Lachnanthes 



( 468 ) 



Laelia 



A Selection of Garden forms : 



Cawston Gem, yel., Hector of Cawston, yel., 



flushed pk. red. 



Garnet, yel., tipped red. Ruby, sc., yel., grn. 



Topaz, yel., tipped pur. 



LACHNANTHES. 



One species only goes to make up this genus 

 (ord. Hasmodoracese). Tinctoria is a half-hardy, 

 sub-aquatic perennial, the roots yielding a red dye. 

 It may be propagated by division of the rools in 

 spring. (CONSUMPTION PLANT.) 



LACHNOSTOMA. 



Stove and greenhouse herbs (ord. Asclepiadea;), 

 occasionally twiners, with small flowers. Propaga- 

 tion, by cuttings rooted in sand, in heat. Soil, 

 equal parts of loam and sandy peat. 



Principal Species : 



maritunum, Je., Jy., st., lobus maritimus of 



_-grn., pur. (ayii. Gono- liotaiiical Itegister 931). 



LACKEY MOTH. 



The female of the Lackey Moth (Borubyx neustria) 

 lays her eggs on the Apple, as well as the Oak, Elm, 

 iind other forest trees, and the larvae frequently 

 form large colonies. The moths are on the wing in 

 July and August ; they have yellow fore wings, paler 

 hind wings, and reddish brown head, thorax, and 

 abdomen. The larva: usually hatch in the following 

 April. At first they are black, but ultimately they 

 become striped red, blue, yellow, and white, and 

 are thus very conspicuous. Spraying in the winter 

 with the soda-potash solution (see INSECTICIDES) 

 is the best remedy. The eggs, when noticed on 

 the branches, should also be destroyed. They may 

 be found in the form of circular bands, firmly 

 attached to the twigs. The colonies of caterpillars 

 may often be brushed from the tree before they 

 leave the web nest, and large numbers destroyed. 

 Fowls eat the caterpillars which drop from the 

 trees, and if the ground is kept clear of weeds 

 they will account for most of the larvae that fall. 



LACTUCA. 



A large genus (ord. Composite) of hardy but 

 somewhat weedy annual and perennial herbs, of 

 which Scariola, the cultivated Lettuce, is the most 

 important member (see LETTUCE). The flower 

 heads are blue or yellow, but none of the species is 

 of any decorative value. All the Lactucas possess 

 in abundance a milky juice, which has strong 

 narcotic properties. Propagation, by division of 

 the roots for the perennials; by seed for the 

 annuals. Any fairly fertile garden soil will suit 

 the plants very well. 



Principal Species : 



alpiua, 3', Jy., per., pur. 



(//n. Mulgedium alpi- 



uum). 

 gigantea, sum.,hdy., vio., 



bl., garden form (/. 



Mulgedium gigan- 



teum). 

 macrorhiza, 3', aut. , per., 



Other Species : 

 macrophylla, 4', Jy., pk., 



pur. 

 pereuuis, '2', Je., Aug., bl. 



vio., pur. (./. Mulge- 

 diura maerorhizon of 



17). 

 Scariola, 3', Je., ann. , yel. 



(nyii. sativa). Common 



Lettuce. 

 tuberosa, 1' to 1.1', aut., 



per., bl. 



Pluimeri,G',sum.,per. ,pur. 



raceraosa, sum., aut., per. , 

 bl. (*I/H. albana, and 

 Mulgedium albanum). 



Lacinaria of some American authors is Liatris. 

 Lacostea (see Tricltomanes). 



LADYBIRDS. 



At one time Ladybirds or Ladycows (Coccinelln') 

 were held to be sacred to .the Virgin, and probably 

 this honour arose out of some idea of the services 

 they rendered to man. Now they are regarded as 

 one of the gardener's best friends, as their larvae 

 feed upon aphides, which infest various crops. 

 Their appearance is familiar to everybody. The 

 larvae are curious little grubs, with prominent spots. 



Phuta : Castcll <t Comimuy, Ltd. 



LiELIO-CATTLEYA HIGHBU1UENSIS (sec p. 470> 



LAELIA. 



A large and important genus of tropical epiphytic 

 Orchids (ord. Orchidaceie). They are closely 

 allied to Cattleya, the only difference being that 

 the Lselias have eight pollen masses and the 

 Cattleyas four. The members of the two genera 

 readily cross, and the close affinity betwen the twV 

 is thus more strongly established. Moreover, Lirlias 



Fern (see Asple-nium Vilix-fmnina). 

 I-ady's Garters (see Phalaris arundinace:i). 

 Lady's Mantle (see Alchemilla). 

 lady's Smock (.nee Cardamine). 



