AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



141 



EPH 



ficiently hardy to stand the winters, unpro- 

 tected, north of the Carolinas. One of the 

 species, E. antisyphilitica, is said to contain 

 large quantities of tannin. 



Ephemeral. Existing for, or less than, one 

 day; as where a corolla expands for a few 

 hours at most, and then fades. 



Epide'ndrum. From epi, upon, and dendron, a 

 tree ; the plants are usually found growing on 

 the branches of trees. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 

 Tliis is an extensive and, for the most part, 

 beautiful genus of epiphytal Orchids. All of 

 them may be grown on billets of wood or on 

 cork, or, where it is preferred, for the stronger 

 growing species, pots may be used, and in 

 the latter case it is indispensable that the 

 soil be porous and well drained. It should 

 consist of equal parts of sphagnum moss 

 and fibrous peat, filling the pots for two- 

 thirds their depths with broken potsherds, 

 and when the plants are placed in them, the 

 base of their pseudo-bulbs must be kept con- 

 siderably above the rim, so that water 

 may not lodge between them. The same rela- 

 tive variations of temperature should be 

 observed for these as mentioned for Dendro- 

 bium, keeping it at an average of ten degrees 

 lower than recommended for that genus ; and 

 as the same principles govern the growth of 

 each, the like changes of atmospheric influence 

 are necessary in either case. The genus con- 

 sists of over 300 species, distributed through- 

 out the West Indies, Mexico, and South 

 America. Propagated by division. The first 

 species was introduced in 1738. 



Epidermis. The true skin of a plant, immediate- 

 ly underlying the cuticle. 



Epigee'a. Trailing Arbutus. From epi, upon, 

 and gaia, the earth ; referring to its trailing 

 habit. Nat. Ord. Ericaceae. 



E. repens, the only species, is one of our 

 most beautiful native early spring-flowering 

 plants. It is a low-growing, evergreen shrub, 

 producing axillary clusters of small rose- 

 colored flowers, remarkable for their rich, 

 spicy fragrance. They are usually found in 

 the shade of Pines or Scrub Oaks. In warm, 

 sheltered situations they show their flowers 

 early in April. It is commonly known on 

 Long Island, where it grows in great abun- 

 ance, as Trailing Arbutus, in New England as 

 May Flower, and in many localities as Ground 

 Laurel. It can be easily grown in the shaded 

 border by removing the plant from the woods 

 in autumn, being careful not to disturb the 

 roots. After planting in a sandy soil, protect 

 from sun and winds by a slight covering of 

 dry leaves. Clumps carefully taken up in 

 autumn, and put in a cool green-house in 

 February, will come into flower in March. 



Epigee'us. Growing on land, in contradistinc- 

 tion to growing in the water. Also when any 

 part of a terrestrial plant grows close to the 

 earth. 



Epigynous. Upon the ovary; a term applied 

 when the outer whorls of the flower adhere to 

 the ovary, so that their upper portions alone 

 are free, and appear to be seated on it, as in 

 UmbellifercB, etc. 



Epilo'bium. Willow Herb. From epi, upon, 

 and lobos, a pod ; flowers superior or seated 

 on a seed-pod. Nat. Ord. Onagracece. 



EPI 



A genus of tall-growing, hardy herbaceous 

 plants, chiefly natives of Europe, some of 

 which have become naturalized in this coun- 

 try. Several of our native species are showy 

 plants, with large spikes of pink flowers, that 

 make them conspicuous border plants. They 

 are all of easy culture, taking care of them- 

 selves when once planted, and are increased 

 by division in spring, or from seeds. 



Epime'dium. Barrenwort. From epi, upon, 

 akin to, and Median, a plant, said to be grown 

 in Media ; a name from Dioscorides. Nat. Ord. 

 Berberidacece. 



Ornamental hardy herbaceous perennials, 

 with stalked compound leaves, and flowers of 

 various colors. They form admirable, plants 

 for rockwork and grow best in a compost of 

 loam, and leaf mould. Propagated by division. 

 Natives of Japan, Persia, Algeria, etc. 



Epipa'ctis. Very pretty hardy orchids, natives 

 of Europe, and Russian Asia. Stem one to 

 two feet high, leafy, bearing a loose raceme 

 of purple, brown, or white flowers. They are 

 of easy culture in shady borders, and form 

 excellent subjects for naturalizing in artificial 

 bogs, or in moist, peaty spots. 



Epi'phora. A pretty little terrestrial Orchid, 

 from South Africa, with yellow flowers streak- 

 ed with red. E. pubescens, the only species, 

 was taken from Polystachya. 



Epiphyllous. Either growing upon or inserted 

 on a leaf. 



Epiphy'Uum. Crab's Claw Cactus, Lobster- 

 leaved Cactus. From epi, upon, and phyllon, 

 a leaf ; flowers borne on the ends of the leaf- 

 like branches. Nat. Ord. Cactacece. 



A genus of very beautiful Cactaceous plants, 

 natives of Brazil, where they are generally 

 found upon the trunks of trees. The varieties 

 are numerous and are largely cultivated for 

 their showy flowers. E. truncatum and its var- 

 ieties are the kinds usually cultivated in 

 our green-houses, and are among the most 

 highly colored and beautiful of our winter- 

 flowering plants. They are often grafted on 

 Cereus triangularis, C. grandiflorus . C. serpenti- 

 nus, and others, but do best, perhaps, on the 

 Pereskia. A large symmetrical nead is easily 

 formed, and with proper attention will make 

 a plant worthy of a situation in any green- 

 house. Their culture is of the easiest descrip- 

 tion ; delighting in a rich, well-drained, sandy 

 soil, they should have plenty of air, water and 

 sunlight while they ar^e growing and watered 

 sparingly during the winter months until re- 

 quired to be brought into bloom. The Epiphyl- 

 lum is one of the best of sitting-room plants, 

 and may be had in bloom from November to 

 March with good management. There were 

 formerly many species included in this genus, 

 most of which are now found in Cactus, Cereus, 

 and Phyllocactus. 



Epiphytes. Plants which grow upon the 

 surface of others, without deriving any nutri- 

 ment from them, as many Mosses and Orchids. 



Epigy'nium leucobotrys. A synonym of Vac- 

 cinium leucobotrys. 



Epipre'mnum. From epi, upon, and premnon, 

 a trunk ; in allusion to the species rooting 

 upon the trunks of trees. Nat. Ord. AroidecB. 

 A genus of about eight species of climb- 

 ing evergreen plants from the Malayan 



