AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



161 



G. 



GAG 



Ga'gea. Named after Sir Thomas Gage, a 

 botanical amateur. Nat. Orel. Liliacece. 

 A genus of hai'dy little yellow-flowering 

 bulbs, allied to the Tulip. The species are 

 natives of Europe, temperate Asia and 

 northern Africa. The flowers, which are 

 large for the size of the plant, are produced 

 in umbels on stems not more than four inches 

 high. They flower about the same time as 

 the Crocus, should occupy similar places in 

 the garden, and are propagated by offsets. 

 Introduced in 1759. 



Ga'hnia. Named after H. Gahn, a Swedish bot- 

 anist. Nat. Ord. Cyperacece. 



A genus of about twenty species of green- 

 house perennial herbs, natives of Australia, 

 New Zealand, China, and the South Pacific 

 Islands. G. aspera, is a very ornamental plant 

 of Arundo-like habit, with bright green, 

 channelled, wavy, lanceolate leaves. Intro- 

 duced from Fiji in 1887. 



G*illa'rdia. Named after M. Gaillard de Maren- 

 tunneau, a French patron of botany. Nat. 

 Ord. Composites. 



A genus of beautiful half-hardy annuals, 

 natives of South Carolina and southward. 

 They are exceedingly showy, and well 

 adapted for garden decoration. The seed 

 germinates slowly, and in order to get plants 

 to flower the whole summer it should be 

 sown in the green-house in February. The 

 plants may be put out in the open border 

 when all danger from frost is over. Cuttings 

 may be made in the fall and grown on in the 

 green-house during the winter. G. Richard- 

 soni, a species of late introduction, is a hardy 

 perennial, propagated by root division. 



Galactode'ndron. Cow-tree. A synonym for 

 Brosimum Galactodendron, which see. 



Gala'nthjis. Snow-drop. From gala, milk, and 

 anthos, flower ; referring to the color of the 

 flowers. Nat. Ord. Amaryltidacece. 



G. nivalis, the common Snow-drop, for its 

 poetical associations as the ever-weicome 

 harbinger of spring, is universally cultivated, 

 and by potting and very gentle forcing may be 

 made an interesting ornament to the green- 

 house in mid-winter. Snow-drops are well 

 known and general favorites on account of the 

 modest beauty displayed by their flowers at 

 the early season in which they appear. G. 

 Elwesii from Asia Minor, and G. plicatus from 

 the Crimea are larger flowered species though 

 still rare in gardens. A very distinct and 

 much admired double form of G. nivalis, is 

 also largely cultivated. When once planted it 

 is best to let them take care of themselves, 

 as if planted where the soil is suitable and 

 left alone, they increase rapidly and annually 

 appear in flower suddenly with the earliest 

 approach of spring. 



Ga'lax. From gala, milk ; referring to the milk- 

 white flowers. Nat. Ord. Diapensiacece. 



G. aphylla, is a beautiful little native plant, 

 with pure white flowers, particularly suitable 



GAL 



for growing on a rockwork. It will succeed 

 best in a cool damp place. 



Gala'xia. From galaktos, milk; referring to 

 the juice. Nat. Ord. Iridacecs. 



A genus of dwarf, tender bulbs from the 

 Cape of Good Hope. The flower steins are 

 short, with a terminal cluster of narrow leaves 

 and handsome funnel-shaped yellow or purple 

 flowers. The bulbs may be planted out in 

 early spring, like the Gladiolus, and given the 

 same treatment during summer. They 

 are increased by offsets and may be left in 

 the ground during winter, if protected from 

 frost. Introduced in 1799. 



Galba'num. The name of an aromatic gum- 

 resin issuing from the stems of Ferula gal- 

 baniflua, F. rubricaulis, etc. 



Galea'ndra. From galea, a helmet, and aner, 

 a stamen ; referring to the crested male organ 

 on the top of the column. Nat. Ord. Orchid- 



A small genus of terrestrial Orchids, with 

 pink, purple, or yellow flowers. They are 

 from Central and South America, and require 

 the same treatment as is recommended for 

 the Bletia. Introduced in 1840. 



Gale'ga. Goat's Rue. From gala, milk ; refer- 

 ring to an old idea that the herbage was said 

 to increase the milk of such animals as eat it. 

 Nat. Ord. Leguminosce. 



A small genus of strong, robust, erect 

 growing herbaceous perennials, with small 

 pea-like flowers, mostly natives of the Med- 

 iterranean region, extending eastward into 

 Persia. (?. orientalis, one of the most showy 

 species, has handsome light green leaves, and 

 blue flowers, which are produced in June. It 

 grows from three to four feet high ; and is 

 increased by seeds sown in spring. Introduced 

 from the Levant in 1801. 



Galeo'psis. Hemp-nettle. From gale, a weasel, 

 and opsis, like ; in allusion to the likeness 

 of the flower to a weasel's snout. Nat. Ord. 

 LabiatCB. 



A genus of weedy plants, whose flowers are 

 supposed to resemble the head of a weaseli 

 and could with the same propriety be sup- 

 posed to resemble that of most any other 

 animal. They are common in most parts of 

 this country; naturalized from Europe. 



Gale Sweet. See Myrica Gale. 



Ga'lium. Bedstraw, Cleavers. From gala, milk ; 

 referring to the flowers of G. verum having 

 been used to curdle milk. Nat. Ord. Rubiacece. 

 A genus of interesting herbs, natives of 

 Europe, but extensively naturalized in the 

 United States. G. aparine, vulgarly known 

 as Goose Grass, has a great reputation in 

 the eclectic practice of medicine as a cure for 

 gravel in the bladder, and is considered by 

 them invaluable as a diuretic. 



Galls. Excrescences of various kinds and 

 forms produced in plants by the presence of 

 the larvte of different insects. 



