230 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



LIT 



Annual and perennial herbs, and sometimes 

 shrubs, of easy culture. Some of the species 

 are well adapted for rock-work and for the 

 border. L. proatratum is, unquestionably, one 

 of the most beautiful of spring-flowering per- 

 ennials, when it succeeds properly. A light, 

 well-drained soil is necessary to have it in 

 perfect health. It is a prostrate, half-shrubby 

 plant, with rich, deep-blue flowers, resembling 

 those of the Forget-me-not, and succeeds best 

 in a light, well-drained soil. It is a native of 

 southern Europe, and was introduced in 1825, 

 and is easily increased by seeds or cuttings. 

 Litmus. A blue dye prepared from Rocella 

 tinctoria, and some other Lichens. It is of 

 great importance to chemists, as it affords 

 a delicate test for acids and alkalies, since 

 blue litmus paper acquires from acids a red 

 tint, which is restored by alkalies. 



Litobro'chia. A commemorative name. Nat. 

 Ord. Polypodiacece. 



An extensive genus of tropical Ferns, dif- 

 fering from Pteris only in the reticulation of 

 the veins of the fronds. 



Li'tsaea. From the Japanese name. Nat. Ord. 

 Lauraceae. 



A large genus of half-hardy or green-house 

 shrubs or trees, natives of the Malayan Archi- 

 pelago to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, etc. 

 L. glauca and L. Japonica, both Japanese spe- 

 cies, are handsome bushes for green-house or 

 conservatory decoration. 



Littae'a. Under this name Tagliabue, an Italian 

 botanist, described a South American Agave, 

 which flowered for the first time in Europe in 

 the garden of the Duke of Litta, near Milan, in 

 1815, but which now bears the name of Agave 

 geminiflora. 



Litto'nia. Named after Dr. 8. Litton, once 

 Professor of Botany at Dublin. Nat. Ord. 

 Liliacece. 



A genus comprising only only two species of 

 South African plants. They are half-climbing 

 in habit, bearing showy orange-colored flow- 

 ers. L. modeata, the only species yet intro- 

 duced, is an elegant green-house plant, very 

 like Glorioaa in habit and appearance. 



Littoral. Growing on the sea-shore. 



Lituate. Forked, with the points a little 

 turned outward. 



Live-Forever. See Sedum. 



Live Oak. See Quercua virens. 



Liver-Leaf. The popular name of Hepatica 

 triloba, from a supposed resemblance of the 

 leaves. 



Livistoiia. Named in honor of Patrick Murray, 

 of Livingston, near Edinburgh, Scotland. Nat. 

 Ord. PalmacecB. 



A genus of very interesting and ornamental 

 Palms, natives of southern China, the Malayan 

 Archipelago, New Guinea, and Australia. Two 

 of the species attain a height of from ninety 

 to one hundred feet ; the remaining species 

 rarely exceed thirty or forty feet in height. L. 

 Australia, also called Corypha Australia, is one 

 of the few palms found in Australia, and is 

 principally found along the coast, and is the 

 tallest of the species. Its unexpanded leaves, 

 prepared by being scalded and then dried in 

 the shade, are used for making hats, while 

 the younger and more tender leaves are eaten 

 like cabbages. It is very largely grown for 



LOB 



decorative purposes in all the large cities of 

 the United States. In Assam the leaves of L. 

 Jenkinsiana are used for making the peculiar 

 umbrella hats worn in that country. L. altia- 

 aima, introduced from Java in 1868, is a very 

 beautiful species now largely used as a sum- 

 mer decorative plant. L. Chinenais (Syn. 

 Lotania Borbonica), under which name it is 

 generally cultivated, is a well-known and very 

 handsome Palm and makes a very beautiful 

 plant for the lawn in summer. When grown 

 in tubs or large pots, this Palm is one of the 

 best suited and most largely used for the 

 decoration of hotel verandas ; thousands are 

 now in use for that purpose. Exceedingly 

 fine specimens of this beautiful Palm are now 

 growing in the Botanic Gardens at Washing- 

 ton. Several other species are in cultivation 

 and they are all admirably adapted for various 

 decorative purposes, and especially for the 

 sub-tropical garden. They are propagated by 

 seeds sown in heat. 



Lizard's Tail. The common name for Saururus 

 cernuua. 



Lla'vea. In honor of M. La Llave, the dis- 

 coverer of the only known species. Nat. Ord. 

 Polypodiacece. 



L. cordifolia, the only species, is a very 

 interesting Fern, found in the higher eleva- 

 tions of Mexico. It requires the same treat- 

 ment as most green-house Ferns. 



Lloy'dia. Named after Edward Lloyd, who 

 first discovered the plant in North Wales. 

 Nat. Ord. Liliacece. 



A small genus of two species of bulbous 

 plants, the best known of which, L. serotina, 

 has white, solitary, erect flowers, veined ex- 

 ternally with green. It is found on the rocky 

 ledges of the Snowdon range in Wales, and 

 the mountains and Arctic regions of the 

 Northern hemisphere. Syn. Anthericum aero- 

 tinum. 



Loa'sa. The native name in South America. 

 Nat. Ord. LooaocecB. 



A genus of very curious climbing or creep- 

 ing plants, of annual or biennial duration, 

 having yellow, white, or scarlet flowers. The 

 seed should be sown in March in a gentle 

 heat, and after being gradually hardened the 

 plants may be removed to the borders of the 

 flower-garden. The leaves of all the species 

 have more or less of the irritating qualities of 

 the common Stinging Nettle. They are all 

 natives of Chili, and were introduced in 1822. 



Loasa'ceee. A natural order of herbs, with 

 rigid or stinging hairs, opposite or alternate, 

 exstipulate leaves, and showy flowers, natives 

 of tropical and sub-tropical America. The 

 species are of little economic value ; some of 

 them, from their stinging qualities are called 

 Chili Nettles. There are about ten genera 

 and 100 species, Loosa being the best known. 



Lobate. Lobed ; divided into a number of 

 segments. 



Lobately-crenate. Having deep crenatures, 

 or indentations. 



Lobe. A rounded projection or division of a 

 leaf or other organ. 



Lobelia. Named in honor of Matthew Lobel, 

 author of various botanical works. He was a 



