Sphacele 



( 351 ) 



Spigelia 



SPHACELE. 



Warm greenhouse shrubs or sub-shrnbs (ord. 

 I,;tbiata3), nearly allied to the Horminums, and 

 doing well with the treatment recommended for 

 the warm greenhouse Salvias (which see). 



Principal Species : 



cojrulea (of gardens), campanulata, 2' to 3', 

 win., pale bl. Jy., shr., pale bl. 



Lindleyi, 3' to 4', Jy., 

 shr. , purplish vio. 



SPH^ERALCEA. 



Hardy, greenhouse, or stove plants (nrd. Mal- 

 vaceae), resembling the Malvas. Propagation, by 

 seeds, or cuttings of the young growths in sand 

 under a bell-glass. Soil, well-drained loam. 



Principal Species : 



abutiloiiles, 4', Aug., grh. shr., pale pk. , pur. 



shr.. ro. (*//". Malva veins. 



abutiloides). Eraoryi, 1' to 2', sum., 



acerifolia, 2' to 6', sum., hdy. per., or. red. 



hclv., per., wli. or pk. munroaua, 2', Aug.. hcly. 



(\'/". rivularis). per., sc. {xifitv. Malva 



elegans, 2', Jy., grh. sub- munroana and Malvas- 

 tniin munroauum). 



Other Species : 



angustifolia, 3' to 4', Aug., obtusiloba, 3', Jy. , grh. 



grh. shr., pk. (./. shr., pur. (y. Malva 



M;dva augustifolia). obtusiloba). 



nutnns, 2', Jy., st. shr., umbeUata, 10', spr., st. 



reddish pur. shr., rosy vio. (*yn. 

 Malva umbellata). 



SPH^EROLOBIUM. 



(iivrnhimse, evergreen shrubs (ord. Leguminosac) 

 with Rush-like, usually leafless, stems. Propaga- 

 tion, by cuttings of the young shoots, in sand, 

 under a bell-glass, with heat. Soil, loam and 

 peat in equal parts, with sand. 



Principal Species : 



graudiftormn, 1' to 3', red or or. , numerous, in 



sum., yel., red, usually terminal racemes (*;/. 



in pairs, au elegant acuminatum). 



plant. vimineum, (>" to 24", 



medium, 1' to 2', sura., sum., yel. , in racemes. 



SPH^ffi ROPH YS A. 



A few species (ord. LeguminosEe) of hardy per- 

 ennial herbs or sub-shrubs, with red flowers and 

 inflated pods. Propagation, by seeds, which occa- 

 sionally ripen in this country. Soil, sandy loam. 

 Slightly salt water is an excellent stimulant. 



Principal Species : 



salsula, IV, Jy., Aug., pale pur. (syn. caspica). 



SPHyEROPTERIS. 



A rather uncommon Fern (ord. Filices), of no 

 special garden value. Propagation, by spores. 

 Soil, equal parts of fibrous loam and leaf soil or 

 peat with sand. 



Only Species : 



barbata, fronds 2' to 3' long, tripinnate, st. (iyn. 

 Peranema cyatheoides). 



SPH^EROTHECA. 



A troublesome genus of mildews (ord. Erysiphese), 

 whose members attack several garden plants. 

 The most important are Castagnei anil Humuli, 

 which attack Strawberries ; Mors-uvo3, which preys 



Spliternyi/ne (tee Toeoca). 

 Rphterosicma (see Schizandra). 

 Rpli<rroitigma (see (Envtltera). 



upon Gooseberries; and pannosa, which infests 

 Hoses. Remedial measures are given under 

 MILDEWS, and under the various plants attacked. 



SPHAGNUM. 



A very distinct genus of Mosses, of which about 

 seventeen species and many varieties are British. 

 The stems are capable of almost indefinite exten- 

 sion, the lower parts dying away as growtli proceeds. 

 Owing to its peculiar structure, Sphagnum has 

 the power of absorbing immense quantities of 

 water, acting as a vegetable sponge. The plants 

 reproduce themselves naturally by spores and by the 

 establishment of branches, which ultimately become 

 main stems after their severance from the parent. 

 Naturally the Sphagnums are to be found in 

 swampy and boggy spots. 



In collecting Sphagnum only the live tips should 

 be taken. The moss will retain its vitality for a 

 long time even if packed in bales, but it will bo 

 well to undo these, spread the Moss out under the 

 shelter of a tree or shed, and keep it sprinkled 

 with water. Chopped Sphagnum is a principal 

 ingredient in the compost for many Orchids. For 

 some .Ferns, notably Platyceriums, it may also 

 be used with advantage. Tips about y long 

 are commonly inserted at intervals over the 

 surface of the soil in a newly potted Orchid. Not 

 infrequently these grow so rampantly that the 

 Moss has to be reduced somewhat. The rougher 

 portions of Sphagnum may be used for covering the 

 drainage of almost all pot plants. 



SPHENANDRA. 



The only species (ord. Scrophularinese) is a 

 viscous little annual or perennial herb, increased 

 by seeds, and thriving in a sandy loam, in the 

 greenhouse. 



Only Species : 



viscosa, 1', Je., grh., vio. (syn. Buchnera viscosa 

 of liotniili'iil Mni/nziiii' 217). 



SPHENODESMA (s;/ns. ROSCOEA of 

 ROXBURGH, and VITICASTRUM). 



A few species of stove climbing shrubs (ord. 

 Verbenacese). Propagation, by cuttings in sand, in 

 a warm frame. Soil, sandy loam. 



Principal Species : 



pentandra, 6', Je., st., pur., wh. throat (iyn. 

 jackiana). 



SPHINCTACANTHUS. 



A small and obscure genus (ord. Acantliacese) of 

 no garden value. 



SPIGELIA. 



A genus of upwards of forty species of greenhouse 

 or stove herbs or sub-shrubs (ord. Loganiaceas), 

 with small flowers in spikes. Few are grown in 

 gardens, marilandica being, however, occasionally 

 met with in Alpine collections. Propagation, by 

 seeds, the perennials also by cuttings. Soil, loam, 

 peat, and sand. 



ffy>/ii-ungi/Hi' (see Ursinia). 

 tfplii'iiotiiniii ( :ti'i'"I)racoplt>/Hum). 

 ,^/iiri' liiisli (.in' Liiulrrn Jlnt:mri). 

 ,^l>i<lrr llinrt-r (ari' Clct'nit'). 

 tender Lily, Golden (see Lycorii). 

 f^iiili-r Orrliid (x/'f fiartfwlinapectinata). 

 Siiiii'r Orcliix (s/'r Ophrys). 



xi'i' Trtiili-xi'iintia). 

 (we Oftia). 



