1247 



€3)C Creasurg at ISfltang. 



[ZEA 



the Horned Pondweed, resembles in habit 

 some of the smaller Potamogetons. The 

 stems are long and cord-like; and the 

 leaves opposite, very narrow, and bearing 

 the flowers at their base enclosed in a 

 membranous sheath, the barren consisting 

 of a single stamen, the fertile of four or 

 sometimes more ovaries, each surmounted 

 by a peltate stigma. [C. A. J.] 



ZANONIA. A genus of Indian climbing 

 plants of the family Cucurbitacece. The 

 species have entire heart-shaped leaves, 

 axillary tendrils, and dioecious flowers, 

 borne in axillary clusters. In the male 

 flower the calyx is three-lobed ; the co- 

 rolla ig wheel-shaped spreading five-parted; 

 and there are five stamens with flat fila- 

 ments united at the base.and one-celled an- 

 thers. In the females the calyx is adherent 

 to the three-celled ovary.and itslimbisfive- 

 parted ; styles three spreading branched ; 

 fruit fleshy, three-celled, with two or more 

 winged seeds in each cell. The leaves of 

 Z. indica are used in baths for the relief of 

 nervous complaints, and beaten up with 

 butter they form a liniment which is used 

 for similar purposes. [M. T. M.] 



ZANORA. Iriartea exorrhiza. 



ZAXTEDESCHIA. Bichardia. 



ZASTEDESQUE. (Fr.) Bichardia. 



ZAXTE-WOOD. Bhus Cotinus ; also 

 Chlvroxylon Swietenia. 



ZAXTHORRTZA. Xanthorrhiza. 



ZAXTHOXYLOX. Xanthoxylon. 



ZAPAXIA. A name applied to that sec- 

 tion of the genus Lippia, in which are 

 placed those species which have a flattened 

 calyx and capitate flowers. [W. C] 



ZARA. A Spanish name for Maize. 



ZAROLLE. (Fr.) Goodenia. 



ZASMIDIUM. An imperfectly-character- 

 ised genus of Fuvgi,he\ougms to the tribe 

 Pkysomycetes, which is knownbv the brittle 

 carbonaceous sporangia filled with simple 

 spores, and springing from amass of equal 

 threads. Z. cellare is commonly known as 

 hanging down from the roofs of cellars in 

 large masses, or covering corks, bottles, 

 and other matters. It sometimes even 

 penetrates the tissue of the corks, but does 

 not seem to injure the wine like some of 

 the white mycelia. Indeed the wine-mer- 

 chant encourages its growth, as he thinks 

 it an ornament to his vault:-, and an indi- 

 cation to customers who visit them that 

 his wine is old. 



While on the subject of cellar-fungi, 

 which are sometimes so injurious, it may 

 be well to state that if sawdust is used at 

 all for packing the bottles, it should be pre- 

 viously soaked in a solution of some mine- 

 ral salt, which does not readily absorb mois- 

 ture, after which, being thoroughly dried, 

 there is little fear of any fungus appearing. 

 The lathes, moreover, should be kyanised, 

 and the corks themselves sealed, after 



being washed carefully with a solution of 

 corrosive sublimate, none being alio wed to 

 extend beyond the part of the cork which 

 is exposed. If, however, fungus has once 

 attacked the corks, they should be care- | 

 fully removed, and the wine recorked, or | 

 there will certainly be mischief. Tin's | 

 sometimes is indicated by an unpleasant ' 

 odour, and sometimes the whole strength I 

 of the wine is appropriated, and the fluid 

 becomes almost a caput mortuum. [M. J. B.] 



ZAUSCHNERIA. A handsome decum- 

 bent Calif ornian plant, of herbaceous cha- 

 racter, belonging to the Onagraceee. It is 

 much-branched, bearing linear-lanceolate 

 greyish leaves, and large racemose spikes 

 of fuchsia-like flower.s, of which the calyx- 

 tube is elongated four-angled and coloured, 

 and its limb four-parted, the corolla of four 

 petals, the stamens eight in two rows, and 

 the ovary four-celled inferior, with a fili- 

 form exserted style, and capitate stigma. 

 Z. calif arnica is a showy species, with the 

 flowers of a bright red colour. [T. M.] 



ZEA. A genus of grasses belonging to 

 the tribe Phalaridew. They are monoecious 

 plants, with the male flowers in terminal j 

 racemes; spikelets two-flowered ; glumes 

 nearly equal, herbaceous, terminating in I 

 sharp points; pales two, wedge-shaped j 

 fleshy oblique and truncate ; stamens 

 three. The females are axillary, in the 

 sheathes of the leaves. There are Ave 

 species described by Steudel in his Synop- 

 sis, all natives of South America. Z. Mays, 

 or Maize, is the well-known and important 



Zea Mays. 



cereal so largely grown in the United 

 States of America, where it generally bears 

 the name of Indian-corn. Though not 

 now found in a wild state, there is little 

 doubt about America being the native 

 region of the plant, the Indians through- 

 out that continent having been found en 

 gaged in its cultivation at the period when 



U 



