130 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



DIP 



oily fluid called the Liquid Camphor or Cam- 

 phor Oil of Borneo. Sometimes five gallons 

 of the fluid are found in a cavity in the trunk. 

 Several others yield valuable resins. There 

 are seven known genera and forty-seven 

 species. Dipterocarpus, Valeria, Dryobctianops, 

 and Shorea are examples of the order. 



Dipterous. Having two wing-like processes, 

 as the seeds of Halesia diptera. 



Di'pterix. Tonquin Bean. From dis, double, 

 and pterix, a wing ; referring to the two upper 

 segments of the calyx. Nat. Ord. Leguminosce. 

 D. odorata, the only species, is an orna- 

 mental evergreen tree, a native of Cayenne. 

 It produces the Tonquin or Tonga Bean of 

 commerce, so much used by perfumers, and 

 in the adulteration of the extract of Vanilla. 



Di'rca. Leather-wood, Moose- wood. From 

 dirke, a fountain ; the plant growing in moist 

 places. Nat. Ord. Thymelacece. 



D. palustris, the only species, is a much- 

 branched shrub growing about six feet high. 

 The flowers are small and yellow, and pro- 

 duced in clusters. They are followed by 

 small reddish, poisonous fruit. The fibrous 

 bark of this shrub is remarkably tough, and 

 was used by the Indians for thongs, whence 

 the popular names. It is common in moist 

 ground from Pennsylvania and Kentucky 

 northward. In some of the New England 

 States it is called Wicopy. 



Di'sa. Meaning unknown, but supposed to be 

 its native name. Nat. Ord. Orchidacew. 



An extensive genus of terrestrial Orchids 

 confined to South Africa and Abyssinia. 

 There is a wide variation in the habit of the 

 various species. D. grandiflora is perhaps 

 the most beautiful of all terrestrial Orchids. 

 It is spoken of as the pride of Table Mountain, 

 where it grows in great profusion on the 

 borders of streams and water pools, which are 

 dry in summer, producing its gorgeous 

 flowers in February and March. The flowers 

 are large, the sepals of a deep scarlet crim- 

 son ; petals tipped with white and green, 

 pale yellow inside. The species have been 

 considered the most difficult to manage of 

 any in cultivation. Mr. Rand differs with 

 most growers upon this point, having been 

 quite successful in flowering them, with the 

 following treatment: "The soil for this 

 plant should be rich, fibrous peat and loam. 

 It should have but little heat, and never be 

 allowed to dry off. The great trouble in its 

 culture appears to be want of water. If there 

 is good drainage it can scarcely have too 

 much. It does not need much heat, and 

 should be grown with a good circulation of 

 air, and not full sun." Propagated by division. 

 Introduced in 1825. 



Disca'ria. A genus of Rhamnacece, nearly allied 

 to Colletia, but differing in having no petals. 

 Natives of Australia and South America. D. 

 serratifolia, with its bright green spiny 

 branches and foliage, makes an excellent 

 plant for pot culture. 



Dischi'dia. From dis, twice, and schizo, to split ; 

 referring to an obscure process in the con- 

 struction of the flower. Nat. Ord. Asclepia- 

 dacece. 



Nearly related to Stephanotis and Hoya. A 

 small genus of ornamental green-house ever- 

 green trailers. The flowers are white, and 



DIS 



are borne in the axils of the leaves. A plant 

 of but little merit. 



Discoid. When, in Composite, the ray florets 

 are suppressed, the head of the flowers is said 

 to be discoid. 



Discolor. Parts having one surface of one 

 color, and the other surface of another color. 

 Also, any green color altered by a mixture of 

 purple, as in Cisstis discolor. 



Dise'mma. From dis, double, and stemma, a 

 crown ; referring to the double coronet or 

 rays. Nat. Ord. Passiftoracece. 



This genus is closely allied to Passiflora, 

 requires the same general treatment, and is 

 propagated in the same manner. Some of the 

 species are very beautiful, and worthy of cul- 

 tivation. They are natives of New Holland ; 

 first introduced in 1792. 



Dish-rag Plant. See Luffa. 



Disk. An organ intervening between the 

 stamens and ovary. The central tubular 

 flowers of Composites are also called the Disk. 



Disoca'ctus. From dis, twice, isos, equal, and 

 cactos; the divisions of the petals and sepals 

 equal and twice two, and the habit of a Cac- 

 tus. Nat. Ord. Cactacece. 



There is but one known species of this 

 genus, which is a weak trailing shrub or bush, 

 a connecting link between two sections of the 

 order the Epiphyllum and Rhipsalis. The 

 flowers are produced singly from one of the 

 notches at the upper end of the young 

 branches, and are characterized by having 

 only four sepals and four petals. They are of 

 a deep pink color, about two inches long, pro- 

 duced in succession, last a long time, and are 

 succeeded by beautiful little shiny, deep 

 crimson berries. The plant should be grown 

 in soil composed of equal parts of sharp sand, 

 leaf mould, and turfy loam. In a growing 

 state it should have a moist atmosphere, but 

 in winter it should be kept dry, with plenty of 

 light; it may be increased by cuttings or 

 seeds. It is a native of Honduras, and was 

 introduced in 1839. By many botanists this 

 genus is united with Phillocactus, from which 

 it only differs in its fewer sepals and petals. 



Dispe'ris. From dis, double, andpera, a pouch ; 

 in allusion to the form of the outer segments 

 of the perianth. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A small genus of terrestrial Orchids from 

 the Cape of Good Hope, bearing scarlet or 

 purple flowers. It requires the same treat- 

 ment in propagation and culture as Disa. 



Dispermus. Two-seeded. 



Dispo'rum. From dis, double, and poros, a pore ; 

 application not stated. Nat. Ord. Liliaceas. 



A genus of half-hardy herbaceous plants, 

 allied to Uvularia. The flowers are small, but 

 rather pretty, of brown or yellow colors. They 

 succeed well in a warm border, if slightly pro- 

 tected in winter, and are propagated by 

 division of the roots. Natives of China and 

 Nepal ; introduced in 1801. 



Dissected. Cut into many deep lobes. 



Dissemination. The manner in which ripe seeds 

 of plants are naturally dispersed. 



Distichous. When parts are arranged in two 

 rows, the one opposite the other, as the florets 

 of many grasses. 



