118 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



CYR 



era on short axillary stems. They make very 

 pretty basket plants for the hot-house, the 

 only place in which they thrive well. They 

 thrive best in sandy loam and leaf mould, and 

 are increased readily from cuttings, and also 

 from seed. This genus is included under 

 Episcia, by some authors. 



Cyrto'mium. From kyrtos, curved ; the shape 

 of the spore cases or seed vessels. Nat. Ord. 

 Polypodiacem. 



A small genus of robust evergreen Ferns of 

 very ornamental character. They are natives 

 of India, China, and Japan, and require the 

 hot-house for perfection of growth. Syn. 

 Aspidium. 



Cyrtope'ra. From kyrtos, curved, and pera, a 

 small sack ; alluding to the sack-like append- 

 age to the labellum or lip. Nat. Ord. Orchid- 

 acece. 



A small genus of very beautiful terrestrial 

 Orchids, natives of northern India. In 

 appearance they resemble the Bletias, and are 

 usually given the same treatment. 



Cyrtopo'dium. From kyrtos, curved, and pous, 

 a foot ; referring to the form of the labellum 

 or lip. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



DAH 



A genus of beautiful, strong-growing Or- 

 chids from Brazil, valued alike for their large 

 spikes of flowers, yellow spotted with red, and 

 for their beautiful foliage. One species, with 

 yellow flowers, has pseudo-bulbs nearly five 

 feet high. The room required to grow them 

 prevents their general cultivation. 

 Cysto'pteris. Fromkyslis, a bladder, andpteron, 

 a wing. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 



A genus of beautiful, hardy Ferns, allied to 

 Microlepia and Woodsia. They are admirably 

 adapted for ferneries and rock work. C. 

 bulbifera, a native species, produces large 

 fleshy bulblets in the axils of the upper 

 pinnee, which fall to the ground and become 

 new plants. 



Cy'tisus. From Cythnus, one of the Cyclades, 

 where one of the species was first found. Nat. 

 Ord. LeguminosoB. 



This is an extensive genus, consisting prin- 

 cipally of hardy deciduous trees and shrubs, 

 of which C. Laburnum (Syn. Laburnum vulgare) 

 is a well-known species. They are all very 

 ornamental and free-flowering, and succeed 

 well in almost any soil or situation. They 

 are readily increased by seeds or from 

 cuttings. Introduced in 1596. 



D. 



~T\acry'dium. From dakru, a tear; referring 

 -LJ to the gummy exudation. Nat. Ord. 

 Coniferce. 



A genus of evergreen trees inhabiting the 

 East Indies and New Zealand. The flowers 

 are curious, but not showy. The young 

 branches afford a beverage of the same quali- 

 ties as root beer. D. Franklinii, from Tas- 

 mania, furnishes a valuable timber, very dur- 

 able, which is used for ship and house-build- 

 ing. Some of the wood is beautifully marked, 

 and is used for cabinet work. 



Da'ctylis. Orchard Grass. From dactylos, a 

 flnger ; the head is divided so as fancifully to 

 resemble fingers. Nat. Ord. Graminacece. 



A small genus of grasses, the best-known of 

 which is D. glomerata, a native of Europe. It 

 is a valuable grass for pastures, as it contains 

 much nutriment when young, and the plant 

 is not injured by close feeding. It grows well 

 under trees, and is, therefore, fitted for 

 orchards, and other shaded places. 



Daedalaca'nthus. From daedatos, various colored, 

 and Acanthus, to which it is related. Nat. Ord. 

 Acanthacece. 



A genus of about fourteen species of shrubs, 

 natives of the East Indies and the Malayan 

 Archipelago. D. macrophyllus, the best known 

 species, is an erect, minutely-pubescent, per- 

 ennial herb, with handsome foliage, and pale 

 violet-blue flowers. It was introduced from 

 Burmah in 1883. 



Deemo'norops. From dema, a cord, and rhops, 

 a twig; alluding to the rope-like, climbing 

 stems. Nat. Ord. Palmacece. 



This genus of Palms, numbering more than 

 forty species, is closely allied to Calamus, to 



which most of the species formerly belonged. 

 All the species are natives of the eastern 

 hemisphere, principally of the Malayan Pen- 

 insula and Islands. They have long, thin, 

 flexible stems, furnished with pinnate leaves, 

 the prickly stalks of which are frequently pro- 

 longed into whip-like tails. D. Draco (form- 

 erly Calamus Draco) is a native of Sumatra 

 and other islands of the Indian Archipelago, 

 and is called the Dragon's Blood Palm, in con- 

 sequence of its fruits yielding a portion of the 

 substance known in commerce as Dragon's 

 Blood. The fruits are about the size of cher- 

 ries, and when ripe are covered with a reddish 

 resinous substance, which is separated by 

 shaking them in a coarse canvas bag. This 

 resin is the best Dragon's Blood that is 

 obtained, although there are several other 

 plants that furnish a similar article. D. Palem- 

 banicus and a few other species, natives of 

 Java, have lately been introduced into the 

 green-house as decorative plants, for which 

 purpose they are exceedingly appropriate. 

 The young leaves are of a bright cinnamon 

 brown, and the contrast between this warm 

 color and the deep green of the matured 

 leaves rendei-s the plants very beautiful at the 

 time they are in course of development. 

 Young plants are obtained from seed. In a 

 growing state they require considerable heat. 



Daffodil. The common name of Narcissus 

 Pseudo-Narcissus. Sue Narcissus. 



Dagger Plant and Bayonet Plant. Local 

 names for a species of 1 'ucca. 



Dahlia. In honor of Andrew Dahl, a celebrated 

 Swedish botanist and pupil of Linneeus. Nat. 

 Ord. Compositor. 



