AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



143 



ERI 



Eri'ca. Heath. From erico, to break ; referring 

 to the brittle nature of the wood. Nat. Ord. 

 Ericaceae. 



This genus comprehends a great number of 

 species, the most of which are very beautiful 

 and interesting plants. Several hundred of 

 the species, including all that are desirable 

 for indoor culture, are natives of Table 

 Mountain at the Cape of Good Hope. They 

 all occupy elevated ranges, enjoying a pure 

 air, refreshed by copious dews, and exposed 

 for a long period to a dry, arid atmosphere. 

 The Heath, however, can never be cultivated 

 so successfully here as in England, as our cli- 

 mate is too dry and hot in summer. What is 

 called the soft- wooded section, such as E. per- 

 soluta and its white variety, E. hyemalis, E. 

 Wilmoreana, etc., can be grown here with 

 success, and are exceedingly valuable, not 

 only for winter green-house decoration, but 

 for cut flowers. They are readily propagated 

 by cuttings of half-ripened wood, which is in 

 proper condition when it begins to turn brown. 

 They are easily grown from seed, an interest- 

 ing way, on account of the varieties produced 

 when a little care has been given in cross-fer- 

 tilization. The seeds should be sown in pots 

 of finely-sifted peat and sand pressed tightly 

 into the pot, well watered before sowing, and 

 afterward covered with a bell glass. They 

 should then be kept in a cool house or pit, 

 where they can have an even temperature and 

 moisture. The Cape species were first intro- 

 duced into England in 1774. 



Erica'ceee. A natural order of shrubs or under- 

 shrubs, with evergreen, rigid, entire, whorled 

 or opposite leaves without stipules. Arbutus 

 Unedo is the Strawberry Tree. Rhododendron 

 arborrum sometimes reaches in India a height 

 of forty feet, and some species grow at an 

 elevation of 16,000 to 18,000 feet in the Hima- 

 layas. Several species of Azalea, Rhododen- 

 dron and Kalmia are natives of the United 

 States. The plants of this order are highly 

 prized for the beauty of their flowers. There 

 are about fifty known genera and 900 species. 

 Erica, Rhododendron, Kalmia, Cleihr a, Arbutus, 

 and Ledum are examples of this order. 



Eri'geron. From er, the spring, and geron, an 

 old man ; some being hoary with a downy 

 covering early in the season. Nat. Ord. Com- 

 posite. 



A genus of coarse-growing, unpretending, 

 herbaceous plants, found common in waste 

 places throughout the United States ; in some 

 localities known as Fleabane. The plants are 

 of no economic value. 



Erino'sma. A synonym of Leucojum, which see. 



Eri'nus. Meaning unknown. (The wild Fig- 

 tree is the Erinos described by Dioscorides. 

 It has, however, no resemblance to the Ennos 

 of the moderns.) Nat. Ord. Scrophulariacece. 

 This is a small genus of hardy herbaceous 

 Alpine plants, suitable for rock- work or other 

 rough, uneven situations. They are low- 

 growing plants, generally forming close tufts, 

 producing lively purple and white flowers in 

 early spring. Though perfectly hardy, they 

 are impatient of water, and, consequently, 

 should have the protection of a frame in win- 

 ter, unless planted in a very dry situation. 

 There are one or two evergreen species from 

 the Cape of Good Hope, but they are little 



ERI 



known. The hardy species are propagated by 

 root division or from seed. First introduced 

 into the garden in 1739. 



Erinus. Prickly, rough. 



Eriobo'trya. The Loquat, or Japanese Medlar, 

 E. (Mespilus) Japonica, one of the Pomacece, 

 is a native of Japan and the southern part of 

 China, and is cultivated as an edible fruit in 

 many parts of India. It is now placed under 

 the genus Photinia, which see. 



Eriocaula'ceae. A natural order of marsh 

 plants with narrow, spongy leaves. There 

 are ten known genera and 220 species. None 

 are cultivated except in botanic gardens. 

 Eriocaulon is the typical example of the order. 



Eriocne'ma. From erion, wool, and kneme, a 

 knee; the joints are woolly. Nat. Ord. Melaa- 

 tomocece. 



A small genus of green-house herbaceous 

 plants, allied to the Sonerila, and natives of 

 Brazil. The flowers are white, produced spar- 

 ingly in little umbels on the end of a naked 

 stalk. E. marmoratum has beautifully varie- 

 gated leaves, green striped with broad bands 

 of white. Its habit is not unlike some of the 

 Begonias. Propagated by cuttings. Intro- 

 duced in 1850. 



Eriogo'num. From erion, wool, and genu, a 

 joint; joints of the stems downy. Nat. Ord. 

 Polygonacece. 



A genus of pretty, summer-flowering hardy 

 annuals and herbaceous or somewhat woody 

 perennials. They are easily cultivated, and 

 young plants may be obtained by division or 

 from seed. The genus contains about one hun- 

 dred species, natives of north-west America. 



Erio'phorum. Cotton Grass. From erion, wool, 

 and phoreo, to bear ; in reference to the silky 

 tails or coverings of the seeds. Nat. Ord. 

 CyperacecB. 



A very interesting genus of marsh or bog 

 plants, commonly, but incorrectly, termed 

 grasses. They are hardy herbaceous plants, 

 growing in dense clumps or masses, very con- 

 spicuous and interesting, on account of the 

 flowers of some of the species, the heads of- 

 which appear like tufts of cotton. One of the 

 species is indigenous in this country, and 

 several of them have been naturalized from 

 Europe. 



Erio'psis. From eria, a well-known genus of 

 Orchids, and opsis, resemblance ; woolliness 

 of flowers. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A small genus of Orchids, having the gen- 

 eral appearance, while growing, of the genus 

 Eria, but with gay, orange-colored flowers, 

 resembling the Vandas. They are natives of 

 Mexico and New Grenada, and are but lit- 

 tle cultivated. 



Eriospe'rmum. From erion, wool, and spermos, 

 a seed ; woolly-seeded. Nat. Ord. Liliacece. 



A considerable genus of bulbs from the 

 Cape of Good Hope, the flowers of which pre- 

 cede the leaves. The flowers have no special 

 beauty, and the leaves always have a deformed 

 appearance. 



Erioste'mon. From erion, wool, and stemon, a 

 stamen ; referring to the woolly stamens. 

 Nat. Ord. Rutacece. 



A genus of handsome green-house plants 

 from New Holland, of neat, compact habit 

 of growth, and free-flowering. Thefiowers are 



