HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



OCH 



and Inixemburgia, and about one hundred and 



fifty species. 

 Ochra or Oohro. Abelmoschus esculentus. 

 Ocbraceons. Having the color of clay, or yeUow 



ochre. i 



Ochroca'rpus. Prom ochros, pale yellow, and 



karpos, a fruit ; alluding to the color of the 



fruits. Nat. Ord. Quttiferm. 

 A genus of tropical trees, natives of Africa, 



Asia, and the Mascarene Islands, of little 



horticultural interest. O. Africanvs, bears a 



large fruit with a thick rind and a yellow pulp. 



The tree abounds with a yellow resinous gum. 



Syn. Mammea. 

 Ocbroleucus. Whitish-yellow. 



Ochro'ma. Cork-wood. From ochroa, pale; 

 referring to the flowers. Nat. Ord. Malvacem. 

 0. Lagopvs, a tree growing from thirty to 

 fifty feet high, known as Corkwood, is com- 

 mon in the West Indies and Central America, 

 where it is employed as a substitute for 

 cork, for stopping bottles ; itis also extensively 

 used for making rafts, floats for fishing nets, 

 and other purposes where light wood is re- 

 quired. 



Oohro'pteris. From ochros, pale-yellow, and 

 pterin, a Fern ; alluding to the color of the 

 plant. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacem. 



0. pollens, the only described species, is an 

 extremely rare and beautiful Fern requiring 

 an abundance of heat and moisture to grow 

 it successfully. It has large decompound 

 fronds, with small, glossy, coriaceous pinules, 

 and is an introduction from the Mascarene 

 Islands and Mauritius. 



O'cimum. Basil. From OJrnnon, the old Greek 

 name used by Theophrastus for Basil. Nat. 

 Ord. LabiatcB. 



A somewhat extensive genus of fragrant 

 and aromatic plants, mostly natives of India. 

 The most important of them are 0. basilicum, 

 the Sweet or Common Basil, a tender annual, 

 introduced from India in 1548, and 0. mrni- 

 mum, the Dwarf or Bush Basil, a native of 

 Chili, and introduced in 1573. The leaves of 

 both species have a strong aromatic smell, 

 and are much used in seasoning soups and 

 various other dishes. 



Oco'tea. Said to be the native name of the tree 

 in Guiana. Nat. Ord. Lawacece. 



A large genus comprising about two hun- 

 dred trees or shrubs, natives of tropical 

 America, a few being found in the Canary 

 Islands, South Africa, and the Mascarene 

 Islands. M. bullata, probably the only species 

 yet introduced, has small green flowers, and 

 is a plant of comparatively little interest. 

 It is also in cultivation under the name of 

 Oreodaphne bullata. 



Octome'rla. From okto, eight, and maris, a part ; 

 in allusion to the pollen masses. Nat. Ord. 

 OrchidacecB. 



A genus of green-house epiphytal Orchids, 

 natives of Brazil, Guiana, and the West Indies. 

 They are curious little Pleurothallis-like Or- 

 chids, and are frequently imported along with 

 Bromeliads, about the bases of which they 

 grow on the trunks of trees. O.grammifolia, 

 with pale-yellow flowers, and O. Smmdersiana, 

 with yellow flowers striped with purple, are 

 the best known species. The latter was intro- 

 duced from Brazil in 1880. 



(ENO 



Oculatus. Marked with concentric spots of 

 different colors or tints. 



O'cymum. A synonym of Ocfi/mwm, which see. 



Odes or Gides. A Greek termination signifying 

 similarity ; as Phyllodes, leaf-like. 



Odontade'nia. From odovs, odontos, a tooth, 

 and aden, a gland; in allusion to the five- 

 toothed glands. Nat. Ord Apocynacem. 



A genus of shrubby plants, natives mostly 

 of Brazil and Guiana. O. apedoaa, the only 

 introduced species, has showy yellow, deli- 

 cately-scented flowers, borne in large, loose 

 bunches, and is an excellent plant for training 

 on the rafters of the plant-stove. It is propa- 

 gated by cuttings, and was introduced from 

 Trinidad in 1854. Syn. Dipladenia Hojrrisi. 



Odontoglo'ssum. From odous, odontos, tooth, 

 and glossa, a tongue ; tooth-like processes on 

 the lip or labellum. Nat. Ord. Orchidacem. 



A very extensive genus of epiphytal Orchids, 

 found principally in the cool mountain i-egions 

 of Mexico, Peru, New Grenada, and Venezuela. 

 Very many of the species have been intro- 

 duced into the green-house, and are greatly 

 prized by cultivators for their magnificent 

 flowers, which are remarkable, both for their 

 size and the beauty of their colors. Many of 

 the species have pure white flowers, variously 

 spotted ; some have a powerful odor of violets. 

 With but tew exceptions, they require to be 

 grown in a moderately cool house. All the 

 Odontoglossums are propagated by division, 

 none having as yet been raised from seeds. 

 Mr. H. Veitch, in his paper on the "Hybrid- 

 ization of Orchids," 1855, says that numer- 

 ous crosses, between various species, both 

 Mexican and New Grenadan, have been 

 effected, and seed-pods, with apparently good 

 seed, have been produced, but with the utmost 

 care that could be bestowed, no progeny has 

 yet been raised. See Orchids. 



Qjna'nthe. From oinos, wine, and anthos, a 

 flower; referring to the vinous odor of the 

 blossoms. Nat. Ord. Umbelliferce. 



A genus of mostly uninteresting herbs, fre- 

 quenting wet or marshy places, or even grow- 

 ing in water. CE. crocata is a stout-branched 

 species, attaining a height of three to five 

 feet, and is remarkable as being one of the 

 most poisonous plants of the whole order. 

 The juice of the stem and roots becomes yel- 

 low when exposed to the air. The roots act 

 as a narcotic, acrid poison, and from their re- 

 semblance to parsnips, have been the cause of 

 frequent, and sometimes of fatal accidents. 

 The plant has been used with beneficial results 

 in certain skin diseases, and for the purpose 

 of poisoning rats and moles. 

 CEnoca'rpus. From oinoa, wine, and karpos, a 

 fruit; yields palm-wine and oil. Nat. Ord. 

 PalmacecB. 



An exclusively South American genus of 

 lofty Palms, consisting of several species, 

 some of which yield large quantities of sweet- 

 tasted oil, which is excellent for cooking, and 

 is much used for burning in lamps. 



CEnothe'ra. Evening Primrose. From oiiu)s, 

 wine, and thera, imbibing; the roots of CE. 

 biermia were formerly taken after meals as in- 

 centives to wine-drinking. Nat. Ord. Onagra- 

 cecB. 



A genuB of annual, biennial, or perennial 

 herbaceous plants, natives of North and South 



