AND GENEBAL HOBTICULTUEE. 



25 



ANS 



A. glandulosa, the only species introduced 

 into our green-houses, is a very beautiful 

 shrub, remarkable for its large, handsome 

 leaves, and axillary panicles or spikes of large 

 ■white and pink flowers. Introduced from Van 

 Diemen's Land in 1846. Propagated by eut- 



Anse'lUa. In honor of Mr. Ansell, the botanical 

 collector ■who accompanied the ill-fated Niger 

 expedition. Nat. Ord. OrchidacecB. 



A small genus of epiphytal Orchids. A. Afri- 

 cana is a very beautiful plant, found growing 

 on oil-palm trees in the island of Fernando 

 Po. It has a tall stem resembling the sugar 

 cane ; broad, strap-shaped leaves, and large, 

 drooping panicles of greenish flo^wers, blotched 

 ■with purple. The plant flowers in January, 

 and keeps in perfection for several months. 

 Propagated by division. Introduced in 1844. 



Antenna'ria. Prom antennm, feelers; in refer- 

 ence to the downy heads of the seeds. Nat. 

 Ord. ComposUm. 



A genus of herbaceous perennials, widely 

 disseminated throughout this country and 

 Europe. Some of the species are used as bed- 

 ding plants. A. Margaritacea, a native spe- 

 cies, popularly known as Pearly Everlasting, 

 is a favorite garden plant in Europe 



Anterior. Placed in front, or outwards. 



A'nth.einis. Chamomile. From anthemon, a 

 flower ; in reference to the great number of 

 flowers produced. Nat. Ord. Composite^. 



The genus of plants to which the Chamomile 

 belongs, the flowers of which are much valued 

 as a tonic, and for other medicinal properties. 

 A. tinctoria furnishes a yellow dye.. A. Pyre- 

 thrum,, the Pellitory of Spain, is a pretty little 

 perennial, with large white flowers, stained 

 with lilac on the back. Miller raised this 

 plant in a rather curious way in 1732, finding 

 its seeds among some Malaga raisins to which 

 they had adhered. 



Anthe'ricum. From anthoa, a flower, and herkos, 

 a hedge ; in reference to the tall flower stems. 

 Nat. Ord. Liliacem. 



A. lAliastrum, avery pretty hardy herbaceous 

 plant, has broadish grassy leaves, and a flower 

 stalk one and a half to two feet high, bearing 

 many "large, pure white, sweet-scented flow- 

 ers, marked on each segment with a green dot. 

 This is commonly called St. Bruno's Lily. A. 

 vittatum variegatum, a species of recent intro- 

 duction, from the Cape of Good Hope, has 

 foliage of a bright grassy green color, beauti- 

 fully striped and margined with creamy white. 

 In variegation and habit it closely resembles 

 Pandanus Veitchii, but is of more rapid growth 

 and easy of cultivation. It has a hardy con- 

 stitution, not as against cold, but as against 

 the dry atmosphere and gases of the drawing- 

 room, which makes it a valuable plant for the 

 conservatory or for filling in baskets, jardin. 

 ieres, or rustic designs. The method of prop- 

 agating this species is both interesting and 

 peculiar. Buds or short shoots are formed on 

 the flower stems, which, put in as cuttings in 

 the ordinary way, root rapidly. It is also 

 propagated by seeds or division of roots. In- 

 troduced from the Cape of Good Hope in 1824. 



Antherl'dia. The reproductive organs in crypto- 

 gamio plants, analogous to anthers in flower- 

 ing plants. 



ANT 



Antholy'za. From amthos, a flower, and lyasa, 

 rage ; in reference to the opening of the flower 

 like the mouth of an enraged animal. Nat. 

 Ord. IridacecB. 



A pretty genus of Cape bulbs, like the Ano- 

 inatheca, but of stronger habit. They should 

 be grown in light, rich earth, and have the 

 protection of a frame, or some other cover- 

 ing, in winter, to exclude frost. Scarlet and 

 orange are the prevailing colors of the flowers. 

 Introduced from the Cape of Good Hope in 

 1759. Propagated by offsets. 



Anthospe'rmuiu. Amber Tree. From anthoa, 

 a flower, and aperma, a seed. Nat. Ord. Rvbi- 

 aoece. 



An ornamental evergreen shrub, from the 

 Cape ofGoodHope. A. ^thopicum is an inter- 

 esting plant, with verticillate spikes of green 

 and white flowers, thriving best in peat, loam 

 and sand. Increased by cuttings. 



Anthoxa'nthum. Sweet-scented Vernal Grass. 

 From anthoa, a flower, and xomthua, yellow. 

 Nat. Ord. Oraminacem. 



A small genus of grasses found in nearly all 

 the temperate portions of the globe. A. odor- 

 atwm, the best known species, is a native of 

 Europe, but has become thoroughly natural- 

 ized in this country, so much so that it is gen- 

 erally supposed indigenous. This is one of 

 the earliest spring grasses, as well as one of 

 the latest in autumn, and is almost the only 

 grass that is fragrant. It possesses a property 

 said to be peculiar to this species, known as 

 coumarin, which not only gives it its aromatic 

 odor, but imparts it to other grasses with 

 which it is cured. Professor Johnstone says 

 the fragrant resinous principle which occurs 

 in this grass is the same which gives fragrance 

 to the Tonka Bean, to the Faham Tea of the 

 Mauritius, and to the Melilotus Alba. The 

 vapor of coumarin is stated to act powerfully 

 on the brain, and it is supposed by many that 

 hay fever, to which many persons are liable, 

 may be owing to the presence of this substance 

 in unusual quantities during the period of 

 hay-making. This grass possesses but little 

 value of itself, as its nutritive properties are 

 slight; nor is it much relished by stock of 

 any kind. A slight mixture of it with other 

 grasses is sometimes used because of its early 

 gro^wth. 



Authri'scus. Chervil. Derivation of name 

 uncertain, but said to have been given by 

 Pliny. Nat. Ord. Umbelliferm. 



A small genus of mostly uninteresting 

 plants, common throughout Europe. There 

 are but two species under cultivation. A. 

 cerefoliwrn, the common Chervil, an annual 

 plant indigenous to various parts of Europe, is 

 sometimes naturalized in and around old gar- 

 dens. It rises to nearly two feet in height, 

 the leaves are of a very delicate texture, three 

 times divided, and the flowers, which are of 

 a whitish color, appear in June. The tender 

 leaves are much used in soups and salads, and 

 those of a curled variety in garnishing. It is 

 easily grown from seed, which should be sown 

 early in May. A. bulbo8-a8.(syn. Chcmrophyllvmi 

 tulbosum), the tuberous-rooted Chervil, is a 

 native of France, where it is cultivated to 

 some extent as a vegetable. In size and shape 

 the root attains the size of a small carrot. It 

 is outwardly of a grey color, but when cut the 

 flesh is white, mealy, and by no means 



