lach] 



Efje t&ttuguvy ai Matm& 



654 



bulbous plants, with lanceolate lorate often 

 spotted leaves, and erect flower-scapes 

 bearing a raceme of pendulous flowers, the 

 yellow colour being predominant among 

 them. The perianth is six-parted, with the 

 segments connivent into a cylindrical tube, 

 the three exterior ones shorter than the 

 others ; there are six stamens, and a three- 

 celled many-ovuled ovary which becomes a 

 membranaceous three-winged capsule, con- 

 taining but few seeds. L. penclula, luteola, 

 tricolor, and quadricolor are familiar in- 

 habitants of our greenhouses, and very 

 ornamental in the spring months. [T. M.] 



LACIOLEA. Cape shrubs of the Tiiyme- 

 lacece, deriving their name from the woolly 

 hairs that densely clothe their flowers. The 

 inflorescence consists of terminal flower- 

 heads frequently surrounded by bracts. 

 The perianth is coloured, tubular, jointed 

 below, the lower portion persistent, the 

 limb divided into four segments, and hav- 

 ing attached to it, at its junction with the 

 tube, eight stamens in two rows, and as 

 many scales (petals ?) inserted lower down 

 than the stamens, and placed opposite to 

 the divisions of the limb. [M. T. M.] 



LACHNOCAFLON. A genus of Eriocau- 

 lacece. They have fibrous roots, a very short 

 stem, linear-lanceolate leaves, sheathed 

 peduncles, and villous capitules of uni- 

 sexual flowers. They are natives of Vir- 

 ginia, Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and other 

 parts of North America. [J. H. B.] 



LACHNOSTACHYS. An Australian 

 genus of Amaranthacece, consisting of 

 woolly shrubs with opposite rigid leaves 

 and terminal and axillary cylindrical brac- 

 teated spikes of perfect flowers, with a six 

 or eight-parted scarious perigone, densely 

 woolly outside. [J. T. S.] 



LACHRYMvEFORM. Tear-shaped; the 

 same as Pear-shaped, except that the sides 

 of the inverted cone are not contracted ; 

 as the seed of the Apple. 



LACINIA (adj. L ACINI ATE). A slash. 

 A deep taper-pointed incision. 



LACINULA. A small lacinia or slash ; 

 also the inflected point of the petals of 

 umbellifers. 



LACIS. A genus of Podo stem ace a?, con- 

 sisting of small herbs, natives of Brazilian 

 rivers, having a thick somewhat globular 

 root-stock, numerous stalked palmately- 

 divided leaves and racemose flowers, which 

 differ from those of other genera of the 

 order in their monadelphous stamens, and 

 in their capsules which consist of two or 

 three equal ribbed valves. [M. T. M.] 



LACISTEMACE.E. (Lacistemads.) A 

 natural order of dicotyledonous plants 

 belonging to Lindley's violal alliance of 

 hypogynous Exogens. They are shrubs 

 with simple stipulate leaves, and herma- 

 phrodite or unisexual flowers in axillary 

 catkins. Perianth free, divided, with a 

 large bract; stamen one, hypogynous, the 

 connective separating theantherine lobes, 

 which open transversely ; disk often fleshy ; 



J : 



ovary one-celled ; placentas parietal. Fruit 

 a one-celled two to three-valved loculi- 

 cidal capsule. Seeds numerous, albuminous, 

 with an aril. Natives of the tropical woods 

 of America. There are about half a dozen 

 species in two genera. [J. H. B.] 



LACISTEMA. A small genus of arbor- 

 escent plants of tropical America, from 

 which the order Lacistemacece derives its 

 name. They have simple alternate leaves, 

 polygamous catkin-like flowers, a calyx 

 supported by a bract, no corolla, a solitary 

 stamen surrounded by a somewhat fleshy 

 disk, a capsular one-celled fruit, each cell 

 bearing a solitary seed. In habit the 

 species somewhat resemble pepperworts. 

 Their properties are unknown. [B. SJ 



LACTARIUS. A large genus of gill- 

 bearing Fungi, distinguished by the cellular 

 not filamentous substance of the gills, and 

 the milky juice which is contained in 

 distinct tubes. They are often extremely 

 acrid and dangerous, but some of them, as 

 L. volemus and L. deliciosus, are mild and 

 form excellent articles of food. As, how- 

 ever, they are used when pickled in con- 

 siderable quantities almost indiscrimi- 

 nately by the Russians, it would seein that 

 the dangerous properties are neutralised 

 by the acid. Dogs suffer dreadfully after 

 biting such species as L. vellereus, and Dr. 

 Badham had very unpleasant symptoms 

 from simply tasting a few of the spores. 

 The milk of this species leaves a burn- 

 ing sensation in the throat like that of 

 Euphorbia Lathyrus. When collected it 

 forms a cheesy mass which burns with a 

 bright flame. The milk in many species, 

 though originally white, changes colour 

 when exposed to the air, and sometimes 

 displays brilliant tints, as blue, orange, &c. 

 One or two species have been found in the 

 Himalayas, but Europe and North America 

 are their principal habitats. [M. J. B.] 



LACTESCENT. Containing lac, or milk. 



LACTEUS. Milk-white ; dull white verg- 

 ing to blue. 



LACTUCA. A well-known genus of 

 Composite, deriving its name from the 

 milk-like juice which pervades the plants 

 in their wild state. The genus belongs to 

 that group, the Cichoracea?, which is cha- 

 racterised by the presence of heads of strap- 

 shaped florets only, and may be further 

 distinguished by the following marks : in- 

 volucre of a few overlapping bracts, in- 

 cluding a few yellow or blue flowers, which 

 are placed upon a scaleless receptacle; 

 fruits somewhat flattened, surmounted by 

 a thread-like beak, and a pappose calyx of 

 silky hairs. The species are annual or 

 perennial herbs, with erect branching 

 stems, and smooth or spiny leaves, and are 

 distributed over Southern Europe, Central 

 Asia, and North America. 



The Garden Lettuces have been so modi- 

 fied by long cultivation, that it is impos- 

 sible to decide accurately from which spe- 

 cies they have originated. Suffice it to say, 

 that the narcotic and sedative principles 



