14 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



AGE 



Agro'stis. Bent Grass, Bed Top. This is the 

 Greek name for all grasses, from agros, a field. 

 Nat. Ord. Graminacece. 



A well-known genus of grasses, including 

 .A. comma, the Rhode Island Bent Grass; A. 

 stolonifera, the Creeping Bent Grass, and A. 

 vulgaris, the common Red Top. These species 

 have all been introduced from Europe, but are 

 now thoroughly naturalized in this country. 

 A. pulchella and A. nebulosa are both very del- 

 icate, feather-like annual grasses, valuable for 

 bouquet-making and for winter decorative 

 purposes. 



Ague Root. A common name for Aletrisfarinosa. 



Ague Tree. Laurus Sassafras. 



Ague Weed, Indian. Eupatorium perfoliatum. 



Aila'ntus. From ailanto, Tree of Heaven, refer- 

 ring to its lofty growth. Nat. Ord. Xantho- 

 xylacece. 



Deciduous trees of rapid growth, natives of 

 China. They were at one time extensively 

 planted as street trees, and should not now be 

 so generally discarded, as they will thrive well 

 in cities and barren soils, making a beautiful 

 shade tree, as well as valuable timber. The 

 only objection that has ever been made to 

 them is the unpleasant odor of their flowers. 

 That objection can be easily avoided. This 

 tree is dioecious, and is rapidly increased by 

 root-cuttings. By taking cuttings from the 

 female plant, the flowers of which are inodor- 

 ous, they can be increased to any extent. 



Ai'ra. Hair Grass. The Hair Grass is named 

 from the Greek, and signifies to destroy ; but 

 why it has received this unwelcome nume is 

 apparently uncertain. Nat. Ord. Graminacece. 

 There are several species common to this 

 country and Europe. A . ccespitosa is typical of 

 the genus, a very handsome Grass, the flowers 

 of which are well adapted for decoration, being 

 very graceful. It will flourish in almost any 

 situation, but prefers damp fields, where it 

 forms large tufts, known as "hassocks," and 

 as it is not-eaten by cattle except when nothing 

 else can be procured, a field in which it abounds 

 has a singularly unsightly, and to farmers un- 

 welcome appearance. 



Air Plants. These are plants that grow on 

 trees, or other objects, and not in the earth, 

 deriving their nutriment from the atmosphere. 

 The term was formerly, and is still to some 

 extent, applied to epiphytal Orchids. There 

 are, however, many other families of air 

 plants. The class is to be distinguished from 

 the various parasites that have no roots in 

 the earth, but derive their nourishment di- 

 rectly from the plants on which they grow. 



Aito'nia. In honor of W. Aiton, once Head 

 Gardener at Kevv. Nat. Ord. Meliacece. 



A small and interesting evergreen shrub 

 from the Cape of Good Hope, bearing pink 

 flowers. Introduced in 1777. 



A'jax. A subdivision of the genus Narcissus, 

 including the common Daffodil, and other spe- 

 cies having a long trumpet-shaped coronet to 

 the flowers. 



Aju'ga. Bugle. From a, privative, and zugon, 

 a yoke ; in reference to the calyx being one- 

 leaved. Nat. Ord. Labiatce. 



A small genus of hardy annual and peren- 

 nial herbaceous plants. .A. reptans (common 

 Bugle) has been introduced into the garden, 



ALE 



and given a position in massing and ribbon 

 borders of plants for its dark-colored foliage. 

 The species were at one time highly esteemed 

 for the medicinal properties they were sup- 

 posed to possess. "Ruellus writeth that they 

 commonly said in France, howe he needeth 

 neither physician nor surgeon that hathe Bugle 

 and Sanicle, for it not only cureth woundes, 

 being inwardly taken, but also applied to them 

 outwardly." Gerarde. They aie propagated 

 readily from seed. 



Akaz'za. The name of an ordeal poison used 

 in the Gaboon country, supposed to be the 

 product of a species of Strychnos. 



Ake'bia. The name it bears in Japan. Nat. 

 Ord. Lardizabalaceee. 



A. quinata was introduced from China, in 

 1844, by 'Robert Fortune. It is a hardy 

 climber, of rapid growth, suitable for large 

 arbors or trellises, in sunny or shady situa- 

 tions. It will twine around old trees, com- 

 pletely covering the branches, from which it 

 will hang in graceful festoons. The color of 

 the flower is dark brown, and it is very sweet- 

 scented. In a light, rich soil it will grow to 

 the height of thirty feet. It is propagated 

 readily by layering or cuttings. 



Alatus. Furnished with a thin wing or expan- 

 sion. 



Albi'zzia. Named after an Italian. Nat. Ord. 

 Leguminosce. 



A small genus of ornamental green-house 

 plants, very like Acacias, to which they are 

 often referred. The plant so well known as 

 Acacia lophantha is placed under this genus. 



Albu'ca. From albus, white, referring to the 

 prevalence of wnite flowers in the genus (not 

 a very happy allusion, though, because the 

 flowers are mostly green). Nat. Ord. Liliacece. 

 This is a genus of but little beauty, closely 

 allied to the Ornithogalum, introduced from 

 the Cape of Good Hope about 1750. They are 

 tender bulbous plants, easily cultivated in the 

 green-house, grown in pots in light, sandy 

 soil. They flower in May and June. 



Albumen. The matter that is interposed be- 

 tween the skin of a seed and the embryo. 

 It is of a farinaceous, oily or horny con- 

 sistency, and surrounds the embryo wholly 

 or in part, and affords nourishment to the 

 young plant during the earliest stages of 

 germination. 



Alburnum. The white and softer part of wood, 

 between the inner bark and heart-wood, com- 

 monly known as sap-wood; the young wood 

 before it comes to a proper consistence. 



Alchemi'Ua. A genus of herbaceous annual or 

 perennial plants, belonging to the natural or- 

 der Rosacece. All the species have lobed leaves 

 and inconspicuous yellow or greenish flowers. 

 A. vulgaris, the common Lady's Mantle, is fre- 

 quent in English woods and wet pastures. 



Aider. See Alnus. 



Alder, Black. The popular name for Prinos 

 verticillata. 



Alder, Red. Cunonia Capensis. 



Alder, White. The popular name for Clethra 

 alnifolia. 



Ale-cost. An old English name for Pyrethrum 

 Tanacetum, commonly known as Salsamita vul- 

 garis, the Costmary of Gardens. 



