Melaleuca 



65 ) 



Melasphserula 



MELALEUCA. 



There are about 100 species in this genus (nnl. 

 Myrtaceas), chiefly greenhouse evergreen trees or 

 shrubs. Propagation is by sliort cuttings of semi- 

 matured shoots under a bell-glass in May. Peat 

 and sandy loam, in equal parts, make an excellent 

 compost. The recommendations of the genus are 

 economic rather than decorative. The bark of 

 Leucadendron, the Cajeputi or Cajuput Tree, is jsed 

 by the Australian aborigines for making tinder, 

 and from the variety minor is obtained the volatile 

 Cajuput Oil, used internally as a stimulant, and 

 externally as a liniment. 



Principal Species and Variety : 



Leueadeudrou, 1;V to 20', minor, dwarfer. 

 st. , wh. in spikes. 



Other Species : - 



aTlnilluris, 6' to 8', Je., 



shr., wh. 



coronata (see thymifolin). 

 decussata, 20', Aug., shr., 



lil. 

 diosmifolia, 3' to 10', Je. , 



shr., grn., yel. 

 Fraseri (fee st riata). 

 fulgens, 6' to 20', Jy., 



Sep., shr., sc. 

 genistifolia, 30' to 40', Je., 



red. 

 hypericifolia, 10' to 20', 



Jy. , Aug., sc. 

 incana, 3', Jy., yel., wh. 



pulchella, 2' to 3', Je., 



Sep., shr., red. 

 squamea, 4 , Je., shr., 



reddish pur., wh., or 



yel. 

 sijuaiTosa, 6' to 10', Je., 



Aug., shr., yel., \vh. 

 striata, 4', Je., shr., pk. 



("i/H. Fraseri of Mu- 



ttimcal Magazine 3210). 

 styphelioides, 4' to 20', 



My., Jy., shr., wh. 

 thymifolia, 2', Je., Sep., 



shr. ,pur. (KI/H . coronata) . 

 Wilsom, shr., red. 



MELAMPODIUM. 



An obscure genus of stove, greenhouse, or hardy 

 herbs and sub-shrubs (ord. Composita;), chiefly 

 from the warmer parts of America. Paludosum 

 (xi/m. divaricatum and ovalifolium) and perfolia- 

 tum have been introduced, but neither is of any 

 garden value. 



MELAMPYRUM. (Cow WHEAT.) 

 Hardy annual herbs (ord. Scrophularinene) with 

 brightly coloured flowers. All are more or less 

 parasitic on roots of neighbouring plants, and seeds 

 may be sown in spring amongst short Grass. 



Principal Species : 



arvense, 1* to 2', Jv., 

 Aug. ro., vel. Britain. 

 Purple Cow- Wheat. 



cristutum, 6" to 18", Sep., 



Oct., yel., tipped pur. 

 Britain. 



pratense, 6" to 18", My., 

 Aug., yel. Britain. 

 Yellow Cow Wheat. 



MELANORRHCEA. (BLACK VARNISH 

 TREE.) 



Tall-growing stove evergreen trees (ord. Ana- 

 cardiaceie), propagated by cuttings of the ripe 

 shoots in a close frame, in sand, in a brisk bottom 

 heat. Soil, sandy peat and loam in equal parts. 

 Usita yields the black varnish of commerce. The 

 tree is tapped, and the thick white juice thus 

 obtained is subsequently exposed to the air until 

 it turns black. It must be kept under water to 

 preserve it in condition. 



Principal Species : 



u.-iia. Inn', si., red (.<//. usitatissima). 



Mclanuhrymm (see fiazan.ia). 



Metanocarjmm Sj/rvrei (xi-c flcurujtctahim cm- 



tariff//. v}. 

 Melanoselinttm (see T/iajmia). 



35 



MELANTHERA. 



Herbs and sub-shrubs (ord. Compositic) of little 

 garden value and rarely grown. They may be 

 propagated by seeds and root division in spring 

 Ordinary soil. 



Principal Species : 



deltoidea, 3', Jy., Aug., 

 st., yel. (yn, Calea 

 aspera). 



hastata, 3' to G', Je.. Jv., 

 hlf-hdy., wh. 



paudurata, Ivs. fiddle 

 shaped. 



MELANTHIUM (syn. LBIMANTHIUM). 

 A small genus of hardy bulbs (ord. Liliaceas) 

 from North America. They are not much grown, 





' 



MELIANTHUS MAJOR (c p. 06) 



and are of little worth. Propagation, by seeds 

 and offsets. Ordinary soil. 



Principal Species : 



viiginloum, 3" to 5", Jy., cream, yel., br. (syn. 

 Helonias virginica of Jiatanieal Maga:ine 985). 

 Bunch Flower. 



MELASMA (syns. GASTROMEKIA, LYNCEA, 

 and NIGRINA). 



Roughly hairy herbs (ord. Scrophularinese) 

 needing a stove or greenhouse temperature, but 

 rarely, if ever, cultivated, and of no value. 



MELASPH^ERULA (syns. ANGUSSA 

 and DlASlA). 



The one species in this genus (ord. Irkleso) is a 

 pretty greenhouse bulbous subject, very free 

 flowering, and easy to grow. It may be placed 

 with the Ixias, and treated like them. 



Melarhiza (sec M"i/i-t/iin]. 

 Melasj>i>tfpa (see J 



