Opercularia 



( 137 ) 



Opopanax 



to gardeners, for in many fungoid pests, notably in 

 Phytophthora and Peronospora (which see), this 

 resting spore is developed to tide the fungus over 

 the winter and begin the work of infection anew 

 in the spring and summer. The oospore has a 

 much thicker cell wall than the swarm or summer 

 spore, and is thus able to withstand a considerable 

 degree of cold, as well as the effects of damp or 

 long continued drought. 



OPERCULARIA. 



Australian greenhouse herbs or sub-shrubs (ord. 

 llubiacese), occasionally twiners. Propagation is 

 by seeds, sown in spring, on a gentle hotbed ; also 

 by cuttings of young shoots, at the same season, 

 anil by root division just as growth is starting. 

 Soil, sandy loam, fibrous peat, and leaf soil, in 

 equal parts, with a few pieces of charcoal and a 

 little sand. The species are rarely seen in gardens. 



Principal Species : 



aspera, 1', Je., grh. sub- 

 shr., wh., flower heads 

 globular (xytt. ocimi- 

 folia). 



hispida, 1', Jy., 

 sub-shr., flowers 

 heads small, 

 roughly hairy. 



grh. 



wh., 



lV8. 



OPHIOCAULON. 



Three or four species of climbing shrubs or herbs 

 (ord. 1'assiflorese). All need a stove temperature. 

 They may be propagated in the same way as Passi- 

 floras, and like sandy loam and leaf mould in equal 

 parts for soil. The plants are liable to damp off 

 during the autumn and winter unless they are kept 

 rather dry. 



Principal Species : 



cissampeloides, st., Ivs. grn., mottled wh., dotted 

 blk. (sijn. Passiflora marmorata of gardens). 



OPHIOGLOSSUM. (ADDER'S or SNAKE'S 

 TONGUE FERNS.) 



A small genus (ord. Filices) of curious Ferns, 

 whose sporangia, borne on a long, narrow spike, 

 have given rise to the popular name of Adder's 

 Tongue Ferns. The barren fronds are usually 

 entire. None of them have great decorative 

 value, and yet their curious appearance has se- 

 cured for them considerable attention. They do 

 best when planted out in a damp spot either under 

 glass or outdoors, according to the character of the 

 species. Propagation is by division. Soil, loam 

 and sphagnum moss in equal parts, with sand. 

 Plenty of water is a necessity, but stagnant condi- 

 tions must be avoided. 



Principal Species and 



pahnatum, fronds 8" to 

 20" high, lobed, grh., 

 epiphytal. 



vulgatum, fronds 3" to 

 9" loug, spike about 1" 

 long. British. Common 

 Adder's Tongue. 

 Other Species: 



bulbosum, fronds 2"to 4" 

 long, spike ^" to 4" 

 long, hlf-hdy., root- 

 stock tuberous (syn. 

 tuberosum) . 



lusitanicurn, fronds 1" to 

 3" loug, spike $" to V 

 long, hlf-hdy., roo't- 

 stock a little tuberous. 



Varieties : 



ambiguura, a Jwarfer 

 form with a longer 

 spike, hdy. 



pedunculosum, st. 



polyphyllum, an Azo- 

 rean var. 



pendulum, fronds 1' to 

 IJ'long, I"to3"broad, 

 pendulous, st. Furcat- 

 um is probably a var. 



reticulatum, fronds 6" to 

 12" long, spike 1" high, 

 st. 



scandens (nee Lygodium 

 scaudens). 



Opera' Girls (see Mantitia). 

 Ophelia, (see Smertia). 



OPHIOPOGON. 



Interesting, but not showy, hardy or half-hardy 

 perennial herbs (ord. HEemodoraceae), with racemes 

 of small flowers, and narrow leaves. In cold 

 districts they must be kept under glass in winter ; 

 and all make good pot plants, especially those 

 w_ith variegated foliage. They are propagated by 

 division in spring, and like a sandy soil. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



variegatus, bl., Ivs. 



striped, grn., wh. 

 japonicus, lj_', Je., wh. 



i. Fliiggea japonica). 

 variegatus, Ivs. striped 



yellowish wh. 

 spicatus of Ker and 



Hooker is Liriope spi- 



cata. 



iutermedius, H', sum., 

 liL (-v/. spicatus of 

 Don, japonicus iuter- 

 inedius, and Fliiggea 

 intermedia). 



wallichiauus. 



- argenteo-marginatus, 

 wh., Ivs. margined wh. 

 Jaburaii, .1' to H', Jy., 

 wh., tender. 



OPHRYS. 



Interesting and pretty hardy or half-hardy ter- 

 restrial Orchids (ord. Orchidacese), which are very 

 suitable for growing in the rock garden or in a 

 frame, in a sandy loam of a calcareous nature. 

 They are propagated by division of the tubers. 

 The best for growing outdoors are apifera, aran- 

 ifera, and muscifera, all natives of Britain. The 

 nomenclature of the Ophrys is very confused. 



Principal Species : 



apifera, 1', Ap., grn., ro. 

 Bee Orchis. 



alba, wh. 

 Arachnites, 1', Ap., grn., 



ro. 

 aranifera, 6", grn., hr. 



Spider Orchis. 

 Bertolouii, 1', Ap., ro. 



maroon, 

 bombilifera, 9",gru. , br. 



Humble Bee Orchis. 



lutea, 4" to 8", yel., br. 



(/. vespifera of Brot., 



not Willdenow). 

 muscifera, 9", My., pur. 



Fly Orchis. 

 Speculum, 1', Ap., grn., 



bl. , maroon, 

 tenthredinifera, 9", Ap., 



various. 



OPLISMENUS. 



A small genus (ord. Graminese), and until 

 recently an obscure one. Oplismenuses may be 

 propagated by division, and by seeds, which are 

 produced with considerable freedom. Soil, loam 

 and leaf mould in equal parts, with one-sixth of 

 the whole sand. Plenty of water is needed. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



Burmauuii albidulus, st. . compositus m'rtellus, Jy., 



or grh., smaller, dwar- st. or grh., Ivs. H" to 



fer, and whiter than 24" long (syns. hirtellus 



variegatus, which it and Orthopogou hirtel- 



resembles. lus). 



variegatiu, the correct loliaceus, Jy., Aug., st. 



name of Pauicum orgrh.,lvs.2"to4"long 



variegatum of gardens. (<//. loliaceus and Or- 

 thopogou loliaceus). 



OPOPANAX (syn. OPOPONAX). 



A hardy perennial herb (ord. Umbelliferae) of 

 rather coarse ami weedy habit, and of no great 

 value. It may be consigned to the wild garden. 

 Sec. Is sown in the open ground in spring germinate 



Ophiopteris (see Oleandra). 

 Opkiosfiirodon (see Allinitt). 

 Ophiospermmn (see Aquilaria). 

 OpMostacliys (see Chamtelirimn). 

 Ophioxylon (nee Raurvollia). 

 Opime Plant (see Plertranthtiit). 

 Opium Puppy (see Papavi-r gomniferum). 



