56 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



BRA 



the green-house. This species Is also known 

 as Prtichardia fill/era. It is now said that B. 

 Jilamentosa is neither a Brahea nor a Pritch- 

 ardia, and it is therefore proposed to caii it 

 Washingtonia, which see. Young plants are 

 obtained from seed. B. edulis is now placed 

 under Erythea, which see. 



Brahmin's Beads. An Indian name for the 

 corrugated seeds of Elceocarpus, which are 

 used by the Brahmins, for necklaces, etc. 



Brai'nea. After J. C. Braine, of Hong Kong. 

 Nat. Ord. PolypodiacecB. 



B. insignia, the only known species, is a very 

 handsome dwarf Tree Fern, a native of Hong 

 Kong. The stem is from three to four feet 

 high ; the fronds about three feet long, finely 

 pinnate, giving the plant an elegant outline. 

 Sir W. J. Hooker says : " We have here a very 

 remarkable, and, if I may say so, a new form 

 among the Ferns." 



Brake or Bracken. The popular name of 

 Pteris aquilina, one of our common strong- 

 growing Ferns. 



Bramble. See Rubus. 



Brassavo'la. Named after A. M. Brassavola, a 

 Venetian botanist. Nat. Ord. Orchidacur,. 

 A small genus of epiphytal Orchids, belong- 



- ing exclusively to tropical America. But few 

 of the species have merits that entitle them 

 to a place in general collections. The few are 

 of easy culture, and produce flowers nearly 

 six inches across, white, or creamy white, 

 spotted with chocolate. The plants are all 

 dwarf, with very short flower stems. They 

 are usually grown on a block, in a rather high 

 temperature, and are increased by division. 

 Introduced in 1840. 



Bra'ssia. Named after Mr. Brass, a traveler 

 and botanical collector. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 

 This genus of Orchids is nearly allied to 

 Oncidium, but not so popular because of their 

 dull-colored flowers. Some of the species are 

 highly valued by growers, as they pro- 

 duce, with but little care and trouble, an 

 abundance of flowers from June to August. 

 Flowers mostly yellow, or greenish white 

 spotted with brown. Introduced in 1844. 



Bra'ssica. Cabbage. From bresic, the Celtic 

 name for Cabbage. Nat. Ord. Cruciferaz.. 



From this genus which is found throughout 

 Europe, more particularly in Great Britain, 

 there has been produced a greater variety of 

 culinary vegetables than from any other. It 

 comprehends Cabbage, Cauliflower, Turnip, 

 Borecole, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts and Kohl 

 Rabi, each of which will be noticed under its 

 popular name. 



Brassica'ceae. A sub-order or tribe of Cruci- 

 fercB. 



Bravo'a. Named after Bravo, a Mexican 

 botanist. Nat. Ord. AmaryllidacecB. 



This genus consists of but a single species, 

 B. geminiftora, a graceful little tuberous-rooted 

 plant, native of Mexico. It has a small 

 tuft of narrow leaves, from which arises 

 a flower spike about a foot high, with a ter- 

 minal cluster of small, crimson, Amaryllis-like 

 flowers, in July. It will flower in the open 

 border, but requires the protection of tbe 

 green-house during winter. Propagated by 

 division. 



BRO 



Brazilian Tea. Hex Paraguarienste and Sta- 

 chytarpheta Jamaicensis. 



Brazil Kut. See Bertholletia. 

 Brazil Wood. See Cwsalpinia. 

 Bread Fruit. See Artocarpus. 

 Bread Nut. See Brosimum. 



Bre'dia. A g^nus of Melastomacece, consisting 

 of two species of shrubby plants from Japan 

 and China, with unequal foliage, and terminal 

 cymes of rose-colored flowers. B. hirsuta is a 

 very showy plant with rosy-pink flowers, one- 

 half inch across, and is increased readily by 

 cuttings or from seeds. It is a native of 

 Japan and was introduced in 1870. 



Bre'xia. From "brexis, rain ; in reference to the 

 protection from rain given by the large leaves 

 of some of the species. Nat. Ord. Saxir 

 fraga^cecB. 



A small genus of very handsome evergreen 

 trees, natives of Madagascar. The flowers 

 are of a leathery texture, greenish color, and 

 produced in axillary umbels. They have 

 alternate leathery leaves, furnished with spiny 

 teeth. The plants are readily increased by 

 cuttings, but are too large for ordinary cultiva- 

 tion in the green-house. 



Briar-root. A corruption of the French 

 " Bruyere " of which pipes are made, Erica 

 arborea. 



Bridal-Wreath. A popular name for Spiraea 

 prunifoliafl. pi. 



Brimstone (Vegetable). The inflammable spores 

 of Lycopodium clavatum and L. Selago, some- 

 times employed in the manufacture of fire- 

 works. 



Bristle Fern. Trichomanes radicans. 

 Bristly. Covered with stiff hairs. 

 Bristly Foxtail Grass. See Setaria. 



Bri'za. Quaking Grass. From brizo, to nod ; on 

 account of the quaking character of the spike. 

 Nat. Ord. Graminacece. 



A handsome genus of grasses, some of 

 which are cultivated in the garden as orna- 

 mental plants. When dried they are highly 

 esteemed for bouquets of dried flowers and 

 grasses. The kinds usually grown are B. 

 media, a perennial, and B. maxima, a larger 

 species, an annual from the south of Europe. 

 It is of easy culture, requiring only to be 

 sown where it is wanted to be grown, in the 

 open border, as early in spring as the ground 

 can be prepared. 



Brizopy'rum. Spike Grass. Name compound- 

 ed of briza, the quaking grass, and pyros, 

 wheat. Nat. Ord. Graminacece. 



B. Spicatum, the best known species, is a 

 salt marsh grass, with creeping rootstocks, 

 stems from ten to eighteen inches high, in 

 tufts. It has no agricultural value. 



Broccoli. Brassicaoleraceabotrytia. This vege- 

 table somewhat resembles the Cauliflower, 

 from which it is supposed to have originated, 

 although there is nothing definitely known as 

 to its origin. It is, however, more recent 

 than most others of the genus. Miller says it 

 was introduced into England from Italy in 

 1724, two varieties, white and purple, from 

 which all the present garden varieties have 

 been produced. 



