HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



ACI 



covered with very long spinous leaflets. Two 

 species are known, both of which are called 

 Spear Grass and Wild Spaniard by the settlers. 

 Propagated by seeds or divisions in spring. 

 Introduced in 1875. 



A'cis. After Ads, a Sicilian shepherd. Nat. 

 Ord. Amaryllidacece. 



A genus of hardy bulbs closely allied to the 

 Snowflake ; propagated readily by offsets. 

 They should have a sandy soil, and not be 

 often divided. 



Acme'na. A small genus of green-house ever- 

 green shrubs of the Nat. Ord. Myrtacece. A. 

 ovata has ovate leaves, which, along with the 

 stems and petioles, are dark purple, giving the 

 plants when making new growth a very strik- 

 ing appearance. 



Acni'da. Water Hemp. Taken from a, priva- 

 tive, and knide, nettle ; the plant being like a 

 Nettle, but without stings. Nat. Ord. Cheno- 

 podiacecB. 



A . cannabina, the only species, is a coarse- 

 growing, uninteresting plant, common in salt 

 marshes on the coast from Massachusetts to 

 the Carolinas. 



Aconite. See Aconitum. 



Aconite, Winter. A popular name for Eranthis 

 hyemalis. 



Aconitum. Aconite, Monkshood, Wolfsbane. 

 From Acone, a town in Bithynia, where found. 

 Nat. Ord. Ranunculaceaz. 



Herbaceous perennials, chiefly natives of 

 Europe, but partly of North America and Ja- 

 pan. They are all hardy, and are generally 

 tall-growing, handsome, plants, producing 

 abundance of dark blue, purple or yellow flow- 

 ers. They grow freely, and are good plants 

 for the open border. They are readily in- 

 creased by division of the roots, which are 

 generally tuberous, or by seeds. All the spe- 

 cies are more or less poisonous, the poison 

 being strongest in the root. Like all plants 

 which grow with tall, erect stems, and pro- 

 duce their flowers in terminal spikes, they are 

 only suitable for growing in borders in large 

 gardens, or for clumps on a lawn. The species 

 may be divided into two kinds : those with the 

 helmet like a monk's cowl, which are called 

 Monkshood, and those which have an elon- 

 gated conical helmet, and are called Wolfs- 

 bane. 



Aco'ntias. A small genus of plants so named 

 in allusion to the spots on the stem, which re- 

 semble those of a species of serpent, so called. 

 The genus belongs to the Caladium tribe 

 of the Arum family, and require the same 

 treatment. Natives of Brazil. Syn. Xan- 

 thosma. 



Acorus. Sweet Flag, Calamus. From a, priva- 

 tive, and kore, the pupil of the eye ; referring 

 to its medicinal qualities. Nat. Ord. Aroidece. 

 A well-known genus of marsh plants, natives 

 of the United States, Europe and Asia. A. 

 calamus is the Sweet Flag, esteemed for its 

 medicinal virtues. A. gramineus variegatus is 

 a pretty species, with white-striped leaves 

 forming handsome little tufts, very useful for 

 hanging baskets, vases, &c., as well as for 

 cutting. 



Acotyledona. Plants having no cotyledons or 

 seed-lobes, as in Cuscuta. In systematic bot- 

 any applied to spore-bearing plants which do 



ACK 



not produce cotyledons, as Ferns and Mosses ; 

 also to spores themselves, which are embryos, 

 without cotyledons. 



Acrade'nia. Nat. Ord. Rutacece. 



A neat, compact, evergreen green-house 

 plant, introduced from Tasmania in 1845. A. 

 FranklinicR has pure white flowers, produced 

 in great profusion in terminal clusters. Leaves 

 fragrant, opposite, and trifoliate. 



Acrocli'nium. From akros, top, and Mine, a 

 bed ; referring to the open flowers. Nat. Ord. 

 Composite. 



This interesting annual is one of the most 

 valuable of the class known as Everlasting 

 Flowers, and is grown extensively for winter 

 bouquets. The seeds should be started in the 

 hot-bed and transplanted where they are to 

 grow. Flowers should be picked as they be- 

 gin to expand, and carefully dried in the 

 shade. Introduced from Western Australia 

 in 1854. 



Acroco'mia. From akros, top, and /come, a tuft ; 

 referring to the way the leaves are produced. 

 Nat. Ord. Palmacece. 



A genus of gigantic Palms, natives of South 

 America and the West Indies. Some of the 

 species grow to the height of forty feet, with 

 leaves fifteen feet in length, giving to the coun- 

 tries they inhabit a feature of exquisite grand- 

 eur. The young leaves are eaten as a vege- 

 table, and the fruit, root, and stems are ap- 

 plied to various economic purposes. Some of 

 the species are found in our green-houses, but 

 are too large for general hot-house culture. 



A'crogens. Plants increasing at the summit, 

 as Ferns, etc. 



Acrony'chia. From akron, tuft or summit, and 

 onux, a claw, on account of the original spe- 

 cies having an incurved point at the top of the 

 petals. Nat. Ord. Rutacece. 



A Cunninghami, the only described species, 

 is a tall handsome shrub, bearing clusters of 

 white flowers of an exquisite odor, resembling 

 orange blossoms, combined with the aromatic 

 warmth of ginger. The leaves abound in a 

 resinous or oily fluid of a powerful turpentine- 

 like odor. It requires to be grown in a 

 warm house, and is propagated by cuttings. 

 Introduced in 1838 from Moreton Bay. 



Acrope'ra. From acros, the extremity and 

 pera, a small sack ; because of the saccate ap- 

 pendage at the apex of the labellum. Nat. 

 Ord. OrchidacecB. 



A small genus of interesting plants from 

 Mexico and Central America, producing their 

 curious flowers plentifully in pendant bunches. 

 A. Loddigesii is one of the more common spe- 

 cies, and is a free-flowering plant of easy cul- 

 ture. None of the species take a very high 

 rank among Orchids. This genus is included 

 under Gongora, by some botanists. 



Acro'phorus. From akros, summit, andphoreo, 

 to bear. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 



A small genus of handsome green-house 

 Ferns from Borneo and New Zealand. They 

 are closely allied to Davallia and require the 

 same treatment. 



Acrophy'llum. From akros, summit, and 

 phyllon, a leaf ; referring to the way in which 

 the leaves are produced at the summit of the 

 branches above the flowers. Nat. Ord. 

 Cunoniacece. 



