Akebia 



C 26 



Aletrls 



Other Species: 

 orientalis, 1-V, My., bl. pyramidalis, 9", Je., bl. 



AKEBIA. (^.rupestris). 



A pretty, but not showy, creeping or twining 

 shrub (ord. Barberideoe). Four species are recog- 

 nised, but only two at present available. Propa- 

 gated by cuttings and division of roots. Loam, 

 sand, leaf mould, and peat suit them. Akebias do 

 best against a wall or a trellis, unless in warm 

 localities, where they can be trained to ramble 

 over shrubs. Protection from frost is desirable. 

 They thrive in a cold greenhouse. 



Principal Species : 



lobata, 10', Feb., pur. Not so desirable for 

 outside as quinata. Flowers in a drooping raceme. 



quinata, 10', Mch., pur. br., in racemes from 

 the axils of the leaves. A pretty, fragrant species. 



ALANGIUM. 



These are fruit-bearing trees from Malabar (ord. 

 Cornacero), but the fruit is of no value to Euro- 

 peans. They are handsome trees that require the 

 temperature of a stove and a good light sandy loam. 

 Propagation by cuttings, in sand, under a bell-glass 

 with bottom heat. 



Principal Species : 



decapetalum, 15', Je., pur. 



hexapetalum, 20' to 30', Je., pur. 



Lamarckii, 15', Je., pur, 



ALBERTA. 



A genus composed of two or three South African 

 shrubs (ord. Kubiacese), bearing glossy evergreen 

 leaves and erect terminal panicles of flowers. One 

 lias not long been in cultivation, but has been 

 found to succeed in a warm greenhouse, in light, 

 well-drained soil. Raised from seeds. 



Principal Species : 



magna, (>', Feb., Mch., bright red. 



ALBINO. 



Many plants with brilliant flowers show a con- 

 siderable amount of variation, and occasionally 

 give either a pure white or a green and white 

 form. Such forms are known as albinos, because 

 all the colour has disappeared from them. Orchids 

 are often extremely variable, but pure white forms 

 of coloured species are not common even among 

 them, and when found command an extremely 

 high price by reason of their rarity. 



ALEIZZIA. 



Cool greenhouse trees and shrubs (ord. Legumin- 

 os:c), much resembling some of the Acacias, but 

 requiring warmer conditions. 



Principal Species : 



Lebbek, 10', My., pk. lophantha, 12', Ap., pale 

 (/. Acacia Lebbek). yel. 



Other Species : 



Julibrissin, 6', Aug., wh. odoratissima, 6', My., yel. 

 (si/n. Nemu). procera, 8', My., yel. 



ALBUCA. 



Greenhouse bulbs (ord. Liliacea3). Propagation 

 by offsets or seeds ; soil, loam, leaf mould, and sand. 

 Bulbs may be planted in a border beneath the 

 shadow of a greenhouse or stove after the manner 



Alaternus (see Rhainmis). 



of the Belladonna Lily ; ample protection must be 



afforded in the winter, or the bulbs will be de- 

 stroyed by frost. 



Principal Species : 



aurea, 1J', Je., yel., grn. Nelsouii, Si,', Je., wh. , red. 



Other Species : 



abyssiuica, 2', Aug., wh. fastigiata, 2', Je. , wh, 



Allense, 24', Jy., wh., grn. fibrosa, 1', Je., grn., yel. 



altissima, 4', My., wh. fragrans, 1', Jy., grn., yel. 



augolensis, 3', Je., grn., minor, 1', My., yel. 



yel. setosa, 1', Je., grn. 



caudata, 2', Je., yel. spiralis, 9", Je., wh. 



coarctata, 2', Je., wh. viridiflora, 1', Je., gru. 



Cooperi, 1', gru., yel. viscosa, 1'. Je., grii., wh. 

 Wakeh'eldii, 1', Jy., grn. 



ALCHEMILLA. (LADY'S MANTLE.) 



Dwarf herbaceous plants (ord. Rosacefe), usually 

 hardy, with yellow or green inconspicuous flowers. 

 The leaves of some have the under surfaces silky. 

 Propagated by seeds or division of the roots. Any 

 good, well-drained soil. The front of the border or 

 the rock garden is the best position. 



Principal Species : 



alpina, (i", Je. A favourite native plant with 

 pretty leaves, silvery beneath. Conjuncta is 

 probably only a var. of this, 9", Jy. (syn. 

 argentea). 

 fissa, 6", Je. (nyii. pyrenaica). vulgaris, 9", Je. 



Other Species : 



pentaphylla, 4", Je. sibbaldiaefolia, G". grh., 



sericea, 6", My. wh. 



ALCOVE. 



A recess in a hedge, or any similar position, 

 with overhanging climbers, such as Jasmine, 

 Honeysuckle, and others, and having seats within. 

 Alcoves are pleasant adjuncts to any garden. 



ALDER. 



A hardy deciduous tree which much affects 

 swampy positions, or situations by the side of 

 streams and ponds, where its roots are in the 

 water. The sap wood is white, and the heart 

 wood light brown. Alder wood is much used in 

 the manufacture of brush backs, and generally 

 fetches a good price. The Alder is frequently 

 grown as covert in swampy districts, and it affords 

 excellent shelter if cut back to the stools every 

 six or seven years. 



For species and varieties s?e ALNUS. 



ALECTRYON. 



New Zealand trees (ord. Sapindacerc), remark- 

 able for their long and singular fruits; which, in 

 the case of the principal species, ruptures trans- 

 versely, showing the single black seed set in a 

 brilliant scarlet coat. This is the New Zealand 

 "Titoki." Greenhouse plants, of no horticultural 

 value in this country. Propagation by seeds or 

 cuttings ; loam and sand. 



Principal Species : 



excelsum, 20', My. 



ALETRIS. 



North American hardy herbaceous perennials 

 (ord. Haamodoracese), that thrive in any fertile 

 soil in a shady situation ; propagation by seeds 

 when procurable, and offsets. Allied to the 

 Amaryllids. 



Alburnum, sec Glossary. 



