M0RJ5A. 



186 



MOSSHOUSES. 



MoNocHLAMYDEiE, — Plants having 

 only a calyx and no corolla ; in oppo- 

 sition to Dichlamydeje, which are the 

 plants which have both a calyx and a 

 corolla. 



Monocotyledonous plants are those, 

 seeds of which send up only one coty- 

 ledon or seed-leaf when they vegetate; 

 and have leaves, the veins in which 

 are in parallel lines. The ligneous, or 

 woody plants belonging to this division 

 increase very little in thickness during 

 the whole period of their existence ; 

 and their wood consists of fibrous 

 matter, fresh quantities of which are 

 deposited every year within the stem. 

 See Endogens. 



Monoecious plants are those which 

 have the male and female flowers se- 

 parate ; but still on the same plant ; 

 while Dicecious plants are those 

 that have the male and female flowers 

 distinct, and on different plants. 



Mono'psis. — Lobelidcece.—A very 

 beautiful little trailing plant, having 

 dark blue flowers with conspicuous 

 yellow anthers, and the flowers on 

 long foot-stalks. It is a native of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, and it should be 

 grown in sandy peat. It is suitable 

 for rockwork. 



Monsonia. — Geraniacece. — Very 

 beautiful herbaceous plants, nearly 

 allied to the Geraniums, but with 

 much larger flowers, and named in 

 honour of Lady Anne Monson. They 

 are now rarely seen, but well deserve 

 cultivation. They should be grown 

 in a mixture of vegetable mould and 

 loam, and kept in a greenhouse. They 

 are propagated by cuttings, or dividing 

 the roots. They are natives of the 

 Cape of Good Hope. 



Moon-seed. — See Menispe'rmum. 



Moon Trefoil. — Medicago ar- 

 borea. — See Medicago. 



Moor Heath. — See Gypsocallis. 



Mor^a. — Iridece. — Bulbous-root- 

 ed plants, with very handsome flowers, 

 nearly allied to Ixia, from which ge- 



nus they have been removed. They 

 are generally grown in pots in a mix- 

 ture of sandy loam and vegetable 

 mould ; and when they have done 

 flowering they should be kept dry 

 till they begin to grow in spring. 

 When planted in the open ground, 

 they should be protected from frost 

 and heavy rains. 



Moricandia. — Cruciferce. — A 

 very pretty hardy annual, which should 

 be sown in the open border in March 

 or April . 



Mormod es. — Orchidacece. — An 

 orchideous epiphyte, with dark purple 

 flowers, from the Spanish Main. It 

 should be grown on a piece of wood. 

 See Orchideous Epiphytes. 



Morna. — Composites. — Beautiful 

 half-hardy annuals, with everlasting 

 flowers, which should be raised on a 

 hot-bed, and planted out in May. 



Mosshouses are constructed of wood 

 lined with rough boards, to which 

 moss, either of one or of different 

 kinds, is attached by cord or wire, and 

 nails. The roof is also covered with 

 boards, to which is fixed sometimes 

 thatch, and at other times heath, or 

 the mossy bark of oak, pine, birch, or 

 other old trees. The floor is gene- 

 rally paved with blocks of wood, or 

 sometimes with small pebbles, or any 

 other material, according to fancy. 

 The ceilings are generally lined with 

 moss in the same manner as the side 

 walls, and both may be formed into 

 pannels according to the taste of the 

 designer. There are a great many 

 kinds of moss and lichens which may 

 be used for lining mosshouses. Of 

 terrestrial mosses, those which are 

 most common are the Dicranum 

 glaucum, which is of a whitish green, 

 and Bryum hornum, which is of a 

 yellowish green ; Sphagnum acuti- 

 folium is of a pinkish colour, and 

 S. obtusifblium is of a yellowish 

 white. The common tree mosses, or 

 technically lichens, are Cendmyce 



