18 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



ALS 



alternate leaves. A. Macrophylla, the only 

 species yet introduced to cultivation, has 

 small, very fragrant, dull-red flowers, some- 

 times streaked with white. It forms a neat 

 green-house shrub, and is propagated by cut- 

 tings of the half-ripened wood. Introduced 

 from New Zealand in 1884. 



Alsike. See Trifolium hybridum. 



Also'phila. From alsos, a grove, and phileo, to 

 love ; in reference to the situation best suited 

 to the plants. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 



This genus contains some of our most beau- 

 tiful green-house Tree Ferns A. Australia, 

 the type, is a native of Australia, and one of 

 the most ornamental of the order. In the or- 

 dinary green-house it thrives finely, produc- 

 ing its graceful fronds from three to four feet 

 long and one and a half wide. There are sev- 

 eral species, all tropical, and all worthy a 

 place in the fern- house. They are increased 

 by division or from spores. Introduced in 

 1833. 



Alstrceme'ria. In honor of Baron Alstrozmer, a 

 Swedish botanist. Nat. Ord.Amaryllidacece. 



This is a genus of tuberous-rooted plants, 

 with beautiful flowers, natives of South Amer- 

 ica, and capable of being grown to a high de- 

 gree of perfection in the hot-house, green- 

 house or open air, according to the species. 

 The soil which suits all the Alstro?merias is a 

 mixture of sandy loam and leaf-mould, or 

 well-rotted manure. Of all the hot-house 

 species, A. Ligtu, with white and scarlet flow- 

 ers, is the most difficult tc flower ; but by giv- 

 ing it abundance ot water during the summer, 

 and a strong heat in December, it will flower 

 in February : and one plant will scent a 

 whole house with fragrance like that of 

 Mignonette. A. edulis is another hot house 

 species, which climbs to the height of ten or 

 twelve feet, and, like all other climbers, 

 thrives best when turned out into the open 

 border. Propagation is effected by separation 

 of the tubers, or by seeds ; the latter is apt to 

 produce hew varieties, as they are by no 

 means constant from seed. 



Alternanthe'ra. Alluding to the anthers being 

 alternately fertile arid barren. Nat. Ord. 

 Amaranthacece. 



This useful little green-house perennial for 

 ribbon beds and edgings is a native of Buenos 

 Ayres, introduced in 1732. Propagated read- 

 ily from cuttings. The variegated-leaved 

 varieties, of which new and striking sorts are 

 constantly being introduced, alone are culti- 

 tivated, the flowers being inconspicuous. A 

 recent variety, A. paronychioides major, is now 

 known as the Rainbow-plant. 



Alternate. Placed on opposite sides of an 

 axis, on a different level, as in alternate 

 leaves. 



Althae'a. Marsh Mallow. From altheo, to cure ; 

 in reference to its medicinal qualities. Nat. 

 Ord. Malvacece. 



There are many annuals in this family, 

 some of them of much merit. The Marsh 

 Mallows are hardy perennials, and formerly 

 much used as border plants. A. rosea, the 

 common Hollyhock, is one of our most splen- 

 did ornamental biennials. It grows to the 

 height of from five to eight leet, and there 

 are varieties of almost every color, including 

 white, and purple so deep as to be almost 



AMA 



black. The seeds of the Hollyhock, should 

 be sown in March or April. When the plants 

 come up, they should be thinned out, and 

 then suffered to remain till September, when 

 they should be transplanted to the place where 

 they are to flower. Introduced from China in 

 1573. The hardy shrub commonly known as 

 Althaea, is Hibiscus Syriacv&. 

 Alum Root. The common name of Heuchera 

 Americana, the roots of which are very as- 

 tringent. 



Aly'ssum. Derived from o, privative, and lyssa, 

 rage ; from a notion among the ancients that 

 the plant possessed the power of allaying an- 

 ger. Nat. Ord. Cruciferce. 



Dwarf hardy perennials, or sub-shrubby 

 plants, with cruciferous flowers. A. saxatile 

 is very suitable for rock-work, or the front 

 part of a flower border, and forms a beautiful 

 spring-blooming bed in the flower garden. 

 Flowers produced in large clusters, of a deep, 

 pure yellow. It is increased by cuttings and 

 seeds. The herbaceous species are propa- 

 gated by division, the sub-shrubby ones by 

 cuttings. Vigorous two-year-old plants ai-e 

 the best for flowering; the others are unim- 

 portant. The plant commonly called Sweet 

 Alyssum is not of this genus; it is Koniga 

 maritima, which see. 



Amarabo'ya. The native name. Nat. Ord. 

 Melastornacece. 



A small genus (three species) of evergreen 

 shrubs, natives of New Grenada The 

 branches are thi^k, bluntly four-angled, with 

 large, prominently nerved leaves, green above 

 and reddish-carmine beneath. The white or 

 carmine flowers are borne in terminal cymes, 

 and are very showy. Introduced in 1887. 



Amarantha'ceae. An extensive order of herbs 

 or (rarely) shrubs with inconspicuous apetal- 

 ous flowers, almost in all cases of a scarious 

 or shrivelled texture. The majority of this 

 order are weeds, though many of the species 

 of Amaranthu8 and Gomphrena (Globe Ama- 

 ranth) are beautiful border plants and are 

 well known. 



Amaranth Globe. See Gomphrena. 



Amara'nthus. Amaranth. Derived from a, not, 

 and miaraino, to wither ; in reference to the 

 length of time some flowers retain their color. 

 Nat. Ord. Amaranthaceoz. 



Ornamental foliaged plants, of an extremely 

 graceful and interesting character, producing 

 a striking effect, whether grown for the deco- 

 ration of the conservatory or the out-door 

 flower garden. If the seeds are sown early in 

 a warm hot-bed and planted out the last of 

 May or in June, in rich soil, they make ex- 

 ceedingly handsome specimens for the center 

 of beds, or mixed flower or shrubbery bor- 

 ders. Most of the varieties are natives of the 

 East Indies, and were introduced into Eng- 

 land about 1600. The well-known A. tricolor, or 

 "Joseph's Coat," is one of the most beautiful 

 of ornamental-leaved plants. A. caudatus, 

 "Love lies Bleeding," is another showy spe- 

 cies, and A. salicifolius, "The Fountain Plant," 

 makes a lovely specimen for lawn decoration 

 or for the centre of a " foliage bed." 



Amaryllida'ceee. A large Natural Order, con- 

 sisting for the most part of bulbous plants, 

 but occasionally forming a tall, cylindrical, 

 woody stem, as in the genus Agave. They 



