AND GENEBAL HORTICULTURE. 



199 



HYP 



H. niger is the common Henbane whose 

 virtue consists in the supposed power it has 

 of absorbing malaria that is generated 

 around filthy habitations. It is also culti- 

 vated for its medicinal properties. 



Hyperica'ceae. A natural order of herbs, shrubs, 

 or trees, with a resinous juice, opposite, 

 rarely whorled, entire, exstipulate leaves, 

 usually with transparent dots, and blackish 

 glands, and regular flowers. The plants of 

 this order are generally distributed over the 

 world, both in temperate and warm climates. 

 Many species yield a yellow juice and an 

 essential oil. There are ten genera, and nearly 

 three hundred species. Illustrative genera 

 are Hypericum, Elodea, and Ascyrum. 



Hype'ricum. St. John's Wort. The name is 

 said to be derived from yper, over, and etccm, 

 an image ; the superior part of the flower 

 represents a figure. Nat. Ord. Hypericacem. 



The pretty, yellow-flowered shrubs and 

 herbaceous perennials known by this name at 

 the present day, were formerly, in ignorant 

 communities, in high repute for driving away 

 evil spirits; and on this account were gen- 

 erally planted near dwelling-houses. They 

 were also highly valued for their medicinal 

 properties, being believed to have a powerful 

 effect in stopping blood and healing wounds. 

 All the kinds will thrive under the drip of 

 trees ; and they will grow almost anywhere, 

 though they prefer moisture and a moderate 

 shade. They are found in almost all the 

 temperate climates of the world; and are 

 propagated by seeds and by division of the 

 roots. 



Hyphae'ne. Prom hyphaino, to entwine; re- 

 ferring to the fibres of the fruit. Nat. Ord. 

 PaXmacecB. 



A small genus of African palms confined to, 

 and widely distributed throughout that con- 

 tinent, more particularly upon the eastern 

 side, extending from Egypt as far south as 

 Natal. The genus is remarkable for having 

 the stems branched, a peculiarity not frequent 

 among palms, each branch terminating in a 

 tuft of large fan-shaped leaves, from amongst 

 which the branching catkin-like spikes of 

 flowers are produced, the different sexes 

 being borne on different trees. H. thebaica 

 is the Doum Palm, or Gingerbread tree of 

 Egypt. It seldom exceeds twenty-five or 

 thirty feet in height, and its stem is frequently 

 three or four times branched or forked in old 

 trees, though when young it is always simple. 

 The fruits which are produced in long clusters, 

 each containing between one and two. hundred, 

 are beautifully polished, of a rich yellowish, 

 brown color, and of irregular form. In Upper 

 Egypt they form part of the food of the poorer 

 classes of Inhabitants, the part eaten being 

 the fibrous mealy husk, which tastes almost 

 exactly like gingerbread, but its dry husky 

 nature renders it unpalatable. The hard tough 

 wood is used for making various domestic 

 utensils ; and rosaries are cut out of the horny 

 seed. 



Hypocaly'mma. From hypo, under, and 

 kaiymma, a veil ; the calyx, falling off like a 

 veil, or hood. Nat. Ord. Myrtacem. 



A genus of ornamental evergreen shrubs, 

 containing about twelve species, natives of 

 Australia. H. robustwm is a charming little 



HYS 



green-house plant, bearing a profusion of 

 small bright rose-colored flowers, and having 

 an odor resembling lemons. It is of easy 

 culture, and is increased readily by cuttings. 

 Introduced in 1842. 



Hypooalyptus. From hypo, under, and kalypto, 

 to hide ; named from a covering to the un- 

 opened flower. Nat. Ord. LeguminoscE. 



H. obcordatus, the only species is an orna- 

 mental green-house evergreen shrub from the 

 Cape of Good Hope. It has neat trifoliate 

 leaves and purple flowers, appearing in June 

 and July. It was introduced in 1823, and is 

 propagated by cuttings of the side shoots. 

 Syn. Orotolaria purpurea. 



Hypocrateriform. Salver-shaped ; having a long 

 slender tube and a flat limb, as in the Primrose. 



Hypooy'rta. A genus of Gesneracem, contain- 

 ing a few species, natives of South America. 

 They are procumbent under-shrubs, throwing 

 out roots from below the origin of their 

 opposite and fleshy leaves. The flowers are 

 axillary and solitary, or several together, 

 generally bright scarlet in color. They were 

 introduced in 1846, and are increased by cut- 

 tings, or seeds. 



Hypoe'stes. A considerable genus of Acan- 

 thaceoB, dispersed over Africa, tropical Asia, 

 and Austialia, and remarkably abundant in 

 Madagascar. They are shrubs or small trees, 

 with entire or dentate leaves, and large purple 

 or rose-colored flowers in axillary clusters or 

 short spikes, often numerous and forming a 

 terminal leafy thyrse. Nearly forty species 

 have been desciibed ; increased by cuttings. 



Hypogaeous. Growing under the earth. 



Hypogynous. Growing from below the base 

 of the ovary. 



Hypo'lepis. From hipo, under, and fepfs, a 

 scale. Nat. Ord. PolypodiacecB. 



A small genus of handsome free-growing 

 ferns, natives of tropical America, south 

 Africa, New Zealand, etc., nearly allied to 

 Cheilanthea. The fronds are evergreen, bl- or 

 quadripinnate, with free veins. These are 

 plants of easy culture, thriving best in a 

 rough, coarse soil; they should have good 

 drainage and plenty of water. 



Hypo'xis. Star Grass. From hypo, beneath, 

 and oxya, sharp ; referring to the seed pod. 

 Nat. Ord. AmmryllidacecB. 



H. erecta, a very pretty bulb, found in 

 meadows and waste places in New England, 

 and southward. The flowers are bright yel- 

 low inside, brownish outside, and borne on 

 umbels on a scape about a foot high. 



Hyssop. See Hyssopas. 



Hysso'pus. From Hyaaopos, the old Greek 

 name, used by Hippocrates. Nat. Ord. Lain- 

 at(B. 



The garden Hyssop is a native of Siberia, 

 and the mountainous parts of Austria. It 

 was early introduced into the garden in this 

 country, and has escaped in many places to 

 the roadsides. It is considerably grown as a 

 medicinal herb, but is not, however, much 

 esteemed except in domestic practice. This 

 is not supposed to be the Hyssop mentioned 

 in the Old Testament, and it has not been 

 ascertained what plant is referi-ed to. As it 

 was one of the smallest plants, and "grew 

 out of the wall," some have conjectured it. to 

 be one of the Mosses. 



