia (Pine-leaved). 6. Scarlet. June. 



1811. 



STE'NIA. (From stenos, narrow; the 

 pollen masses. Nat, ord., Orchids 

 [Orchidacere]. Linn., 20-Gynandria 

 \-Monandria. Allied to Maxillaria. ) 



Stove orchid, grown on blocks. See Orchids. 

 S. pu'llida (pale-flowered). . Yellow. Au- 

 gust. Demerara. 1837. 



STENOOHI'LUS. (From stenos, narrow, 

 and cheilos, a lip ; the narrow lip of the 

 flower. Nat. ord., Myoporads [Myopo- 

 raceffi]. Linn., \.k-Didynamia 2-Angio- 

 spermia.} 



Greenhouse evergreens from New Holland. 

 Cuttings of young shoots, in sand, under a 

 bell-glass, in April or May ; sandy loam and a 

 little fibry peat. Winter temp., 40 to 45. 



S. gla'ber (smooth-leaved). 2. Red. 1803. 



longifo'lius (long-leaved). 4. Scarlet. April. 



J825. 



macula 'tus (spotted). 3. Scarlet. April. 



1820. 



visco'sus (clammy). 2. Yellow. October. 



1844. 



STENOCHL&/NA. (From stenos, nar- 

 row, and chlaina, a cloak; the covering 

 of the spore cases. Nat. ord., Ferns 

 [Polypodiaceee], Linn., 24:-Cryptogamia 

 1-Filices.) 



Stove, brown-spored, ferns. See Ferns. 

 S, heteromo'rpha (various-formed). April. 

 Australia. 



limonifo'lia (Limonia- leaved). May. E. 



Indies. 



longifo'lia (long-leaved). 2. June. W. 



Indies. 1810. 



sca'ndens (climbing). 30. July. E.Indies. 



1841. 



sorbifo'lia (Service-leaved). July. W. 



Indies. 17Q.3. 



spondicifo'lia (Hog-plum-leaved) . June. E. 



Indies. 



tri'quetra (three-sided). July. E. Indies. 



STENOCO'RYNE. (From stenos, narrow, 

 and fcoryne, a club. Nat. ord., Orchids 



