AND GENERAL HOETICULTUEE. 



135 



DUR 



Duramen. The heart-wood, or that part of the 

 timber of a tree which becomes hardened by 

 the matter deposited in it. It is next the 

 center in Exogens and next the circumference 

 in Endogens. 



Sura'nta. Named in honor of Castor Durantes, a 

 : - physician and botanist. Nat. Ord. VerbenacecB, 

 A genus of free flowering evergreen shrubs, 

 natives of South America and the West Indies. 

 D. Plvmieri, the best known species, has 

 pretty blue flowers borne in racemes in great 

 profusion. It was introduced in 1739, and is 

 increased readily by cuttings. 



Du'rio. Prom Dwryon, the Malay name of the 

 fruit, and comes from dmry, a thorn ; alluding 

 to the prickly fruit. Nat. Ord. SterculiacecB. 

 D. zibeihimus, the only species, a noble tree 

 attaining the height of from sixty to eighty 

 feet, with somewhat the general appearance 

 of an elm, produces the celebrated Durian 

 fruit of the Indian Archipelago. This fruit 

 varies in shape, being either globular or oval, 

 and measures as much as ten inches in 

 length ; it has a thick, hard rind entirely cov- 

 ered with very strong sharp prickles, and is 

 divided into five ceils, each of which contains 

 from one to four seeds rather larger than 

 pigeons' eggs, and completely enveloped in a 

 firm luscious-looking cream-colored pulp, 

 which is the eatable part of the fruit. 



This tree is commonly cultivated through- 

 out the Malayan Peninsula and Islands, 

 where its fruit, during the period it is in 

 season, forms the greatest part of the food of 

 the natives. Considerable difference of opin- 

 ion exists among epicures as to the relative 

 merits of several well-known tropical fruits, 

 including the Durian, the Mangosteen, the 



' Cherimoyer, and tlie Pine-apple, any of which 

 is made to occupy the foremost place, accord- 

 ing to individual taste. The flavor of Durian, 

 however, is said to be perfectly unique ; and 

 it is also quite certain that no other fruit, 

 either of tropical or temperate climes, com- 

 bines in itself such a delicious flavor with 

 ^ such an abominably offensive odor — an odor 

 commonly compared either with putrid 

 animal matter, or with rotten onions. It 

 might be supposed that a fruit possessing 

 such an odor could never become a favorite ; 

 but it is said that when once the repugnance 

 has been overcome, the Durian is sure to find 

 favor, and that foreigners invariably become 

 extremely fond of it. One traveler observes 

 that " a rich custard, highly flavored with 

 almonds, gives the best general idea of it, but 

 there are occasional waits of flavor that call 

 to mind cream-cheese, onion sauce, sherry 

 wine, and other incongruous dishes. Then 

 there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the 

 pulp which nothing else possesses, but which 

 adds to its delicacy. It is neither acid, nor 

 sweet, nor juicy ; yet it wants none of these 

 qualities, for it is in itself perfect. It pro- 

 duces no nausea or other bad effect, and the 

 more you eat of it the less you feel inclined 

 to stop. In fact, to eat Durians is a new 

 sensation, worth a voyage to the East to ex- 

 perience. " 



Burra. See Sorghum vulgare. 



Dusty Miller. Cineraria maritima. 



Dutch-Clover Trifolium repena. 



Dutchman's Breeches. Dicentra cueullaria. 



DYS 



Dutchman's Pipe. See Ariatolochia aipho. 



Duva'Ua. Named after H. A. Duval, of Paris, 

 a botanical author. Nat. Ord. Aaclepediacem. 

 A genus of succulent Stapelia-like plants, 

 all natives of South Africa. D. polita has 

 purplish red flowers with a dull orange center, 

 somewhat resembling a bird's head, when 

 viewed sideways. 'They are produced in 

 threes or fours and open successiyely. . The 

 stems and branches are two to three inches 

 long, and about half an inch thick, somewhat 

 clavate, and more or less decumbent and 

 rooting. It is one of the finest plants of the 

 genus; and was introduced in ISfd. 



Duva'ua. In honor of M. Duvau, a French bot- 

 anist. Nat. Ord. AnacardMxcecB. 



Singular half-hardy shrubs from Chili. The . 

 leaves of the plants of this genus, if thrown 

 upon water, will Start and jump about in a 

 very extraordinary manner. They have a 

 strong smell of turpentine. The flowers are 

 white, produced in small spikes, and are suc- 

 ceeded by dark purple berries. They require 

 green-house treatment. Propagated by cut- 

 tings. Introduced in 1830. 



Dwarf. Of small size compared with other 

 species of the same genus, or with other 

 varieties of the same species. 



D-warf Dandelion; Krigia VirginiGa,^a small 

 hardy annual, with yellow flowers resembling 

 a small Dandelion, common in New England 

 and southward. 



D'warf Pan Falm. A common name for Ghor- 

 masropa humilia. 



Dy'ckia. Named in honor of Prince Salm-Dyck, 

 a German, author of a splendid work on suc- 

 culents. Nat. Ord. Bromeliaeoem. 



A small genus of green-house plants, resem- 

 bling the Pine-apple in miniature, or a small 

 Pitcairnia. D. rariflora is a very showy plant 

 with orange-colored flowers. One or two 

 other species of the same general character 

 have been introduced into the green-house. 

 Propagated by division or from seeds. 



Dyer's G-reen-Weed. See Genista tinctoria. 



Dyer's Rocket, or Dyer's Weed. A popular 

 name of Reseda Iwteola, allied to Mignonette. 



Dynamis. A power. A figurative term em- 

 ployed by Linnaeus to express the degrees -of 

 development of stamens. Thus his Didynamia 

 signified stamens of two diffeirent lengths, or 

 of two different degrees of development. 



Dypsis. From dupto, to dip; application not 

 given. Nat. Ord. Palmacem. 



A genus of five or six species of dwarf stove- 

 house palms, all natives of Madagascar. D. 

 Madagaaca/rienais, D. Hildebrandtii, and D. 

 pinnatifrons, the only species yet introduced, 

 are choice sorts, and well worthy of a place in 

 any collection. 



Dysodia. From dusodea, ill-smelling ; in allu- 

 sion to the unpleasant odor of some of the 

 species. Nat. Ord. ComposMm. 



A genus of about ten species of erect or dif- 

 fuse pubescent plants, closely aUied to Ta- 

 geies, and natives of Mexico, Central America, 

 and the South-western States. D. chryaam- 

 themoidea, a dwarf annual with pinnatisect 

 , leaves, grows in great profusion over the 

 'western prairies of Illinois, and in autumn 

 exhales so unpleasant an odor as to sicken 

 travelers. 



