102 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



CON 



Cony'za. A genus of CompoaUoB, consisting of 

 herbaceous or shrubby plants of little general 

 interest. They were formerly supposed to 

 have the power, when suspended in a room, 

 of driving away fleas, hence the English name 

 riea-bane, a name given also to an allied genus. 



Coope'ria. Named after Mr. Cooper, gardener 

 for many years at Wentworth House, in York- 

 shire, England. Nat. Ord. Amaryllidacem. 



A small genus of bulbous plants from Texas, 

 allied to the Zephyrwnthea. C. Drummondi, 

 typical of the species, has narrow, twisted 

 leaves twelve to eighteen inches long, and a 

 scape six to twelve inches high, bearing at the 

 end a single flower, of which the tube is 

 upward of four inches long, of a greenish 

 color, and the limb upward of an inch long 

 and pure white. The flower always expands 

 in the evening, and is not usually perfect after 

 the first night. The nocturnal flowering of 

 this plant is an anomaly in the order, and the 

 more remarkable because its nearest relatives 

 require full sunshine to make them expand. 

 The flower ias the fragrance of the Primrose. 

 These bulbs are half-hardy, and will endure 

 our winters with a slight protection if grown 

 in a light, sandy soil, which is the one best 

 suited to them. For effect they should be 

 planted in clumps, and quite close together. 

 Propagated by offsets. Introduced in 1835. 



Cooper's Wood. See Ponuiderris. 



Copaiba Balsam. The name of the balsam pro- 

 duced by Copaifera officinalis. 



Copa'ifera. From the Brazilian name copaiba, 

 and/ero, to bear. Nat. Ord. Leguminosw. 



A tender evergreen tree, native of Brazil, 

 valuable only for the medicinal properties of 

 the balsam it yields. 



Copro'sma. From copras, dung, and osme, a 

 smell. The plants have a fetid smell. Nat. 

 Ord. RvMacea. 



A small genus of green-house evergreen 

 shrubs of easy culture, and of little interest 

 except in their own country, where the leaves 

 are used by the New Zealand priests -to dis- 

 cover the will of the gods. The leaves are 

 attached with a cord of flax to sticks, which 

 are laid on the ground, each stick represent- 

 ing a separate party. The priests retire to 

 pray, and after a time the chiefs are sum- 

 moned to examine the sticks, which are found 

 to have been moved, and some have disap- 

 peared entirely. This is considered a certain 

 sign that one of the party will be destroyed. 

 Others are found turned over. If the leaf be 

 turned down the omen is bad; but if the 

 reverse should occjir, it is a sign that the 

 party represented>by the stick will prosper in 

 his undertakings; C. Baueriana variegata is a 

 strikingly beautiful plant for the green-house 

 and conservatoi-y, or for a place on the lawn 

 in summer. Propagated by cuttings. 



Co'ptis. Gold-thread. From kopto, to cut ; in 

 reference to the division of the leaves. Nat. 

 Ord. RanunculgfCetB. 



C. trifolia, the only species, is a beautiful 

 little evergreen herb, with creeping root- 

 stocks, common in boggy places from Mary- 

 land Jiorthward. The long, bright yellow 

 fibres of the root have caused it to receive the 

 con/mon name of Gold-thread. The roots are 

 vertf bitter, and are used in medicine as a 

 tonic. It formerly held a prominent place 



COK 



among domestic remedies, and was consideied 

 invaluable for sore mouths in children. 

 Coral Bead Plant. Ahrua precaioriua. 

 Coral Bush. See Templeionia. 

 Coral Cactus. A popular name for RhipsaUs. 

 Coral Honeysuckle. A local name of Lonicera 

 sempervirens, which is also cailled Trumpet 

 Honeysuckle, 

 Corallorhi'za. Coral Eoot. Said to be from 

 Varallion, a coral, and rhiza, a root. Nat. Ord. 

 Orchidacea. 



A genus of curious little Orchids, common 

 in wet or boggy places throughout the United 

 States. Their leaves are like small scales, of 

 a yellowish color, like their stems ; the flow- 

 ers are small, in a loose terminal spike. C. 

 innata, one of the more common species, is a 

 slender plant, from six to nine inches high, of 

 a pale color, and remarkable for its root-stalk, 

 which is formed of a number of short, thick, 

 whitish fleshy fibres, divided into short, blunt 

 branches, and densely interwoven, resembling 

 coral; hence the popular name. All the spe- 

 cies are incapable of cultivation, or, at least, 

 they so rarely live when removed that it is 

 considered a useless task to attempt it. 

 Coral Root. See Corallorhiza. 

 Coral Tree. See Erythrina. 

 Corbula'rla. From corbula, a little basket ; in 

 reference to the shape of the nectary. Nat. 

 Ord. AmaryllidacecE. 



A small genus, commonly called Hoop Petti- 

 coats, which has recently been separated from 

 Narcissus. The species are quite ornamental 

 and perfectly hardy, but, like most of what 

 are usually termed "Dutch Bulbs," they do 

 best with a slight protection of leaves or 

 coarse manure. It is a native of Portugal, and 

 is propagated by offsets. Introduced in 1629. 

 Co'rchorus. From kore, a pupil, and koreo, to 

 purge ; in allusion to the laxative qualities of 

 some of the species. Nat. Ord. Tiliacem. 



An extensive genus of annuals and herbar 

 ceous plants, inhabitants of both hemispheres. 

 As ornamental or flowering plants they are of 

 little value. C. capsularis is much grown in 

 many sections of India for the exceedingly 

 valuable fibre it yields, which is known under 

 the name of Jute, and which forms an impor- 

 tant article of commerce. 

 Cordate. Heart-shaped in outline ; applied to 

 a plane or flat body having two round lobes at 

 the base. 

 Cord Grass. See Spwrtina. 

 Co'rdia. A genus of BorraginacecB, containing 

 nearly two hundred species, scattered over 

 the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the 

 world. They are principally trees or shrubs, 

 some of them of considerable beauty. Some 

 species supply useful and ornamental timber ; 

 the wood of G. Rumphi is brown, beautifully 

 veined with black, and smells of musk. The 

 wood of C. myxu is soft, and is reckoned one 

 of the best kinds for kindling flre by friction, 

 and it is said to be the wood which was used 

 by the Egyptians in constructing their 

 mummy oases. 

 Cordyli'ne. Club Palm. From kordyle, a club. 

 Nat. Ord. lAliacem. 



A genus of green-house evergreen shrubs, 

 allied to Dracmna. The type, C. indivisa, has 

 usually been sold in this country under the 



