116 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



GYM 



Cy'mbiform. Having the figure of a boat in 

 miniature ; that is to say, concave, tapering 

 to each end, with a keel externally, as the 

 glumes of Phalaris Canariensia. 



Cyme. A form of inflorescence, resembling a 

 flattened panicle, as in the Laurustinus and the 

 Elder (Sambucus). 



Cy'nara. Cardoon. Artichoke. From kyon, a 

 dog ; in reference to the spines of the involu- 

 crum resembling dog's teeth. Nat. Ord. Com- 

 positcB. 



C. cardunculus, the Cardoon of the garden, 

 very much resembles the Artichoke ; it is a 

 hardy perennial, a native of the south of 

 Europe and the northern parts of Africa. The 

 stalks of the leaves, or ribs, as they are usu- 

 ally termed, are blanched, and when properly 

 cooked constitute a tender and excellent veg- 

 etable, much used in France, but not gener- 

 ally cultivated in other countries. The flow- 

 ers, like those of the Artichoke, have the 

 property of curdling rnilk. See Artichoke. 



Cyno'don. Bermuda Grass, Scutch Grass. A 

 small genus of grasses but little known, except 

 C. Dactylon, a native of southern Europe, and 

 all tropical countries. It is a common pasture 

 grass in the "West Indies, and the Sandwich 

 Islands, and has long been known in the 

 United States, though it is only of late years 

 that its value is becoming appreciated. It is 

 admirably adapted for the Southern States, as 

 it is fitted by nature to withstand drought 

 and the scorching rays of the sun bet- 

 ter than any other grass. In the East 

 Indies (where it is called, Doub or Doorba, by 

 the natives) and in all tropical countries, this 

 grass is highly esteemed for its drought- 

 resisting qualities, and also for the peculiar 

 habit of its growth ; the wiry roots of grass in 

 running over the surface of the ground form a 

 strong fibrous matting. It has numerous 

 joints from each of which roots strike down 

 and blades shoot up. This has caused it to be 

 sown largely for the purpose of binding banks 

 of creeks and dams, etc. It makes a perfect 

 carpet of roots, enabling it to withstand traffic 

 which would completely kill any other grass. 

 For lawns it is also highly prized, as while all 

 other grasses are burned up during the hot 

 season, Bermuda Grass will look compara- 

 tively green, and if watered and regularly 

 mown, it will make quite a velvety carpet. 

 The only drawback is that in winter it looks 

 a little brown. It should be sown in the spring, 

 as it will not germinate until warm weather 

 comes. As a grass for hay or pasture, it 

 matures and gives its first cutting ordinarily in 

 June. Persons having the most experience 

 with Bermuda Grass, place the average 

 yield of hay for ten years at four tons per acre 

 per annum. This is a cautious and safe estim- 

 ate of its productiveness. It grows where- 

 ever corn and cotton grow. On poor land 

 Bermuda Grass is stumpy and coarse ; on 

 rich land its growth is free, and its blades are 

 long, tender and delicate. Properly cultivated 

 in southern latitudes, animals prefer this 

 grass and the hay made from it over all other 

 varieties. Like Japan Clover, it does not 

 succeed further north than Virginia. 



Cynoglo'ssum, Hound's Tongue. From kyon, 

 a dog, and glossa, a tongue ; referring to the 

 shape of the leaves. Nat. Ord. Boraginacece. 



GYP 



Pretty border plants, producing flowers of 

 almost all colors. They grow in any soil, and 

 are not very particular as to situation, and 

 are increased readily by division of the stools 

 in the spring. The annuals and biennials are 

 grown from seed. 



Cynosu'rus. Dog's-tail Grass. From kyon, a 

 dog, and oura, a tail ; from its resemblance to 

 a dog's tail, whence its common name. Nat. 

 Ord. Graminacece. 



A small genus of grasses, but one of which, 

 C. cristatus, the Crested Dog's-tail Grass, is of 

 value to the agriculturist. This species is 

 common in England, in dry pastures, often 

 forming a considei-able portion of the turf on 

 gravelly soils. For such soils it is a valu- 

 able grass, being greatly relished by sh< ep, 

 but is not much liked by cattle. The slender 

 straws of this grass are valuable for making 

 hats, being far superior even to the fine wheat 

 plant cultivated for the purpose in Italy. 



Cype'lla. From kypellon, a goblet, a cup ; re- 

 ferring to the form of the flowers. Nat. Ord. 

 Iridacece. 



A genus of very pretty half-hardy bulbs, 

 worthy of a place in the green-house. They 

 are multiplied by offsets. Introduced in 1823. 



Cypera'ceee. A natural order of grass-like, 

 tufted plants, having solid, usually jointed, 

 and frequently angular stems ; leaves with 

 their sheaths entire (not split, as in Grasses) ; 

 and very generally distributed all over the 

 world, abounding in moist places. Some of 

 the Sedges are demulcent, others are bitter 

 and astringent. Some, by means of their 

 creeping underground stems, bind together 

 the loose sands of the sea-shore. Their cell- 

 ular tissue is sometimes used for paper, and 

 the underground stems of several species of 

 Cyperus are used for food. The underground 

 stems of Carex arenaria are used for Sarsa- 

 parilla. The species of Eriophorum, or Cotton 

 Grass, have long, white, silky hairs surround- 

 ing the fruit. Papyrus antiquorum (also called 

 Cyperus) appears to be one of the plants called 

 Bulrush in the Bible. It formerly grew abund- 

 antly at the mouth of the Nile, which was 

 hence called papyriferous by Ovid, but it is 

 now gone. The cellular tissue of its stems was 

 used in place of paper. Scirpus lacustis, the 

 Bulrush, is used for making mats, baskets, 

 and the bottoms of chairs. In South America 

 it is used for making balsas or boats, and a 

 similar use is referred to in Isaiah, xvii., 1, 2. 

 There are 120 known genera and upward of 

 2,000 species. Cyperus, Papyrus, Carex, Scir- 

 pus, Eriophorum, and Cladium are examples of 

 the order. 



Cype'rus. Supposed to be derived from Ci/pris, 

 a name of Venus, from their supposed medi- 

 cinal qualities. Nat. Ord. Cyperacece. 



A genus of sedge plants, of but little merit 

 for the garden or green-house. C. aUernifolius 

 is grown as a basket plant ; it is of the easiest 

 culture, and will thrive in any soil or situation, 

 but prefers a moist one. A variegated variety 

 of this species is very beautiful, but not con- 

 stant. They are natives of Madagascar, first 

 introduced in 1781. C. rotundus (Nut Grass) is 

 a common and troublesome weed in the 

 Southern States. 



Cy'phia. From kyphos, curved; referring to 

 the shape of the style and stigma. Nat. Ord. 

 CampanulacecB. 



