01 



QEfyz GTreagurj? at 3S0t<mg. 



[lama 



of the tribe Asteroidece, consisting of small 

 daisy-like herbs, with the leaves mostly ra- 

 dical, and the small flower-heads growing 

 singly on slender scapes. The numerous 

 spreading ray-florets, either white or pale 

 blue, the numerous yellow tubular florets 

 of the disk, and the flattened achenes with- 

 out any pappus, are nearly those of Bellis, 

 from which genus Lagenophora differs 

 chiefly in the achenes being narrowed into 

 a beak at the top. There are about ten spe- 

 cies, all Australian, although one species, 

 L. Billardieri, extends also into Southern 

 Asia. 



LAGERSTR5MIA. A genus of Lythra- 

 cete, of which about a dozen species are 

 known, all natives 'of tropical Asia, and 

 forming large trees or shrubs, with oppo- 

 site entire leaves, and terminal panicles of 

 purplish or white flowers. The bell-shaped 

 calyx is cut into six equal-sized lobes, with- 

 out any intermediate teeth ; the corolla 

 consists of six petals, furnished with long 

 narrow claws or stalks ; the stamens vary 

 from eighteen to thirty ; and the fruit is 

 divided into three or six cells, containing 

 numerous winged seeds. L. indica is a 

 shrubby plant, growing eight or ten feet 

 high, with elliptical smooth pale green 

 leaves, and bright rose-coloured flowers, 

 the petals of which are very much curved, 

 having a crumpled but exceedingly beauti- 

 ful appearance. It is a native of China, and 

 flourishes in our greenhouses. 



L. regince forms a magnificent timber 

 tree, yielding a bloodred-coloured wood, 

 which, though open in the grain and soft, 

 is greatly used in India for boat building, 

 and for the knees of ships, on account of its 

 great durability under water. It is called 

 Jarool, and is common in the peninsula of 

 India, and in Birmah. The. native Indian 

 physicians esteem various parts medicinal, 

 the astringent root being used as a remedy 

 for thrush, its bark and leaves as purga- 

 tives, and its seeds as a narcotic. [A. S.] ! 



LAGETTA. The tree producing the 

 well-known lace-bark of Jamaica is called 

 in that island by the name Lagetto. The 

 genus belongs to the Ttiymelacere, and is 

 known by its perfect flowers ; its tubular 

 coloured perianth, with a distended tube, 

 contracted throat, and four glands ; eight 

 stamens ; and a small round hairy fruit, 

 enclosed in the persistent base of the 

 perianth. 



The inner bark of L. lintearia consists of 

 numerous concentric layers of fibres which 

 interlace in all directions, and thus present 

 a great degree of resemblance to lace, 

 whence the common name of the tree. It 

 is reported that Charles II. received, as a 

 present from the governor of Jamaica, a 

 cravat, frill, and pair of ruffles, made of this 

 material ; and to this day it is used for 

 bonnets, collars, and other articles of appa- 

 rel, specimens of which may be seen at the 

 Kew museum, &c. The uses to which this 

 natural lace is applied are not always so 

 unobjectionable as those just mentioned, 

 for it is likewise used in the manufacture 

 of thongs and whips, with which, in former 



times at least, the negroes were beaten by 

 their cruel taskmasters. The plant is cul- 

 tivated in English hothouses as an object 

 of curiosity. [M. T. M.] 



LAGOBCIA. The name of a genus of ura- 

 bellifers, characterised by having one half 

 of the fruit abortive, and a deep furrow on 

 one side of that part which attains matu- 

 rity. The only species is a small annual, a 

 native of Eastern Europe, along the borders 

 of the Mediterranean. [G. D.] 



LAGOPUS. Hare-footed. A term ap- 

 plied to parts which are so closely covered 

 with long hairs as to resemble ahare'sfoot; 

 as the rhizome of some ferns, and the in- 

 florescence of some grasses. 



LAGUNARIA. The name of a malva- 

 ceous tree, native of Norfolk Island. The 

 genus is allied to Hibiscus, but from it, and 

 from other closely-related genera, it is dis- 

 tinguished by the small size and paucity 

 of the bracts of the involucel ; by the pre- 

 sence of a club-shaped style, terminated by 

 a radiated stigma; as well as by the capsule, 

 which is five-celled. The flowers are hand- 

 some, and of a pink hue. [M. T. M.j 



LAGUR.US. A genus of grasses belong- 

 ing to the tribe Agrostidece. It is distin- 

 guished by the inflorescence being in round 

 spike-like panicles ; glumes scarious, end- 

 ing in a long-fringed bristle. The soft 

 white silky spikes of flowers, with their 

 protruded awns, give this pretty grass a 

 very remarkable appearance. L. ovatus, 

 the only species, is a native of the south of 

 Europe, as well as of some parts of Asia. 

 Though included in the British flora, it is 

 only found in Guernsey. [D. M.] 



LAITRON. (Pr.) Sonchus. -DE PLU- 

 MIER. Mulgedium. 



LAITUE. (Fr.) Lactuca sativa. H 



LA-KAO. A Chinese green dye obtained 

 from Rhamnus catharticus. 



LAKE-WEED. Polygonum Hydropiper. 



L ALAGE. A genus of Leguminosa>, nearly 

 allied to Ilovea, but differing chiefly in the 

 narrower and more deeply divided upper 

 lip of the calyx, and in the flat pod. It con- 

 sists of four or five shrubs, natives of 

 South-west Australia, with alternate ovate 

 lanceolate or linear leaves, and pretty axil- 

 lary flowers, either yellow or mixed with 

 orange violet and crimson. L. ornata has 

 been introduced into our greenhouses with 

 other Swan River Papilionacece. 



| LA'LANG. A worthless Eastern grass, 

 Andropogon caricosus. 



LALO. The powdered leaves of Adan- 

 sonia digitata. 



LAMAK (Pr.) Solatium nigrum. 



LAMARCKIA. A genus of grasses be- 

 longing to the tribe Festucece. The inflo- 

 rescence is in simple crowded panicles, the 

 spi kel ets of wh i ch are stalked, two-flowered, 

 one fertile and the other sterile. L. aurea, 

 the only species of the genus, is a pretty 



tru 



