Melothria 



(69) 



Menziesia 



MELOTHRIA. 



Climbing herbs (an/. Cucurbitaceas), needing a 

 stove heat. They may be raised from seeds, and 

 grown in rich loamy soil in the same way as the 

 tropical Gourds (see GouiiDS). They are un- 

 common, and chiefly found in botanic establish- 

 ments. 



Principal Species : 

 abyssinica, per., yel. , peudula, aim., yel., fruits 



small, fruits or., round. ovate globular, 



heterophylla, Iv*. grii., puuctata, Ivs. grn., wh. 

 margined silver, tuber- dotted (si/us. Zelmeria 



i ins rooted: a pretty cl. suavis and scabra, and 



(.<//(. Zelmeria hastata). Pilogyue suavis). 



MEMECYLON (syn. SCCTULA). 



A large genus of trees and shrubs J(ord. Me- 

 lastomaceje), whose qualifications are wholly 

 economic. Some of the species yield valuable dyes, 

 and rdule has edible but rather astringent berries. 

 The plants are not cultivated in Britain, and are 

 not likely to be. The flowers are white or light blue. 



MENISCIUM. 



A small genus of handsome stove Ferns (ord. 

 Filices), wliose strong point is their beautiful 

 venation. With the exception of simplex, which is 

 suitable for small Wardian cases, they are all of 

 vigorous habit, and in a state of nature are found 

 on the borders of streams. They do best when 

 treated as sub-aquatics, although the water must 

 not be stagnant. Propagation is usually effected 

 by division of the crowns in spring, the divisions 

 being started into growth in a close case, but 

 spores also germinate freely, and there is no diffi- 

 culty in working up a stock in this way. Loam 

 and fibrous peat in equal parts, with a few pieces 

 of broken bricks or charcoal, suit them well. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 

 angustifolium, fronds H' simplex, barren fronds (>" 



to '2' long. to 9" long, fertile ones 



reticulatum, fronds 2' to smaller, rootstock creep- 



4' loug, pinnate. Ma- ing ; good for case. 



crophyllum and oligo- Thwaitesii, fronds 8" to 



phyllum are two well 10" long. 



marked vars. triphyllum, fronds 6" to 



fierratum, fronds 3' to 4' 8" long. 



long (si/ a. palustre). 



Other Species : 

 deltigerum (now Acros- gigauteuin, fronds 1^' to 



ticmim virens). 2' long ; rare in culti- 



vation. 



MENISPERMUM. (MOONSEED.) 

 Climbing deciduous shrubs (ord. Menisperm- 

 ace), not at all well known. They may be 

 increased by root division and by cuttings in 

 spring. A good loamy soil will do. Canadense is 

 an excellent subject for clothing a damp and shadv 

 wall. 



Principal Species : 



dauricura, 9', Je., yel., 

 wh., Ivs. smaller than 

 those of canadense. 



canadense, sum. , hdy, , 

 yel., Ivs. large and 

 shield-shaped. 



MENTHA. (MINT.) 



A large genus of plants (ord. Labiatrc), princi- 

 pally hardy and herbaceous in their habit, and 

 well known from their aromatic odour, and the 

 culinary uses of some of the species. Those 

 most in use are piperita, the Peppermint ; viridis, 

 the Spearmint (see MINT) ; and Pulegium, the 

 IVnnyroyal (see PENNYROYAL). Only a few are 



Meniocns (see Alyxsum). 



ornamental in the garden, but Requieni is a 

 neat rockery plant, and rotundifolia variegata is a 

 pretty variegated form ; while Pulegium gibral- 

 tarica is used for carpet bedding. Propagated by 

 division or by cuttings in autumn or early spring, 

 and grown in any ordinary moist soil. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 

 aquatica, 1', sum., pur. piperita, 2', aut., pur. 



(SI/HX. citrata and odo- Pulegium, 4", Aug., pur. 



rata). Bergamot Mint. gibraltarica, dwarfer 



citrata, a smooth fra- and more compact. Gib- 

 grant, rare var. Ber- raltar Mint. 



gamot Mint. viridis, 2', Aug., pur. 



crispa, Ivs. crisped. 



Other Species : 



arveusis, 9", Aug., pur. sub-species or var. of 



cauadensis, 1', Jy., pur. aquatica. 



gentilis, 1', Jy., pur. Requieni, 1", Jy,, creep- 



crispa (sijns. dentata ing, pur. (syn. Thymus 

 and pratensis crispa). corsicus). 



variegata, Ivs. varie- sylvestris, 1', Jy., pur. 

 gated. (sijits. iucana and lavan- 



hirsuta, 1', sum., pur. A dulacea). 



MENTZELIA. 



Hardy annual, biennial or perennial herbs (ord. 

 Loaseas), with white or orange flowers. The Bar- 

 tonias are now included with the Mentzelias (see 

 BARTONIA for cultural details). The correct name 

 of the plant spoken of as Bartouia aurea is Ment- 

 zelia Lindleyi. 



Principal Species : 

 gronoviatfolia, 1', sum., sum., hdy. ann. (syn. 



hdy. ami., yel. (syiis. Bartouia aurea). 



Eucnide and Micros- omata, 2', Sep., hdy. ann., 



perrna bartonioides,aud wh. (syn. Bartonia de- 



Ment/elia Bartonia). capetafa of Botanical 



Lindleyi, 8" to 12", spr., Magazine 1487). 



Other Species : 

 hispida, H', Je., Jy.,hdy. larvicaulis, 2', sum., hdy. 



per., yel. bien., yel. 



oligosperma, 2', My., Je., 

 hdy. per., yet 



MENYANTHES. (BUCK BEAN, Boa 

 BEAN.) 



Several plants formerly included in this genus 

 (ord. Gentianeje), will be found under LIMXAN- 

 TREMUM and VILLARSIA. Trifoliata, the only 

 member of the genus now, is a pretty native, pro- 

 cumbent, bog plant, with lovely fringed white 

 flowers, produced in May. It may be planted in 

 a bog. or close to the edge of a pond. 



MENZIESIA. 



Hardy, Heath-like shrubs (ord. Ericaceae), from 

 North America and Japan. They are not difficult 

 to grow, and thrive in rock gardens or in borders 

 if given a rather moist, peaty soil. In most cases, 

 therefore, it is necessary to prepare the positions 

 for them. They may be increased by dividing the 

 strongest tufts in spring, but the operation must 

 be cleanly performed ; also by cuttings beneath a 

 hand-glass, and by layers. 



Principal Species : 



ferruginea, G", My., br. pk. (./. ferruginea 



globularis, 2' to a', My., globularis). 



Other Species : 

 cooruleaof Sweet, 2', My., empetrifornuVHotcBryan- 



lil. (*//. Bryanthus thus empetnformis). 



taxifolius, by Index glabella, early sum., pur. 



KewuiKix). polifolia (see Daboecia 



polifolia). 



Me ratio (see ChinuHumthvt). 



