AND GENERAL HORTICULTUEE. 



AOK 



A small genus of very handsome green-house 

 plants, that flower profusely In the spring. 

 The flowers are small, white tinged with red, 

 produced in dense whorls round the upper 

 part of the stem and branches. They are na- 

 tives of New Holland, introduced in 1836. 

 Propagated by cuttings. 



Acro'pteris. From akros, a summit, and pteris, 

 a Eern. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacem. 



This beautiful Fern, allied to Asplenium, 13 

 a green-house variety, readily propagated by 

 division of the roots. It requires a light, 

 loamy soil, with a liberal mixture of sand and 

 leaf mould. A native of New Holland. 



Acros'tichum. Supposed to refer to the begin- 

 ning of a verse, on account of the back sur- 

 faces of the leaves being so lined as to resem- 

 ble in some degree the commencement of lines 

 in poetry. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacem. 



An interesting genus of tropical Perns, that 

 succeed well in a mixture of loam and leaf 

 mould. The species having long fronds, are 

 admirably adapted for growing on blocks or 

 in hanging baskets, and the dwarfer sorts do 

 well in Wardian cases. Increased by division 

 of roots, or by seed. Fii-st introduced from 

 the West Indies in 1792. According to some 

 botanists the genus now includes -AcoTiiopteris, 

 Chrysodium, Egenolphia, Elaphoglossum, Cfym- 

 nopteris, Olfersia, Polybotrya, Hhipidopteris, 

 Soromanes, Stenochkena and Stenosemia. 



Actae'a. Baneberry. From aktara, the Elm; 

 resemblance of the leaves. Nat. Ord. Ranun- 

 culacecE. 



A genus of hardy herbaceous perennials, of 

 but little beauty; common in rich woods in the 

 Northern Statea. The berries are poisonous. 



Actini'dia. From actin, a ray ; the styles radi- 

 ate like the spokes of a wheel. Nat. Crd. 

 TemstromiiacecB. A genus of ornamental, 

 hardy, deciduous, climbing shrubs, with en- 

 tire leaves and axillary corymbs of white 

 flowers. A. polygama is a vigorous and ele- 

 gant perfectly hardy climber, with white 

 sweet-scented flowers much resembling the 

 Hawthorn, followed by bunches of edible 

 berries. It was introduced from Japan in 

 1870, and is propagated by seeds, lajers or 

 cuttings. 



A'ctiuo'ineris. From aldin, a ray, and meria, a 

 part referring to the radiated aspect of the 

 plants. Nat. Ord. CompoaitcB. Hardy orna- 

 mental plants, allied to Helianthvs, with yel- 

 low Coreopsis-like flower heads; natives of 

 this country, sometimes cultivated. 



A'ctinio'pteris. From aktin, a ray, and pteris, 

 a Fern ; the fronds are radiately cut into nar- 

 row segments. Nat. Ord. FiUees. A small 

 genus of neat and distinct Stove Ferns. The 

 fronds of A. radiata, grow three to five inches 

 high, divided inwards from the margin and is 

 a perfect miniature of the Fan Palm, Livis- 

 tonai Ohinensia. 



Aculeate. Furnished with prickles, as dis- 

 tinguished from spines. 



Acuminate. A term applied to leaves or other 

 flat bodies which narrow gradually till they 

 form a long termination. If the narrowing 

 takes place toward the base, it is so stated, 

 as, acuminate at the base ; if toward the point, 

 the term is used without qualification. 



Acute. Sharp pointed. 



ADD 



Nat. Ord. 



A'da. A complimentary name. 

 OrchidacecB. 



A. aurantiaca, the only species, Is a beauti- 

 ful epiphytal Orchid, found in high latitudes in 

 New Grenada. It has broad, evergreen foli- 

 age, and long terminal nodding racemes of 

 orange-scarlet flowers, lasting a long time in 

 perfection. It is a free-growing plant, and 

 should have a cool, airy situation in the 

 Orchid-house. It is increased by division. 

 Introduced in 1844. 



Adam and Eve. See Aplectrum. 



Ada'mia. Named in honor of John Adam, some 

 time Governor General of India. Nat. Ord. 

 Saodfragacem. 



A small genus of green-house evergreen 

 shrubs, natives of China and the East Indies. 

 A. veraieolor, one of the most beautiful of the 

 few known species, is a native of China, and 

 formn a dwarf smooth-branched shrub, fur- 

 nished with large opposite leaves, resembling 

 those of Hydrangea japonica. The flowers are 

 produced in a pyramidal panicle nearly a foot 

 in diameter, whitish while in bud, but grad- 

 ually change to purple and violet. Propa- 

 gated by cuttings. Introduced in 1844. 



Adam's Apple. The fruit of Muaa paradiaiaca. 



Adam's Needle. See Yucca. 



Adam's Needle and Thread. Yucca JUamentoaa. 



Ad2uiso'nia. Baobab Tree. Named in honor of 

 Michel Adamaon, a famous French botanist and 

 author, born in 1727. Nat. Ord. Sterculiacece. 

 A. digitata (called Monkey Bread) is a native 

 of Western Africa, and is also accredited to 

 Egypt and Abyssinia. Previous to the dis- 

 covery of the Sequoia in California, the Adan- 

 sonia, or Baobab, as it is popularly called, was 

 considered the largest tree in the world, some 

 specimens being found thii-ty feet in diameter. 

 At the height of twenty feet, the trunks sepa- 

 rate into branches forty to fifty feet long and 

 the size of great trees, with their remote 

 branches touching the ground. The roots for 

 a long distance are exposed, some of them 

 measuring more than a hundred feet in length 

 on the surface. How much longer they are,- 

 unexposed, could not readily be ascertained. 

 The fruit is gourd-shaped, and is from nine to 

 twelve inches long, and about four in diameter. 

 The pulp is farinaceous and fibrous, and when 

 ripe has a refreshing, acid taste. Eaten with 

 sugar it is both pleasant and wholesome. The 

 negroes on the western coast apply the trunks 

 of these trees to a very extraordinary purpose. 

 The tree is liable to be attacked by a fungus, 

 which, vegetating in the woody part, without 

 changing the color or appearance, destroys 

 life, and renders the part so attacked as soft 

 as the pith of trees in general. Such trunks 

 are then hollowed into chambers, and within 

 these are suspended the dead bodies of those 

 to whom are refused the honor of burial. 

 There they become mummies, perfectly dry, 

 and well preserved, without further prepara- 

 tion or embalming, and are known by the name 



Adder's Mouth. The common name of the Mi- 

 croatylia, a small bulbous plant, common in 

 moist woods southward. 



Adder's Tongue. A name applied to the Ery- 

 throniwm Americamwn, and also to the Fern, 

 OpMogloaaum vulgatum. 



