AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



LOP 



This is a genus of very handsome plants, 

 distinguished by having two filaments, of 

 which one bears an anther, and the other is 

 petal-like and abortive. The seed vessel is 

 four-valved, four-celled, and many seeded. 

 The species are all natives of Mexico, bearing 

 alternate, rarely opposite toothed leaves, and 

 terminal racemes of small purple or red 

 flowers. The biennials are green-house plants. 

 The seeds of the annuals may be sown 

 early, in a hot-bed or in the green-house, 

 and transplanted when they have made a 

 couple of leaves. They make very pretty 

 standard when trained and pinched during 

 the summer. On the approach of cold weather 

 they should be brought into the green-house, 

 where they will flower handsomely during the 

 winter. L. coronata, the Mosquito plant intro- 

 duced in 1804, is one of the best known 

 species, and is easily increased by cuttings, 

 or by seeds. 



Lopha'nthus. Giant Hyssop. From lophos, a 

 crest, and anthos, a flower ; in allusion to the 

 crested lip of the corolla. Nat. Ord. Labiatce. 

 A genus of hardy plants, with the habit of 

 Nepeta, natives of the northern United States 

 and eastern Asia. They are all hardy peren- 

 nials and grow well in any soil. 



Lophi'ola. A diminutive of lophos, a crest ; re- 

 ferring to the crested sepals. Nat. Ord. 

 Hcemodoracece. 



L. aurea, the only species, is a pretty, 

 slender, hardy herbaceous plant with yellow 

 flowers, densely woolly on the outside. It 

 succeeds best in a peaty soil in a damp situ- 

 ation, and will grow and flower well in pots 

 placed in pans of water; it is increased by 

 division of the roots. 



Lophospe'rmum. From lophos, a crest, and 

 sperma, a seed ; the seeds are furnished with 

 a crested wing. Nat. Ord. ScrophulariacecB. 



Handsome green-house climbers, bearing 

 numerous large rosy-purple flowers. They 

 are also adapted for the open air, and flower 

 well when trained against a wall or fence hav- 

 ing a south aspect in the flower garden, de- 

 lighting in an airy position, with rich earth to 

 grow in. Seed is also produced plentifully in 

 such positions ; and when this is secured it 

 saves the trouble of preserving plants through 

 the winter, as, if it is sown early in March, in 

 heat, and brought forward in pots, the young 

 plants bloom quite as soon, and are generally 

 more vigorous than those which have been 

 kept from the preceding year. L. scandens, 

 the species best known, is a native of Mexico, 

 and was introduced in 1834. 



Lop-seed. Phryma leptostachya. 



Loquat or Japan Medlar. Photinia (Eriobo- 

 trya) Japonica. 



Lorantha'ceae. A natural order of evergreen 

 shrubs with articulated branches, opposite, 

 exstipulate, fleshy leaves, and hermaphro- 

 dite, or unisexual flowers, parasitic on the 

 wood of other trees. Natives chiefly of the 

 equinoxial regions of Asia and America, but a 

 few are European and African. The fruit of 

 this order contains bird-lime, a peculiar vis- 

 cous, tenacious, and elastic substance. Mis- 

 tletoe, Viscum album, was formerly worshipped 

 by the Gauls ; it was also held sacred by the 

 Druids. The False Mistletoe, Phoradendron 

 Jlavescens, is our native species, so much in 



LOX 



demand for holiday decorations. There are 

 about thirteen genera, and five hundred spe- 

 cies. 



Lorate. Shaped like a thong or strap. 



Lord Anson's Pea. Lathyrus Magellanicus. 



Lords and Ladies. Arum maculatum. 



Lo'reya. Named after M. Lorey, a French 

 botanist and author of a " Flora of Burgundy," 

 1825. Nat. Ord. MelastomacecB. 



A small genus of ornamental trees, natives 

 of northern Brazil and Guiana. L. arbores- 

 cens, probably the only species yet introduced, 

 has white flowers borne in cymose panicles, 

 followed by a yellow edible berry, very like a 

 medlar. 



Lorope'talum. From loron, a thong, and peta- 

 lon, a petal ; referring to the long, thong-like 

 petals. Nat. Ord. Hamamelidacece. 



L. Chinense, the only species, is a very orna- 

 mental, free- flowering, hardy shrub, intro- 

 duced from the Khasia Mountains, and China, 

 in 1889. The flowers are white, disposed in 

 terminal, crowded, six to eight flowered heads, 

 It thrives in very rich, light soil, and is pro- 

 pagated by seeds or cuttings. 



Lo'tus. From Lotos of Theophrastus ; the true 

 Lotus is Zizyphus Lotus. Nat. Ord. Legumin- 

 osce. 



An extensive genus of hardy annuals and 

 herbaceous perennials, a few of which are 

 ornamental and are sometimes cultivated in 

 the borders. L. corniculatus, the Bird's-foot 

 Trefoil, with its double-flowered form, are 

 very handsome, dwarf, herbaceous plants with 

 bright yellow flowers, well-suited for the rock 

 garden. L. Jacobazus, a green-house plant, 

 has flowers more nearly black than almost 

 any known flower. It forms a neat bush and 

 is easily increased by cuttings. Several of the 

 species are forage plants. 



Lotus, Egyptian. Nymphea Lotus. 



Lousewort. One of the vulgar names of Pedi- 

 cularis Canadensis ; also called Wood Betony. 



Lovage. Ligusticum Scoticum. 



Love-Apple. A name formerly used for the 

 Tomato. 



Love Grass. A popular name for the genus 

 Eragrostis, which see. 



Love-in-a-Mist. Nigella Damascena. 



Love-in-idleness. Viola tricolor. 



Love-lies-bleeding. See Amaranthus caudatus. 



Love-Tree. A name sometimes given to the 

 Judas-tree, Cercis Siliquastrum. 



Lo'wea. Named after the Rev. Mr. Lowe, of 

 the University of Cambridge. Nat. Ord. 

 Rosacece. 



L. berberidifolia, the only species, is a very 

 singular and rare plant, native of northern 

 Persia, and the Soongari desert, first de- 

 scribed by Pallas, and by him referred to 

 Rosa, in which genus it is now replaced. It 

 is a neat little shrub, with yellow rose-like 

 flowers, with a purple spot at the base of 

 each petal, and simple obovate-cuneate ser- 

 rated glaucous foliage. It agrees perfectly in 

 the character of its flowers with Rosa, but 

 differs strikingly in its foliage, and is seldom 

 seen excepting in botanical collections. 



Loxoco'ccus. From loxos, oblique, and cokkos, 

 a berry ; oblique-fruited. Nat. Ord. Palmacece. 



