AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



251 



MES 



expand in the sunshine, and are well adapted 

 for a hot situation, one in which but little 

 else would thrive well. M. crystallinum, a 

 native of the Canary Islands and Greece, as 

 well as of the Cape of Good Hope, is the com- 

 mon Ice Plant of our gardens, so called in 

 consequence of every part of the leaf and 

 stalk being covered with small watery pus- 

 tules, which glisten in the sun like fragments 

 of ice. Large quantities of the plant are col- 

 lected in the Canaries and burned, the ashes be- 

 ing sent to Spain for use of glassmakei's. The 

 English name of Fig Marigold is applied to M. 

 edule, the fruit of which is shaped like a fig, 

 and which is eaten by the Hottentots ; and to 

 the flower, which resembles that of the Mari- 

 gold in shape, and sometimes in color. M. 

 cordifolium variegatum is remarkable for the 

 distinct variegation of its leaves, white and 

 green. It is a free-growing plant, well adapted 

 for rockeries, vases, or edgings to beds or 

 ribbon borders. This variety is increased by 

 cuttings, as the variegation is not constant in 

 plants grown from seed. All the species are 

 easily increased by cuttings. 



Mesopini'dium. "From mesos, medium-sized, 

 and spinidiom, a bird. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 

 A small genus of beautiful little Orchids 

 from the Andes of Peru, nearly allied to 

 Odontnglossum. M. sanguineum is one of the 

 most showy species, and is interesting on 

 account of its nodding racemes of rosy flow- 

 ers. The species are rarely seen in collec- 

 tions. They may be grown in a cool house, 

 must be sparingly watered, and are increased 

 by division ; introduced in 1867. 



Me'spilus. Medlar. From mesos, half, and 

 pilos, a ball ; referring to the shape of the 

 fruit of the Medlar. Nat. Ord. Rosacece. 



A genus of low-growing, hardy deciduous 

 trees, common to Europe. They are orna- 

 mental and produce an edible fruit of but little 

 value. They are good plants for shrubberies, 

 or for single specimens like the Hawthorn, 

 which they resemble somewhat in appearance. 



Mesquit or Meskit. Prosopis juliflora. 



Me'sua. Named after Mesue, the father and 

 on, two celebrated Arabian physicians and 

 botanists, who resided at Damascus, and 

 flourished in the eighth and ninth centuries. 

 Nat. Ord. Guttiferce. 



A small genus of tender evergreen trees 

 from tropical Asia, remarkable for their beauti- 

 ful foliage, and large, pure white axillary 

 flowers, which are highly fragrant. The flow- 

 ers, both fresh and dried, are sold in all the 

 Indian bazaars, under the name of Nagkesur, 

 being held in high esteem on account of their 

 fragrance. 



Metho'nica. A synonym of Gloriosa, which 

 see. 



Metrodo'rea. In memory of Metrodorus Sa- 

 bimis, said to have been the first draughtsman 

 of plants. Nat. Ord. Rutacece. 



M. atropurpurea, the only described 

 species, is a shrubby stove-house shrub with 

 purplish flowers borne in panicles. It is a 

 native of Mexico, introduced in 1851. 



Metrosi'deros. From metra, heart-wood, and 

 sideros, iron ; referring to the hardness of the 

 wood. Nat. Ord. Myrtacece. 



MIC 



A genus of lofty trees, climbers and shrubs, 

 natives of New Zealand. M. robusta is a tall 

 tree with a stout, erect trunk, and a branching 

 head of myrtle-like foliage, and showy, scarlet 

 or crimson flowers. The wood of this species 

 is very valuable for ship timber. M. tomentosa, 

 is called the Fire Tree by the colonists, on 

 account of its brilliant flowers. One or two 

 species are under cultivation in the green- 

 houses, where their bright scarlet flowers are 

 very effective. They were first introduced in 

 1787, and are propagated from cuttings of the 

 young wood. 



Metro'xylon. From metra, the heart of a tree ; 

 and xylon, wood, in allusion to the large pro- 

 portion of pith contained in the plant. Nat. 

 Ord. PalmacecB. 



A small genus of erect plant-stove palms, 

 natives of the Malayan Archipelago, New 

 Guinea, and the Fiji Islands. From the 

 trunks of M. Iceve and M. Rumphii part of the 

 sago of commerce is prepared. Syn. Sagus, 

 which see. 



Metterni'chia. Named after Prince Metternich, 

 of Austria, 1772-1859. Nat. Ord. Solanacece. 



A genus of handsome plant-stove evergreen 

 plants similar in habit to Brunsfelsia, natives 

 of South America. They have very showy 

 funnel-shaped flowers, with entire shining, 

 somewhat coriaceous leaves. They are closely 

 allied to Lisianthus. 



Me'um. From melon, small ; in allusion to the 

 leaves. Nat. Ord. Umbelliferce. 



A small genus of hardy herbaceous plants, 

 most of which are of but little merit. M. 

 athamalicum (Spignel), a native of Scotland, 

 is a plant of compact habit, with charmingly 

 cut foliage of most intense green ; its flowers 

 are of no importance, but its leaves are of 

 great value for decorative purposes. 



Mexican Fox Glove. See Trtranema. 



Mexican Tea. See Chenopodium. 



Mexican Thistle. See Erythrolcena. 



Mexican Tiger Flower. See Tigridia pavonia, 



Meye'nia. Named in honor of M. Meyen. Nat. 

 Ord. Acanthacece. 



M. erecta, the best known species, is a very 

 pretty green-house shrub with purple and 

 yellow flowers, introduced from West Africa 

 in 1857. The genus is now included under 

 Thunbergia, which see. 



Mezereon. A common name for Daphne Mez- 

 erium. 



Mice. Field. Are often very destructive to some 

 kinds of garden crops, particularly such plants 

 as are kept under glass in winter, such as 

 Vines in cold graperies, Cabbage, Lettuce or 

 such plants as are kept in cold frames. They 

 are easily destroyed by any of the methods 

 used for the destruction of the ordinary mice 

 or rats. 



Michaelmas Daisy. The English name for the 

 genus Aster. 



Micha'uxia. Named after A. Michaux, a French 

 botanist. Nat. Ord. Campanulacece. 



A genus of hardy biennials, chiefly found in 

 the Levant. They are allied to the Cam- 

 panulas, and are of easy culture. M. cam- 

 panuloides is a remarkable and highly orna- 

 mental plant, growing from three to eight 

 feet high. The flowers are white, tinged 



