AND GENERAL HOBTICULTUEE. 



31 



ABE 



This Is one of the most beautiful and stately 

 of the Palm tribe, and is called in some of the 

 tropical islands the Royal Palmetto. The stem 

 of a full-sized tree at the base is seven feet in 

 circumference, and it rises to the enormous 

 height of one hundred and thirty feet. A 

 noted traveler, in his description of this tree, 

 says : " Near the base, the trunk is of a brown 

 color, hard, -woody, and jointed, with a pith 

 inside like the elder. The upper part of the 

 trunk, from whence the foliage springs, 

 resembles a well-tumed, flnely-polished bal- 

 uster, of a lively green color, gently swelling 

 from its pedestal, and diminishing gradually 

 to the top, where it expands into branches, 

 waving like plumes of ostrich feathers. These 

 are decorated with numerous leaflets, some of 

 which are about three feet long, and an inch 

 and a half broad, tapering into a sharp point. 

 The leaflets gradually decrease in size as they 

 approach the extremities of the branches. 

 This lofty, regular group of foliage, impelled 

 by the most gentle gale, and constantly wav- 

 ing in feathery elegance, is an object of beauty 

 which cannot be imagined by an inhabitant of 

 temperate climes, unused to the magnificent 

 vegetation of a tropical sun. Within the 

 leaves, which constitute the summit of the 

 trunk, the portion called the cabbage lies con- 

 cealed. This substance is white, about two 

 feet long, of cylindrical form, and the thick- 

 ness of a man's arm. It is composed of longi- 

 tudinal flakes like ribbons, and so compact as 

 to form a solid, crisp body. When eaten raw, 

 it tastes somewhat like the almond, but more 

 tender and delicious. When cut into slices 

 and boiled, it is served up with meat as a 

 vegetable. To obtain this great delicacy — 

 growing on the very summit of such a stately 

 trunk — the noble tree must be felled to the 

 ground . In the place where the cabbage grew, 

 a species of beetle generally deposits Its eggs, 

 from which, in due time, grubs are hatched, 

 that have received the name of Palm-tree 

 Worms. They are about the size of a man's 

 thumb, very fat and esteemed a great lux- 

 ury. They are fried with a little butter and 

 salt, and their flavor partakes of all the spices 

 of India." A. catechu, is a handsome tree cul- 

 tivated in all the warmer parts of Asia for its 

 fruits, known as Areca or Betel nuts. These 

 nuts are cut into narrow pieces, which are 

 rolled up with a little lime in the leaves of the 

 Betel pepper. The pellet is then chewed, and 

 is hot and acrid, but possesses aromatic and 

 astringent properties, aid is considered bene- 

 ficial rather than otherwise. The natives are 

 so addicted to the practice that they would 

 rather go without food than their favorite 

 Areca nuts. ^ 



Arena'ria. Sandwort. Prom arena, sand; in 

 reference to the sandy soil in which the plants 

 grow. Nat. Ord. OaryophyllacecB. 



A large genus of diminutive weeds, usually 

 found growing on sandy soils. 



Are'nga. Name not explained. Nat. Ord. PaU 

 macece. 



A. saccharifera, is a very useful and inter- 

 esting Palm, a native of the Asiatic islands. 

 In its native country the fibres attached to 

 the petioles are twisted into ropes, the me- 

 dulla of the tnmk is used as sago, and the 

 saccharine juice forms excellent sugar. It is 

 eaid that this species alon^ will supply all the 



ABI 



actual needs of the native: food, clothing, and 

 a simple hut made from the leaves, are aU 

 supplied from this species, and are all that a 

 native's necessities require. Known also as 

 Sagwems saccharifer. 



Areolate. Divided off into distinct spaces, usu- 

 ally more or less angular. The skin of a plant 

 is areolate. 



Arethu'sa, A classical name, after one of 

 Diana's nymphs. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A. bulbosa is a beautiful species found 

 growing in damp places and bogs, Virginia to 

 Maine, and northward. The flowers are a 

 bright rose-purple, from one to two inches 

 long. One of the prettiest of our native 

 Orchids. 



Arga'nia. Prom argam, its aboriginal "name. 

 Nat. Ord. Sapotacece. 



A. Sideroieylon, the Argal tree ; or Iron 

 Wood, is a remarkable evergreen tree, a native 

 of Morocco. It has a spiny trunk of con- 

 siderable size, but of low stature. It gives off 

 branches at a few feet from the ground, which 

 incline downwards until they rest upon the 

 earth; at length, at a considerable distance 

 from the trunk, they ascend, and again reach 

 out to a long distance. A tree mentioned in 

 the Jownal of Botany, measured sixteen feet 

 only in height, while its circumference was 

 220 feet. The wood is very hard, and so heavy 

 as to sink in water. 



Argemo'ne. Prickly Poppy. From argema, a 

 cataract of the eye ; in reference to its medi- 

 cinal qualities. Nat. Ord. Papaveracece. 



Highly ornamental hardy annuals and peren- 

 nials from Mexico, with large flowers like 

 those of the Poppy, and of the easiest culture. 

 The plants, spreading widely, require a good 

 deal of room to look handsome. The seed of 

 A. Meaiicana is the- Fico del Inferno (Infernal 

 Fig) of the Spaniards ; a purgative and power- 

 ful narcotic, especially if smoked with tobacco. 



Argenteus. Silvery, a pale color resembling 

 silver. 



Argyre'ia. Named in reference to the white, 

 silvery texture of the leaves, from argyreios, 

 silvery. Nat. Ord. Convolvulacem. 



A fine genus of strong-growing climbers 

 from the East Indies. They are only adapted 

 for the green-house, and require a long time, 

 with liberal pot room, to bring them into 

 flower. A. cnmeata is a dwarf-growing, free- 

 flowering species, colors .white and purple, 

 resembling the Ipomoea. Propagated by out-, 

 tings. Introduced in 1822. 



Aril, Arillns. A fleshy growth which rises up 

 from the placenta and encompasses the seed, 

 like the Mace surrounding^the Nutmeg, and 

 the red sac the Euonymus. 



Arlsae'iua. Indian Turnip. Dragon Arum. 

 Prom aron. Arum, and Sana, a standard; in 

 reference to the close afflnity to Arum. Nat. 

 Ord. AroidecB. 



A genus of hardy tuberous-rooted peren- 

 nials. Two of the species, A. triphylmn, the 

 Indian Turnip, and A. DracanUum, the Green 

 Dragon or Dragon Boot, are common in moist 

 woods and along streams in most parts of the 

 United States. They bear cultivation well, 

 and make beautiful plants for a shady border. 

 The flowers are popularly known as Jack-in- 

 the-Pulpit. These are succeeded by a cluster 

 of scarlet berries, that make a showy appear- 



