218 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



LAT 



L. Commersonii, has deeply incised, gracefully 

 recurved leaves, the segments margined with 

 a reddish colored band, edged with fine teeth- 

 like spines ; the petioles are long and smooth, 

 of a deep chocolate-red color. It is a very 

 handsome and distinct species. They are 

 propagated by seed, which grows freely if 

 given a mild bottom heat. They can be kept 

 in the green-house during winter, and require 

 but little water. In the summer give them 

 plenty of heat and water; their growth will 

 be in proportion to the amount of each given. 

 The species known in cultivation as Latania 

 Sorbonica, is now named lAvistona Chinensis, 

 which see. 



Lateral. Fixed near or upon the side of any- 

 thing. 



Laterals. The sideshoots that emanate right 

 and left of the leading branch or shoot. 



Lathree'a. Tooth Wort. From lothraios, hid- 

 den, on account of the species being found as 

 if hidden under trees. Curious leafless, her- 

 baceous plants, belonging to the Orobanchacece, 

 natives of western Europe and Asia, with 

 white, yellowish, or pinkish flowers in dense 

 spikes. Parasitical on the roots of various 

 trees. 



La'thyrus. From la, to add to, and thouros, 

 an irritant ; to increase excitement ; the sup- 

 posed qualities of the seeds. Nat. Ord. 

 LeguminoscB. 



A large genus of very beautiful, free-flower- 

 ing climbing annuals and perennials, found in 

 the temperate regions of both hemispheres. 

 L. odoratus, the Sweet Pea of our gardens, is 

 a native of southern Sicily, and was first in- 

 troduced into England in 1701. On account 

 of its fragrance it is the most desirable of the 

 upecies. There is now great diversity in the 

 colors of the different varieties, some of 

 late introduction being the best in cultivation ; 

 they include white, purple, black, scarlet, 

 blue-edged, and striped sorts. The Sweet 

 Pea delights in a heavy, stiff loam, and will 

 not succeed in a light soil unless planted very 

 deep, say five inches, and the earth well 

 packed down around the plants. L. sylvestris 

 platyphyllus (L. latifolius), or Everlasting Pea 

 (of gardens), of which there are three varieties, 

 producing purple, rose, and white flowers, 

 are pretty generally distributed throughout 

 Europe. They grow from six to eight feet 

 high when properly trained upon a trellis ; 

 and if planted in a moist soil will prolong their 

 season of flowering nearly the whole summer. 

 They are extensively used in New York and 

 other large cities as cut flowers. L. Mogel- 

 lanicus, a perennial species from Cape Horn, is 

 remarkable for the beauty of its foliage, as well 

 as for its showy blue flowers. The perennials 

 are propagated by root division and from 

 seed. Seedlings do not usually get strong 

 enough to flower well before the third year ; 

 they will, however, produce some flowers the 

 second year. There is one perennial species, 

 L. tmberosa, occasionally met in Europe, hav- 

 ing edible tubers, which, if baked or roasted, 

 are said to be great delicacies. The flowers 

 of this species are borne in clusters on long 

 peduncles ; they are of medium size, and of 

 a rosy-pink color. There are several other 

 species under cultivation. 



Lattice Plant. See Ouvirandra. 



LAV 



Laura'cese. A natural order of trees, with ex- 

 stipulate, usually alternate, dotted leaves. 

 They are tropical, aromatic, and fragrant 

 plants. Cinnamomum Zeylanicum yields Cin- 

 namon Bark. C. cassia supplies Cassia Bark. 

 Camphora qfficinarum, a native of China, 

 Japan, and Cochin China, yields Camphor. 

 Persea gratissima furnishes the fruit called 

 Avocado Pear or Alligator Pear. Sassafras 

 qfficinale is the American Sassafras Tree. 

 Laurus nobilis is the Sweet Bay. There are 

 about fifty genera and between 400 and 500 

 species. Laurus, Cinnamomum, Camphora, 

 and Sassafras are examples of the order. 



Laurel or Cherry Laurel. Cerasus Lauro- 

 cerasus. 



American. Kalmia latifolia. 

 Calif ornian. Oreodaphne Californica. 

 Ground. Epigcea repens. 

 Magnolia. See Magnolia glauca. 

 Portugal. Cerasus Lusitanica. 

 Sheep's. Kalmia angustifolia. 

 Spurge . Daphne Laureola. 

 Victor's. See Laurus nobilis. 



Lau'rus. Laurel. From the Celtic lawr, green. 

 Nat. Ord. Lauracece. 



Under the common name of Laurel many 

 different plants are met in fields and gardens, 

 but the Sweet Bay, or Victor's Laurel, L. 

 nobilis is the only one which is properly so 

 called. It is a native of southern Europe, 

 and is a beautiful evergreen shrub or tree. 

 In some localities it grows to the height of 

 fifty or sixty feet, always retaining its shrub- 

 like character. Its leaves have an agreeable 

 aromatic, slightly bitter taste ; its flowers are 

 yellowish and inconspicuous, and its fruits are 

 succulent, and of the size of a small cherry. 

 The leaves, because of their agreeable flavor, 

 are used in cooking and in various confec- 

 tions. The dried figs that are imported into 

 this country are usually packed with these 

 leaves. This tree is not hardy enough to 

 resist the winters north of the Carolinas. 

 Propagated by layers, root cuttings, or by 

 seeds. 



Laurusti'nus. See Viburnum Units. 



Lava'iidula. Lavender. From lavo, to wash, 

 in allusion to the use made of its distilled 

 water. Nat. Ord. Labiatace. 



Mostly under-shrubs, natives of the south 

 of Europe, but largely grown in England and 

 France for the sake of their perfume, and 

 for the oil, on which this property depends. 

 The essential oil of Lavender is produced by 

 distillation from the flowers, and is much 

 prized for its agreeable odor. When dissolved 

 in spirits of wine, and mixed with other pur- 

 fumes, it forms the much appreciated Laven- 

 der Water. This oil is the essential element 

 in the Sweet Spirits of Lavender of the drug- 

 gists. L. vera is the species grown for these 

 extracts, and is propagated by cuttings or 

 from seed. All the hardy species are orna- 

 mental. 



Lavate'ra. Named after the the two Lavaters, 

 Swiss botanists. Nat. Ord. Malvaceae. 



An extensive genus of herbaceous peren- 

 nials, biennials, and annuals, common 

 throughout Europe and western Asia. They 

 are mostly coarse-growing, bushy plants, of 

 little merit. The annual species are rather 

 showy, producing large purple flowers, suit- 



