HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



CAL 



readily in a gentle heat. Introduced from 

 Chili in 1824. 



Ca'lamus (a Eeed). This word has been 

 restricted to hollow, inarticulate stems, like 

 those of Rushes. 



Ca'lamus. From kalamos, a reed, an old Greek 

 name. Nat. Ord. PalmacecB. 



An elegant genus of Palms very useful in 

 their young state for house decoration. C. 

 Rotang, C.rudentum, C.viminalis, and probably 

 several other species furnish the canes or 

 rattans so commonly employed for the bottoms 

 of chairs, couches and similar purposes. In 

 the countries where these palms abound, the 

 inhabitants make use of them for a great 

 variety of purposes, baskets of all kinds, mats, 

 hats and other useful articles being commonly 

 made oi them. Their most important use how- 

 ever, is for the manufacture of the ropes and 

 cables usually employed by junks and other 

 coasting vessels. C. Scipionum, the stems of 

 which are much thicker than the preceeding, 

 furnishes the well known Malacca canes so 

 much prized for walking-sticks. There are 

 over two hundred species in this genus, all 

 natives of tropical and sub-tropical regions, 

 more especially Eastern Asia. 



Calamus aromaticus. An old name for the 

 Sweet Flag, Acorus calamus. 



Calandri'nia. Named after Calandrini, a Ger- 

 man botanist. Nat. Ord. Portulacacece. 



Very beautiful dwarf-growing plants, usu- 

 ally treated as tender annuals, though of per- 

 ennial duration if protected in winter. The 

 seeds may be sown in gentle heat abouf the 

 middle of March, and when planted in the 

 open air in May, become a blaze of beauty 

 whenever the sun shines upon them. The 

 soil should be light and rather dry. The best 

 of the species are C. speciosa, grandifora, dis- 

 color, and umbellata. Introduced from South 

 America. 



Cala'nthe. From kalos, beautiful, and anthos, 

 a flower ; literally, a pretty blossom. Nat. 

 Ord. Orchidacece. 



A large genus of stemless terrestrial 

 Orchids, having broad, many-ribbod leaves, 

 and long spikes of flowers, which are of 

 various colors, white, lilac, purple, and cop- 

 per-colored. They require a very light house 

 for the perfect development of flowers and to 

 give them good color. The same general treat- 

 ment as given the Bletia, with the exception of 

 more careful watering, is all they require. 

 Most species are natives of tropical Asia, and 

 are propagated by divi-ion of the roots. In- 

 troduced about 1820. 



Cala'thea. ZebraPlant. From kalathus, a basket; 

 in reference to the leaves being worked into 

 baskets in South America. Nat. Ord. Scita- 

 mineaz. 



A genus of interesting plants, with beauti- 

 fully marked foliage, distinguished from 

 Maranta by mere botanical characters. 

 Many of the most beautiful species of the 

 latter have been transferred to this genus. C. 

 Veite.hii, zebrina, Vanden Heckii, regalis, Makoy- 

 ana, Massingeana, and many others are among 

 the most beautiful and showy of warm 

 green-house or stove plants. They are mostly 

 natives of Brazil, and require a high tempera- 

 ture and humid atmosphere for perfect devel- 

 opment. They are increased by root division. 



CAL 



Calcariform. Shaped like a spear. 



Calcecla'ria. Slipperwort. From calceolus, a 

 slipper, in reference to the shape of the flower. 

 Nat. Ord. ScrophulariacecB. 



The numerous species of this well-known 

 genus, found abundantly in the regions of 

 Chili and Peru, are divided into two classes, 

 herbaceous and shrubby. The former are 

 found near the line of the sea, the latter are 

 inhabitants of the higher parts of the Cor- 

 dilleras ; hence it is, that among the many in- 

 troduced species, some are more or less 

 hardy, growing freely in a shady border, and 

 others require the humid atmosphere of a 

 green-house. Many of the original species 

 have been modified by hybridizing, and are 

 rarely found in collections. The hybrids 

 are very numerous, and many are highly 

 prized. The European florists, having made 

 a specialty of this genus, have brought out 

 varieties remarkable for size, color and mark- 

 ings. Propagation of the herbaceous varieties 

 is readily effected by seeds, and the shrubby 

 varieties by cuttings or from seeds. 



Calceolate. Having the form of a slipper, or 

 round-toed shoe. 



Cale'ndula. Pot Marigold. From calendar, 

 the first days of the months ; in reference to 

 its flowers being produced almost every 

 month. Nat. Ord. Composite. 



There are several handsome species, some 

 of which are shrubby and some annuals. The 

 common Marigold, C. officinalte and its double 

 varieties, and C. stellata, are the handsomest 

 of the annual species. The Cape Marigolds, 

 C. pluvialis and C. hybrida, have been removed 

 to a new genus, which is called Dimorphotheca. 

 Both these species are hardy annual plants, 

 with very elegant flowers, which close at the 

 withdrawal of the sun ; and as they do not 

 open at all when it is dark, or heavy clouds 

 foretell the approach of rain, Linnaeus called 

 the commonest species C. pluvialis, or the 

 Rainy Marigold. The florets of the ray of the 

 flowers of this plant are of a pure white' inside, 

 and of a dark purple on the outside; while 



~ those of C. hybrida are of a dingy orange out- 

 side. A tincture is made from the flowers of 

 the several varieties, that is considered highly 

 efficacious for bruises or sprains, affording 

 relief more quickly than arnica. 



Calico Bush. See Kalmia latifolia. 

 California Fuschia. See Zauschneria. 

 California Laurel. See Orcodaphne. 

 California Nutmeg. See Torreya Californica. 

 California Poppy. See Eschscholtzia. 



Calisa'ya Bark, or Yellow Cinchona Bark Tree. 

 See Cinchona Calisaya. 



Calla. Water Arum. From kallos, beauty. Nat. 

 Ord. Aroidece. 



C. palustris, the only species, is an herba- 

 ceous marsh plant, cf but little interest, com- 

 mon in swamps throughout the Northern 

 States. The roots yield an edible starch, and 

 were formerly procured^ for that article ; but 

 they are no longer used "for that purpose, and 

 the plant is without special merit. Richardia 

 ^thopica, so well known as the "Calla Lily," 

 is frequently erroneously called Calla 

 pica. 



Calla. Black. See Arum sancta. 



