48 



HENDEKSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



BEK 



leathery leaves, and drooping, many-flowered 

 racemes of long-stalked, crimson-scarlet 

 flowers. This species is perfectly hardy 

 south of Washington, and is a shrub of re- 

 markable beauty. Propagated by cuttings 

 or from seed. Introduced in 1862. 



Be'rberis. The Barberry. From berberys, its 

 Arabian name. Nat. Ord. Berberidacece. 



There are several varieties of the common 

 Barberry, all of which are ornamental shrubs, 

 easily propagated by cuttings or layers, and 

 well adapted for a large lawn, especially the 

 purple-leaved variety. They thrive best in 

 rather a light, sandy soil. The fruit is acid 

 and highly esteemed for preserving, and for 

 this purpose the seedless variety, B. vulgarlt 

 asperina, is mostly preferred. This variety is 

 a native of Europe. B. Darwinii, introduced 

 from Chili in 1849, is one of the most beautiful 

 of the genus. It forms a densely spreading 

 bush with very numerous racemes of bright 

 orange colored flowers. 



Berche'mia. Named after M. Berchem, a French 

 botanist. Nat. Ord. Rhamnacece. 



B. volubilis is a common climbing shrub in 

 the swamps of Virginia and the Carolinas, 

 where it is popularly known as Supple-Jack, 

 because of its lithe, tough stems. In foreign 

 countries it is cultivated as an ornamental 

 climber, but in dry soils it rarely grows more 

 than eight or ten feet in height. 



Berkhey'a. See Stobcza. 



Bergamot A common name for Mentha citrata. 

 American Wild. Monardafistulosa. 

 Medicinal. Citrus Bergamia var. vulgaris. 



Bermuda Grass. See Cynodon Dactylon. 



Bermuda Lily. See Lilium Harrisii. 



Bertholle'tia. Brazil Nut. Named after L. C. 

 Bertholtet, a distinguished chemist. Nat. Ord. 

 MyrtacecB. 



B. excelsa, the tree that bears the Brazil Nuts 

 of commerce, is the only species of this genus, 

 and is one of the most majestic trees in 

 the Brazilian forests. It often attains a height 

 of 150 feet, and has a diameter of from three 

 to four feet at the base. It is found in the 

 greatest abundance in the forests on the 

 banks of the Amazon, and it is also common in 

 Central America, and in several of the States 

 of South America. The nuts are incased in a 

 shell from four to six inches in diameter, which 

 is extremely hard. Each shell contains about 

 twenty nuts. So enormous is the weight of 

 this fruit, that at the period when it falls the 

 natives dare not enter the forests without 

 covering their heads and shoulders with a 

 strong buckler of wood. The time for collect- 

 ing these nuts is in winter, when the Indians, 

 in great numbers, ascend the rivers to obtain 

 their harvest of nuts, upon which they depend 

 for the year's subsistence. When the nuts are 

 spread on the ground all the animals of the 

 forest surround them and dispute their pos- 

 session. The Indians say it is the feast of the 

 animals as well as themselves, but they are 

 angry with their rivalry. The gathering of 

 the nuts is celebrated with rejoicings, like the 

 "Harvest Home" of Old England. About 

 once in live years another species or variety 

 is seen in small quantities in a few of the fruit 

 stores of New York. It is of a lighter color, 

 much less angular, less oily, and very much 

 finer in quality than the common Brazil Nut. 



BET 



It is called the Paradise Nut, and is quite dis- 

 tinct. It is said to grow in the interior of the 

 country, and is gathered by the Indians, and 

 brought to the coast, which they visit at long 

 intervals for the purpose of trade. 

 Bertolo'nia. In honor of A. Bertoloni, an 

 Italian botanist. Nat. Ord. MelastomacecB. 



A genus of very pretty trailing or creeping 

 plants, natives of the dense forests of Brazil. 

 B. maculata, typical of the genus, is an exceed- 

 ingly beautiful hot-house creeper. The leaves 

 are spotted on the surface, and purple under- 

 neath. It requires a warm, moist atmosphere, 

 and is readily increased by cuttings. Intro- 

 duced in 1848. 



Beschorne'ria. A genus of Agave-like Amaryl- 

 lidaceous plants, allied to Littcea, and Four- 

 croya. B. tubiflora, and B. yuccoides, are 

 highly ornamental species, very useful for 

 lawn decoration in summer. 



Besle'ria. Erect, dwarf, branching plants, bear- 

 ing yellow, white, or purple flowers and scar- 

 let or purple berries, introduced from tropical 

 America and belonging to the Nat. Ord. Ges- 

 neracece. 



They are very pretty stove shrubs, requir- 

 ing a moist, warm atmosphere, and are 

 readily increased by cuttings. 



Besse'ra. Named after Dr. Besser, professor of 

 botany at Brody. Nat. Ord. LiliacecB. 



A small genus of very beautiful Mexican 

 bulbs, allied to the Squills. The flowers are 

 scarlet, purple, or white, produced on slender 

 scapes about a foot high. They may be 

 grown in a frame, like half-hardy bulbs, but it 

 is less trouble to treat them the same as the 

 Tigridia. The bulbs must be kept warm and 

 dry during the winter, if taken up Propa- 

 gated by offsets. Introduced in 1846. 



Be'ta. Beet. From bett, the Celtic word for 

 red; in reference to the red color of the Beet. 

 Nat. Ord. Chenopodiacece. 



The several species included in this genus 

 are natives of Em-ope, Northern Africa, and 

 Western Asia. Four of the species are culti- 

 vated as esculents ; the others are of no par- 

 ticular interest. B. vulgaris, the parent of 

 our garden varieties, is a native of Egypt and 

 along the whole sea-coast of the Mediterranean, 

 and is now found growing wild in those locali- 

 ties. The Beet has been highly esteemed as 

 a garden vegetable for more than 2,000 years, 

 and is specially noticed by all the early writers 

 on plants. The roots of the Beet have been 

 much improved by cultivation, both as regards 

 size and quality, and long ago they arrived at 

 that state of perfection beyond which pro- 

 gress in the line of improvement must, of 

 necessity, be slow. The several varieties of 

 Mangel-wurzel and Sugar Beet, now grown so 

 extensively in Europe, belong to the species 

 B. vulgaris var. macrorhiza. The Chard Beet, 

 or Swiss Chard, is B. cycla, a native of 

 Portugal, first introduced into English gar- 

 dens in 1670. It is extensively cultivated 

 in the gardens of Europe, and forms one 

 of the principal vegetables of the laboring 

 class, the leaves only being used. They are 

 stripped off and boiled as a substitute for 

 Spinach. The rib of the leaf, which is strong 

 and fleshy, is sometimes dressed as Aspar- 

 agus. Sea Beet is B. maritima, a species of 

 easy culture, used for greens only, and one of 



