AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



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New Guinea, and tho Fiji Islands. They 

 have perforated or pinnated leaves on long, 

 channeled stalks. The species are cultivated 

 in their native countries for their fruit, which 

 is considered to have powerful medicinal 

 properties. Several of the species are to be 

 found in collections of plants with ornamental 

 foliage. S. aryrceus, a comparatively late in- 

 troduction from the East Indies, has ovate, 

 acuminate leaves, very silvery and glossy on 

 the surface. It is an excellent subject for 

 covering bare walls in the plant-stove, the 

 trunks of tree Ferns, etc. They are all prop- 

 agated by cuttings, and are mostly known 

 under the name Pothos. Syns. Pythos, and 

 Raphidophora. 



Scion or Cion. A cutting or twig intended for 

 a graft. 



Sci'rpus. Club Grass or Rush. From the 

 Celtic, cirs, Rushes. Nat. Ord. Cyperacece. 



An extensive genus of sedge grasses having 

 a wide geographical range. Some of the spe- 

 cies furnish considerable pasture for cattle in 

 the salt marshes of Europe, as well as this 

 country. S. tuberosa, is grown in China for 

 its esculent roots. S. Holoschcznus variegatus, 

 is a very ornamental hardy species, the erect 

 terete stems being banded with alternate 

 zones of white and green. S. Taberncemontani 

 zebrina, the Banded Rush, is .a beautifully 

 variegated species introduced by Mr. Thomas 

 Hogg from Japan. It is a plant of singular 

 beauty, the variegation, like that of Eulalia 

 zebrina, instead of running lengthwise, runs at 

 right angles to the stem ; or, in other words, 

 the variegation is horizontal instead of vertical. 

 A group of the stems suggests that of a clus- 

 ter of porcupine quills. S. punyens is com- 

 mon throughout the United States in swampy 

 meadows and muddy margins of rivers, and is 

 the species chiefly used in this country in 

 making the seats of rush-bottomed chairs. S. 

 lacustris, the Bulrush, is extensively used 

 for the same and similar purposes in most 

 parts of Europe. S. riparius, is now the 

 recognized name of Isolepis gracilis, a favorite 

 plant for basket work and green-house deco- 

 ration. 



Scitami'neae. A large natural order of peren- 

 nial herbs, almost entirely tropical, including 

 many plants of considerable size, and all re- 

 markable for their leaves, which are often 

 large, the petiole usually forming a sheath, 

 the blade being sessile or petiolate above the 

 sheath. Arrow-root and Ginger are derived 

 from the rhizomes of Maranta arundinacea and 

 Zingiber qfficinalis, respectively. The fruits 

 of Amomum, called Cardamons, are esteemed 

 for their stomachic qualities. The well- 

 known Plantain and Banana, Musa sapientum 

 and M. paradisiaca, also belong to this genus, 

 with several other species of great economic 

 value. Bentham and Hooker regard Can- 

 necB, Marantece, Musece, and Zingiberecs as 

 tribes of Scitaminem. Alpinia, Canna, Carcuma, 

 Maranta, and Musa are good representatives 

 of the order. 



Sclarea. A genus now included under Salvia 

 as S. Sclarea. 



Sclerotha'mnus. From skleros, hard, and tham- 

 noa, a shrub; alluding to the rigid aspect of 

 the bush. Nat. Ord. Leguminosce. 



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S. microphyllus, the only described species, 

 is a small, much-branched, wiry-stemmed, 

 evergreen, ornamental shrub from western 

 Australia, closely allied to Pultencea. The 

 specific name, microphyllus, alludes to the 

 minute heath-like leaves, which are closely 

 set and bear in their axils the solitary pale- 

 yellow flowers. It is now placed by Bentham 

 and Hooker with Eutaxia, under the name of 

 E. Empetrifolia. 



Scobiform. Resembling Sawdust. 



Scoke Berry. A common name for Phytolacca 

 decandra. 



Scolope'ndrium. Hart's Tongue. From Scolo- 

 pendria, a centipede ; the appearance of the 

 seed or spore-cases. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 

 A small genus of interesting green-house or 

 hardy Fernsi found generally in temperate and 

 tropical regions. S. vulgare, the common 

 Hart's Tongue, Burnt-weed, Christ's-hair, etc., 

 has flaccid, bright green fronds, six to eighteen 

 inches long, with undulated margins. Many 

 varieties of this, one of the most common of 

 British Ferns, are in cultivation, and present a 

 wonderful series of variations from the 

 normal state of the plant. This species is 

 occasionally found in central New York and 

 some other localities in this country, but it is 

 quite rare. The well-known -Walking Fern, 

 Camptosorus rhizophyllum, is placed under 

 this genus by some botanists. They are gen- 

 erally found on shady limestone rocks or 

 cliffs, and, when cultivated, require a moist, 

 somewhat shaded situation. Many of the 

 varieties make interesting pot-plants. 



Sco'lymus. Golden Thistle. From stolon, a 

 thorn; the plants are spiny. Nat. Ord. Com- 

 posites. 



A genus of hardy, herbaceous plants, com- 

 mon in tho south of Europe. S. Hispanicus, 

 the Spanish Oyster-Plant, has simple fusiform 

 roots, soft and sweet like Scorzonera, and are 

 by many nighly esteemed as a vegetable. The 

 leaves and stalks also aboun, with a milky 

 juice, and the people of Salamanca eat it in 

 the same manner as Cardoons. The flowers 

 are used to adulterate saffron. 



Scopo'lia. Named in honor of John A. Scopoli, 

 Professor of Natural History at Pavia, 1732- 

 1788. Nat. Ord. Solanacew. 



A genus of spiny shrubs and trees, natives 

 of tropical Asia, Australia, Japan and Russia. 

 S. carniolica, and S. lurida, are desirable 

 hardy plants on account of their pretty red, 

 yellow and purplish flowers being produced 

 early in spring. They are interesting and 

 curious plants, and are increased by division 

 of the roots. 



Scorpion Grass. A popular name for the 

 Myosotis. 



Scorpion Plant. Renanthera arachnitis, and 

 Genista Scorpius. 



Scorpion Senna. Coronilla Emerus. 



Scorpiu'rus. Caterpillars. From scorpios, a 

 scorpion, and oura, a tail ; alluding to the 

 twisted form of the legumes. Nat. Ord. 

 LeguminoscB. 



A small genus of very curious, half-hardy 

 annuals, natives of the Mediterranean regions. 

 The flowers are yellow, pea-shaped ; the pods 

 have a fancied resemblance to caterpillars, 

 whence their common name. The pods are 



