APOS] 



Qfyz Ersagurg of 33 o tang. 



82 



plant resembling a dwarf palm, with 

 dense spikes of triandrous flowers, and a 

 three-winged ovary, terminating in a nar- 

 row neck. 



APOSTASIACE/E. This is a very small 

 group, bordering on the limits of the vast 

 orchidaceous order, from which it differs 

 mainly in its stamens not being gynan- 

 drous, but distinct from each other and 

 from the style. It stands near the genus 

 Gypripedium, some of the reputed species 

 of which, now called Selenipediuin, have a 

 three-celled ovary. The flowers of all the 

 known species are small and inconspic- 

 uous, while the leaves are strongly marked 

 by stout parallel larger veins, as in Cur- 

 culigo, or any similarplant. 



APOSTAXIS. Unusual discharge of the 

 juices of plants. This may arise merely 

 from an extreme abundance of fluid, which 

 is in consequence discharged, as in Indian 

 shot or the vine, from the point, or ser- 

 rated top of the leaves. If, however, it is 

 elaborated sap which flows out, either 

 from injury or weakness of the tissues, 

 the effect may be injurious. And this is 

 exactly the case in what is called gum- 

 ming ; a condition which may be induced 

 artificially, by allowing water to drop con- 

 stantly over, a branch. This always pro- 

 ceeds from injured or diseased tissues, and 

 is with difficulty arrested when once set 

 up, and, if so, is the certain forerunner 

 of fatal canker. In some cases, as in the 

 tragacanth plant, the gum is organised, 

 and is derived apparently from the medul- 

 lary rays. In conifers, a flow of resin is 

 often attended with the same fatal results 

 as gumming in plums and other allied 

 plants. In this case it seems to arise 

 generally from root-confinement and a con- 

 sequent check of circulation. [M. J. B.] 



APOTHBCIA. The shields of lichens; 

 firm horny disks arising from a thallus, 

 &c, containing spores. 



APPENDAGES. Leaves and all their 

 modifications are appendages of the axis. 

 Hairs, prickles, &c, are appendages of the 

 part which bears them. A name applied 

 to processes of any kind. 



APPENDICULA. A genus of incon- 

 spicuous orchids, inhabiting tropical Asia. 

 They have long stems, clothed with ob- 

 long distichous leaves, bearing at the end 

 a few green flowers. About twenty spe- 

 cies are known, one only of which has been 

 in cultivation in Europe. 



APPE'TIT. (Fr.) Allium Schcenoprasum. 

 APPLE. PyrusMdlus. — .ADAM'S. A 



variety of the Lime, Citrus Limetta. — , 

 ALLIGATOR. The fruit of Anona palus- 

 tris. — , BALSAM. The fruit of Momor- 

 dica Balsamina. — , CHERRY. The 

 Siberian Crab, Pyrus baccata. — , CUS- 

 TARD. The fruit of Anona reticulata; 

 also a common name for the family of 

 Anona. — , DEVIL'S. The fruit of Mau- 

 dragora officinalis. — , EGG. The fruit of 

 Solanum esculentum. — , ELEPHANT. 



The fruit of Feronia elephantum. — , 

 KANGAROO. The fruit of Solanum 

 laciniatum. — , KAU. The name, in 

 South Africa, of a fruit supposed to be- 

 long to Diospyrus. — , LOVE. The fruit 

 of Lycopersicum esculentum. — , MAD, or 

 JEW'S. The fruit of Solanum esculentum. 

 —, MAMMEE. The fruit of Mavnnca 

 americana. — , MANDRAKE. The fruit 

 of Mandragora officinalis. — , MAY. Po- 

 dophyllum peltatum. — , MONKEY. A 

 West Indian name for Clusia jlava. — , 

 OAK. A spongy excrescence, formed on 

 the branches of the oak-tree. — , of PERU. 

 The fruit of Nicandra physaloides. — , of 

 SODOM. The fruit of Solanum sodomeum. 

 — , OTAHEITE. The fruit of Spondias 

 dulcis. — , PERSIAN. A name given to 

 the peach, when first introduced into Eu- 

 rope. — , PINE. Ananassa sativa. — , 

 PRAIRIE. Psoralea esculenta. — , ROSE. 

 The fruit of Eugenia malaccensis, E.aquea, 

 E. Jambos, and others. — , STAR. The 

 fruit of Chrysopliyllum Cainito. — , THORN. 

 Datura Stramonium. — , WILD BALSAM. 

 Echinocystis lobata. 



APPLE BERRY. A colonial name for 

 Billardiera. 



APPLE-TREE, MALAY. Eugenia ma- 

 laccensis. 



APPLEWORTS. An English name pro- 

 posed for the order Pomacem. 



APRICOT. Prunus Armeniaca; for- 

 merly sometimes written Apricock. — , 

 WILD. Mammea americana. 



APTANDRACEJS. Out of the genus 

 Aptandra, Mr. Miers has proposed to 

 form a natural order, bearing this name. 

 Only one species is known, a tree with 

 alternate leaves and minute flowers, a na- 

 tive of the banks of the river Amazon. It 

 is usually referred to Humiriads. Its crreat 

 feature is having anthers opening by re- 

 flexed valves, as in Lauracece. 



APTERIA setacea. An obscure North 

 American plant related to Burmannia, but 

 destitute of wings to the fruit. 



AQUIFOLIACE.E {Ilicinece, Rollyworts). 

 The common holly-tree is the type of 

 a small natural order of shrubs and trees, 

 with rotate monopetalous flowers, a de- 

 finite number of epipetalous stamens, and 

 a fleshy fruit. The species may be said 

 to possess in general emetic qualities, 

 variously modified in various instances. 

 Birdlime is obtained from the bark of the 

 common holly, and the beautiful white 

 wood is much esteemed by cabinet-makers 

 for inlaying. A decoction of Ilex vomitoria, 

 called Black drink, is used by the Creek 

 Indians at the opening of their councils, 

 and it acts as a mild emetic. But the most 

 celebrated product of the order is Mate, 

 or Paraguay tea, the dried leaves of Rex 

 paraguayensis : which see. 



AQUILARIA. The Eagle-wood, or Ajjal- 

 lochum of the antients, is produced from 

 certain species of this genus : hence the 



