16 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



ALG 



fodder per acre the first year sown, which 

 would equal at least five tons of cured hay. If 

 sown on light, dry soils during a dry spell, or 

 if sown broadcast, not much, if any, crop can 

 be expected the first year, as the roots have 

 to get a vigorous hold of the soil ; the second 

 year it can (if sown under such conditions) be 

 cut two or three times, but it is not until the 

 third year that it develops into full vigor, and 

 after that it yields magnificent crops for ten 

 or fifteen years. 



Alfalfa will not flourish on land where water 

 stands a short distance below the surface, nor 

 in heavy, sticky clays. It attains its highest 

 perfection on mellow, well-drained or rolling 

 land where water readily passes away. 



A'lgae. A large and important tribe of Crypto- 

 gamia, the greater part of which live either in 

 salt or fresh water. They are related on the one 

 hand to Funguses, and on the other to Lichens 

 their distinctive characters being more easily 

 derived from their respective habits, than from 

 differences of structure. Some of the species, 

 as the Dulse and Pepper Dulse, are edible and 

 are used in Britain as a condiment, while the 

 Carrageen or Irish Moss, besides its value in 

 cattle-feeding when boiled and mixed with 

 other nutritious matters, forms an excellent 

 dessert something like curds when boiled in 

 milk. 



Algce, best known as "Sea weed," have long 

 been used as manure by the farmei's along the 

 coasts of Long Island, New England, etc., im- 

 mense quantities being thrown ashore in the 

 fall of the year. It is generally composted 

 with barn yard manure and is often used as 

 a covering for Strawberries and Asparagus for 

 winter. 



Algaro'ba Bean, or Carob. The fruit of Cer- 

 atonia Siliqua, which see. 



Alha'gi. The Arabic name of the plant. Nat. 

 Ord. Leguminosce. 



A small genus of shrubby plants, with 

 simple leaves and spiny flower-stalks, inhabit- 

 ing Southern Asia and Western Africa. A 

 manna-like substance is produced from some 

 of these plants in Persia and Bokhara, and is 

 collected by merely shaking the branches. 

 The secretion is supposed by some to be iden- 

 tical with the Manna by which the Israelites 

 were miraculously fed. 



Ali'sma. Water Plantain. A. Plantago var. 

 Americana, is a native aquatic with small 

 white or rose-colored flowers, arranged in a 

 loose, compound, many-flowered panicle. 



Alisma'ceae. A small order of aquatic or marsh 

 plants, with three-petaled flowers, on leafless 

 scapes, and simple, radical leaves. The genera 

 best known are Alisma, Butomus and Sagit- 

 taria. 



A'lkanet, or Hoary Puccoon. The common 

 name of Lithospermum canescens ; also, a name 

 applied to the roots of Anchusa tinctoria, ex- 

 tensively used as a dye, which is also called 

 "alkanet." 



Allama'nda. Named in honor of Dr. Allamand, 

 of Leyden. Nat. Ord. Apocynacece. 



This genus consists principally of handsome 

 climbing green-house shrubs. A. Schottii, a 

 native of Brazil, produces immense numbers 

 of large, funnel-shaped flowers, which are of a 

 full yellow, with a deeper yellow throat. A. 



ALO 



nobilis, A. Chelsom and other species are all 

 most desirable flowering plants for green- 

 house decoration. They delight in a warm, 

 moist situation, and should have a light, 

 fibrous soil. Propagated by cuttings. First 

 introduced from Brazil in 1846. 



Allanto'dia. From allantos, a sausage ; in refer- 

 ence to the cylindrical form of the indusium. 

 A genus of Ferns now reduced to one species, 

 A. Brunoniana, which is a very pretty plant, 

 with fronds one to two feet in length. It is a 

 native of the Himalayas, at an elevation of 

 6,000 feet, and is of easy culture in the green- 

 house. Syn. Aspleniurn Javanicum. 



Alleghany Vine. See Adlumia. 



Ail-Heal. Valeriana qfficinalis. 



Alligator Apple. See Anona palustris. 



Alligator Pear. See Persea gratissima. 



Alligator Wood. The timber of Guarea grandi- 

 folia, a West Indian tree. 



A'llium. From the Celtic all, meaning hot or 

 burning ; referring to the well-known qualities 

 of the genus. Nat. Ord. Liliacece. 



Of the one hundred and fifty species of this 

 tribe, but few are considered ornamental ; in- 

 deed, the family, probably from prejudice, has 

 been much neglected, where many far less 

 showy plants have found favor. A. Moly pro- 

 duces large trusses of golden yellow flowers 

 in June. A. Neapolitanum is a fine species, 

 bearing pure white flowers in a large umbel. 

 The former is perfectly hardy, and worthy a 

 place in the garden. The latter is tender, re- 

 quiring the protection of the green-house. 

 Propagated readily by offsets. The various 

 species of Allium, as Onion, Leek, Garlic, Chives, 

 etc., are described under their respective 

 names. 



Allople'ctus. A small genus of interesting 

 green-house shrubs, belonging to the ordei 

 Gesneracece, and requiring the same treatment. 



Alloso'rus. From allos, diverse, and soros, a 

 heap ; in allusion to the changing of the sori. 

 Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 



A small genus of very beautiful dwarf Ferns. 

 A. crispus, a British Fern, sometimes called 

 the Mountain Parsley Fern, is a beautiful 

 plant for rockeries. Two or three exotic spe- 

 cies are favorites in the green-house. They 

 are propagated from spores. 



Allspice. Carolina. Calycanthus floridus. 



Allspice-Tree. See Pimenta. 



Almond. See Amygdatus communis. 



Almond, Double-Flowering, Dwarf. Amyg- 

 dalus nana, which see. 



Almond, Earth or Chufa. Cyperus esculentus. 



Al'nus. The Alder. From al, near, and Ian, the 

 bank of a river ; in reference to the situation 

 where the Alder delights to grow. Nat. Ord. 

 Betulacece. 



An extensive genus of shrubs or small trees 

 common throughout North America and 

 Europe. The principal use of the Alder is for 

 charcoal, which is highly valued in the manu- 

 facture of gunpowder. 



Aloca'sia. A slight alteration of Colocasia. Nat. 

 Ord. Aroidece. 



This name is applied to a section of the 

 genus Colocasia; by some considered a distinct 

 genus. Natives of India, the Indian Archi- 



