220 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



LAX 



In the West Indies where it is naturalized, it 

 goes by the name of Jamaica Mignonette. 



Laxma'iinia. Named after E. Laxmann, a Sibe- 

 rian traveler. Nat. Ord. Liliacece. 



A small genus of low-growing, green-house 

 herbaceous plants, from New Holland. The 

 flowers are borne in terminal heads on slender 

 scapes, six inches high, and are either white 

 or purple. They are increased by division 

 of the root, arid were introduced in 1824. 



Layering. See Propagation by Layering. 



La'yia. Named in honor of Thomas Lay, nat- 

 uralist in Beechey's Voyage. A genus of Com- 

 positce, consisting of seven or eight annual 

 or biennial herbs, natives of California, and 

 Oregon, usually pubescent or hirsute, often 

 glandular, with alternate leaves, and white or 

 yellow flowers ; increased by seeds. Syn. Cal- 

 lichroa, Calliglossa, and Oxyura. 



Lead-colored. Slate colored, with a slight 

 metallic lustre. 



Lead Plant. See Amorpha canescens. 



Leadwort. See Plumbago. 



Leaf. An appendage to the stem, considered as 

 an expansion to the bark, composed of cellu- 

 lar tissue, and generally with fibres of vascu- 

 lar tissue intermixed. 



Leaf Cup. The genus Polymnia. 



Leather Flower. The common name of 

 Clematis Viorna. 



Leather Leaf. Cassandra calyculata. 

 Leather-wood. See Dirca. 



Le'chea. A genus of Cistacece differing from 

 Helianthemum in some slight particulars. 

 There are four or five species, all natives of 

 the United States, slender, much branched 

 perennial herbs with numerous small green- 

 ish or purple flowers. Common in dry sterile 

 soils. 



Le'cythis. From lecythos an oil-jar ; in allusion 

 to the shape of the seed-vessels. A genus of 

 Myrtacece, almost exclusively confined to 

 Venezuela, Guiana, and Brazil. Under the 

 name of Sapucai Nuts the seeds of L. Zabu- 

 cajo are sold as a substitute for the closely 

 allied Brazil nuts, to which they are far su- 

 perior. L. Ollaria produces large fruits com- 

 monly known as Monkey Pots, but the seeds 

 are not so palatable as the former, leaving a 

 bitter flavor in the mouth. 



Ledenbe'rgia. A commemorative name. Nat. 

 Ord. Phytolaccacece. 



L. rosea-cenea the only species is a very 

 ornamental-leaved warm green-house shrub, 

 with large, thick obovate-lanceolate leaves, 

 dark shining coppery-green on the upper 

 surface and bright rosy- violet color beneath. 

 The stems and branches are reddish-purple. 

 It was introduced from Central America in 

 1869, and is readily increased by cuttings in 

 heat. 



Le'dum. Labrador Tea. From ledon, the Greek 

 name of Cistus, which this genus resembles. 

 Nat. Ord. Ericacece. 



A small genus of hardy, evergreen, white- 

 flowering shrubs, natives of British America. 

 See Labrador Tea. 



Lee'a. Commemorative of James Lee, a London 

 nurseryman, who did a good deal to popular- 

 ize the Liuneean system. A genus of Vitacece, 



LEM 



consisting of rough shrubby plants (rarely 

 trees), found in tropical Asia, Africa, and the 

 Mauritius. Plants of little interest except L. 

 amabilis which is a very handsome foliaged 

 plant. Introduced from Borneo in 1880. 



Leek. Allium Porrum. 



Legume. A name given to the seed-vessel of 

 the Pea family, opening the two valves, and 

 having the seeds attached to the ventral 

 suture. 



Legumino'sae. A natural order of herbs, shrubs, 

 or trees, with alternate, usually compound, 

 exstipulate leaves. The plants occur in all 

 parts of the world, but are abundant in trop- 

 ical countries. The order is a large one, and 

 has been divided into three sub-orders, viz : 

 PapilionacefE, Ccesalpinece, and Mimosece. They 

 supply food, timber, fibre, gums, dyes, and 

 various economical substances. Some are 

 poisonous. Among the useful plants may be 

 mentioned Beans, Peas, Lentils, Pulse of 

 various kinds, Lupins, Clover, Lucerne, Sain- 

 foin, Tragacanth, Indigo, and others. There 

 are about 550 genera and 7,000 species. 

 Phasejolus, Vicia, Pisum, Lotus, Cassia, and 

 Acacia are examples of the order. 



Leiophy'Uum. Sand Myrtle. From leios, smooth, 

 and phyllon, a leaf; referring to the leaves 

 being quite smooth. Nat. Ord. Ericacece. 



L. buxifolium, the only species, is a small 

 erect bushy evergreen shrub, its pretty white 

 flowers having pink tips. Natives of New 

 Jersey, and the mountains of Virginia. Syn. 

 Ledum buxifolium. 



Lemna. Duck-weed. An old Greek name of 

 uncertain meaning. Nat. Ord. Lemnacece. 



A genus of small floating herbs distributed 

 over Europe, Northern Asia, and North 

 America, but very rare in the tropics. These 

 plants are without distinct stems or real 

 leaves, " but consist of small leaf-like fronds, 

 either separate, or cohering two or three 

 together by their edges, emitting in most 

 species, one or more fibres from their under 

 surface into the water, and multiplying by 

 similar fronds growing out of their edges. 

 Flowers very rare, appearing from a fissure 

 in the edge, or on the upper surface of the 

 frond" (Bentham). The pretty little Nertera 

 depressa with its red fruits is often called 

 Australian or Fruiting Duck-weed, showing 

 plainly the absurdity and inutility of English 

 names only, to distinguish plants. 



Lemnaceae. A natural order of very small 

 herbaceous plants, found floating on the 

 surface of stagnant waters especially in tem- 

 perate regions. The two genera, Lemna and 

 Wolffia, are the smallest known Phanerogam- 

 ous plants, and are closely allied to Aroidece, 

 and Naidacece. 



Lemon. See Citrus. 



Lemon Grass. A popular name of one of the 

 species of Andropogon. 



Lemo'nia. Named in honor of Sir Charles 

 Lemon. Nat. Ord. Rutacece. 



L. spectabilis, the only species, is a green- 

 house evergreen shrub from Cuba, producing 

 axillary clusters of beautiful rose-colored 

 flowers in September. During summer they 

 require plenty of heat and water, and in winter 

 to be kept dormant, with only water enough 



