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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS gunnbra 



in small heads usually 1-sexed ; very 

 rarely somewhat hermaphrodite; male 

 flowers often in racemes, without calyx 

 and corolla. Stamens clustered, shortly 

 stalked ; females solitary, with a con- 

 fluent calyx, and no petals, surrounded 

 by scales. 



Cultwre amd Propagation. — Liquid- 

 ambars like a moist loamy soil and 

 somewhat sheltered situations. New 

 plants may be obtained from layers made 

 in autumn and allowed to remain for 

 •about 12 months before detaching. Seeds 

 which have to be imported) take a very 

 ong time — ^perhaps 12 months — to ger- 

 minate, but soaking in warm water may 

 facilitate the process. When the young 



plants are 6-9 in. high, they may be 

 planted out in mUd showery weather in 

 spring. 



L. orientalis {L. imberbe). — A large, 

 slow-growing bush 10-20 ft. high, native 

 of the Levant, with usually palmately 

 5-lobed, smooth leaves resembling some 

 of the Maples. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



L. styraciflua (Sweet Oum). — A 

 beautiful N. American Maple-like tree 

 30-50 ft. high in a wild state. Leaves 

 palmately lobed, with the sinuses at the 

 base of the veins, hairy. Flowers in 

 spring, greenish-yellow. 



Culture dc. as above. 



XLIV. HALORAGEiE 



A natural order containing about 80 species of herbs or usually perennial 

 aquatic or terrestrial undershrubs. Leaves opposite, alternate, or vrhorled, 

 simple, entire or toothed, the submerged ones often pectinately pinnatifid. 

 Stipules none, or adnate to the leafstalk as in Gunnera. Flowers usually 

 axillary, sohtary or clustered, sometimes in a raceme, spike, or panicle, or 

 corymbose ; hermaphrodite or 1-sexed, often minute, frequently incomplete. 

 Calyx lobes and petals 2, 4, or none, the latter concave, deciduous, valvate or 

 imbricated at the margins. Stamens 2-8, rarely 1 or 3, large, with short fila- 

 ments. Ovary ovoid, oblong, or shortly cylindrical, flattened or 2-8-angled or 

 ribbed, rarely 2-4-winged, Styles 1-4, with papillose or feathery stigmas. 



GUNNERA (Prickly Rhubarb). — A 

 genus containing 11 species of soapigerous 

 perennial herbs with large, stalked, ovate 

 or roundish heart-shaped, simple or lobed, 

 crenate, thick, leathery, often wrinkled 

 leaves, all springing from the creeping 

 rhizome. Flowers greenish, minute, in 

 dense spikes or branched panicles. 



Cultwre and Propagation. — Gunneras 

 thrive in rich moist loam and are effective 

 when judiciously planted in sunny places 

 on the edges of lakes, streams &o., where 

 they can be sheltered by the surrounding 

 vegetation from the violent winds. The 

 huge Bhubarb-like leaves die down on the 

 approach of winter. While dormant the 

 rootstocks are best covered over with dry 

 leaves until the sprmg, when the covering 

 may be removed, so as not to weaken the 

 young growths, although in mild winters 

 this precaution is scarcely necessary. 

 The old leaves themselves make excellent 

 coverings for the crowns. Gunneras are 

 increased by dividing the rootstock or 



rather by detaching the thick bud-like 

 shoots which form all round the base. 

 Each shoot should be carefully planted in 

 light rich soil in early autiman or in spring, 

 and if started under the protection of cold 

 frames so much the better. 



Seeds may also be sown when ripe in 

 cold frames or in gentle heat in spring, 

 but it is rather a tedious process obtaining 

 plants in this way as a rule. When well 

 germinated the seedlings should be care- 

 fully pricked out, and it is best to grow 

 them on in cold frames until they have 

 become large sturdy plants. The following 

 species are best known : — 



G. manicata. — A noble-looking plant 

 from the frosty regions of South Brazil. 

 Leaves 4-7^ ft. in diameter, roundish 

 heart-shaped and deeply lobed, and borne 

 on stout stalks 4-6 ft. high. 



Culture do. as above. This species is 

 perfectly hardy as far north as Aberdeen, 

 with a slight protection of leaves in severe 

 winters. 



