210 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



JAP 



Japan Varnish Tree. Ailantus glandulosus. 



Japan Yew. See Podocarpus. 



Jasio'ne. An ancient name used by Theophras- 

 tus. Nat. Ord. Campanulacece. 



A genus of hardy herbaceous perennials 

 and annuals, mostly natives of Europe and 

 North Africa. All of the species have very 

 pretty blue flowers, though not of sufficient 

 importance to warrant their introduction in the 

 garden. J. montana is a pretty annual, com- 

 mon in the healthy and moorland districts of 

 Great Britain. It is commonly known as 

 Sheep's Scabious, from its resemblance to the 

 Scabious, and from its abundance in sheep- 

 walks. 



Jasmine or Jessamine. See Jasminum. 

 Cape. See "^Gardenia florida. 

 Carolina. Gelsemium nitidum. 



Jasmineae. A tribe of the Nat. Ord. Oleacece. 



Jasmi'num. Jasmine. From Ysmym, the Ara- 

 bic name. Nat. Ord. Oleacece. 



The delicacy and fragrance of the flowers of 

 the Jasmine have often afforded metaphor and 

 theme to the poet. Among the species are 

 found equally desirable subjects for deco- 

 rating the hot-house, the green-house, arbors, 

 or other objects in the open air, and combin- 

 ing in every instance freedom and elegance 

 in the general habit of the plants, with all 

 that is desirable in floral embellishments. 

 The hot-house and green-house species should 

 be frequently fumigated through the summer, 

 as they are extremely liable to attacks from 

 aphis and other insects. The hardy kinds 

 grow freely in almost any situation, and 

 only require to be kept trained in the desired 

 form, without, however, reducing them to a 

 rigidly formal outline, to make them most 

 ornamental objects in almost any position. 

 Most of the species are from the East Indies. 

 J. grandijlorum is one of pur best known 

 winter- flowering plants, and is largely used for 

 cut flowers. It is propagated by cuttings, 

 which root freely, and when well grown form 

 good plants the first season. Introduced in 

 1629. 



Ja'tropha. From iatros, physician, and trophe, 

 food; referring to its medicinal qualities. 

 Nat. Ord. EuphorbiacecB. , 



A widely-distributed genus of herbs and 

 evergreen shrubs, principally of economic 

 value, found chiefly in South America. None 

 of the species are valuable as flowering or 

 ornamental plants, though J. podoqraria is 

 sometimes grown for its curious gouty stems, 

 J. urens, common on the coast from Virginia, 

 southwards, from its stinging properties, is 

 generally known by its popular names, Tread- 

 Softly, and Spurge-Nettle. 



Jefferso'nia. Twin-leaf. Named in honor of 

 Thomas Jefferson. Nat. Ord. BerberidacecB. 



J. diphylla, the only species, is a pretty little 

 plant, common in woods from New York to 

 Wisconsin and southward. It is sometimes 

 called Rheumatism Root, from its supposed 

 medicinal properties. 



Jerusalem Artichoke. See Helianthus. 



Jerusalem Cherry. See Solanum capsicastrum. 



Jerusalem Sage. See Phlomis. 



Jerusalem Thorn. See Parkinsonia. 



Jessamine. A popular corruption of Jasmine. 



JUD 



Jewel "Weed. See Impatiens. 



Jimson Weed. See Datura. 



Job's Tears. See Coix lachryma. 



Joe-Pye Weed. Trumpet Weed. Popular 

 names of Eupatorium purpureum. 



Johnson Grass. Sorghum halepense. The name 

 Johnson Grass, which is the one most gener- 

 ally adopted in this country, originated from 

 William Johnson of Alabama, who introduced 

 the grass into that state from South Carolina 

 about 1840. Its chief value is for hay in 

 regions where other grasses fail on account 

 of drought. If cut early, the hay is of good 

 quality, and several cuttings may be made 

 in a season. The late Mr. Howard, of 

 Atlanta, Ga., a careful and practical farmer 

 and investigator, said of it, after an experience 

 of forty years, that this grass was preferable 

 to all others that could be grown in the South. 

 Its analysis shows it to be more nutritious 

 than even sweet corn fodder. Its seeds are 

 as large as those of broom corn, and its 

 leaves are long and tender. The stem 

 reaches a height of six feet. Its perennial 

 growth, and the firm hold it takes of the soil, in 

 which it spreads with great rapidity, give it 

 a high value for a fodder grass in the South. 



John's, St., Bread. Ceratonia siliqua. 



John's, St., Wort. The genus Hypericum. 



Jointed Charlock. A name frequently given 

 to the Wild Radish, Raphanus raphanistrum. 



Joint Grass. A common name of one of our 

 native grasses, Paspalum distichum. 



Joint Weed. A popular name for Polygonum 

 articulatum. 



Jo'nesia. Named after Sir. W. Jones, Nat. Ord. 

 LeguminoscB. 



A small genus of shrubs or low-growing 

 trees inhabiting the East Indies. They have 

 bright glossy leaves, about a foot long, made 

 up of three to six pairs of leaflets. The flow- 

 ers are bright scarlet, in terminal round clus- 

 ters, resembling the Ixora. Some of the Jap- 

 anese species have clusters six to eight 

 inches across, and succeed best when grown 

 in heat. They are propagated by cuttings, 

 and were introduced in 1820. Syn. Saraca. 



Jonquil. See Narcissus. 



Joseph's Coat. See Amaranthus tricolor. 



Jubaea, After Juba, ancient King of Numidia. 

 Nat. Ord. Palmacece. 



J. spectabilis, the only species, is the Co- 

 quito Palm of Chili. It has a tall, straight 

 trunk, bearing a crown of large pinnate 

 leaves, and branching spikes of dark yellow, 

 distinct male and female flowers, inclosed in 

 a double spathe. In Chili, a sweet syrup, or 

 Palm-honey, is prepared by boiling the sap of 

 this tree to the consistency of molasses, and 

 it forms a considerable article of trade, being as 

 much esteemed for domestic use as sugar. 

 The sap is obtained by felling the trees and 

 cutting off the crown of leaves, when it im- 

 mediately begins to flow, and continues for 

 several months, until the tree is exhausted, 

 provided a thin slice is shaved off the top 

 every morning. Each tree yields about 

 ninety gallons. The nuts, trunks, and leaves 

 art used for various economic purposes. Young 

 plants are obtained from seeds, and require to 

 be grown in a plant-stove. 



Judas Tree. See Cercis. 



