STAR. OF BETHLEHEM. 278 



STERCULIA. 



Squirting Cucumber. — See Mo- 



3IORDICA. 



Stachvs. — Labiates. — The Hedge 

 Nettle. Shrubby and herbaceous 

 plants," natives of Europe and North 

 America, -which will grow freely in 

 any light rich soil, and which are in- 

 creased by cuttings or division of the 

 root. 



Staff tree. — See Celastrus. 



Stag's horn. — See Rhus. 



Stanhopea. — Orchidacece.-Bea.xi- 

 tiful Orchideous plants -with large 

 ■white flowers proceeding from the 

 root. For the culture, see Orchi- 

 deous Epiphytes. 



Stape'lia. — Asclepiadece. — Very 

 curious stove-plants, with showy 

 flowers proceeding from the root, 

 which smell so much like carrion, 

 that flesh-flies have been known to 

 lay their eggs upon them. As these 

 plants are very succulent, they are 

 very apt to drop off, if they are grown 

 in rich soil, or too much watered. 

 They succeed best in sandy loam 

 mixed with lime rubbish ; and they 

 are propagated \ by cuttings, which 

 should be laid on a shelf for two or 

 three days to shrivel before they are 

 planted. The plants from which the 

 cuttings are taken should be kept 

 quite dry for some time afterwards, 

 as they are apt to rot from the wound. 

 All the Stapelias are natives of the 

 Cape of Good Hope. 



Staphylia. — Celastrinece. — The 

 Bladder Nut. Hardy shrubs, natives 

 of England and North America, that 

 will grow freely in any common 

 garden soil. The flowers are white, 

 and the seed, which is brown, is pro- 

 duced in a large inflated capsule or 

 bladder. The seeds, when bored, are 

 used in Catholic countries for ro- 

 saries. 



Star of Bethlehem. — See Orni- 

 thogalum. In the midland counties 

 the large yellow Hypericum is called 

 the Star of Bethlehem. 



Starwort. — See Aster. 



Statice v . — Plumbaginece Sea 



Lavender. Singular plants, the foot- 

 stalks of the flowers of which are 

 coloured so as to resemble flowers, 

 while the real flowers are the white 

 part at the extremity of the purple. 

 The handsomest species belonging to 

 the genus is S. arborea, a native of 

 the Canaries, which is quite shrubby. 

 This splendid plant should have 

 plenty of room for its roots ; and thus 

 when there is not a conservatory for 

 it to be planted in, it does better in 

 the open border with a slight protec- 

 tion during winter than in a pot in a 

 greenhouse. The soil in which it is 

 grown should be half sandy loam and 

 half vegetable mould. It is ex- 

 tremely difficult to raise young plants 

 by cuttings ; and though nurserymen 

 contrive to make layers, it is so diffi- 

 cult an operation, as to be scarcely 

 practicable by an amateur. The com- 

 mon kinds of Statice are generally 

 increased by seeds, or by dividing the 

 root; and they should be allowed 

 plenty of space, as they are easily 

 killed when crowded by other plants. 



Stellaria. — Caryophyllece. — 

 Stitchwort. Very pretty plants, with 

 white flowers, many of which are 

 natives of Britain. They are all 

 quite hardy, but they grow best in 

 sandy soil. The dwarf kinds are very 

 suitable for rockwork. They are pro- 

 pagated by seeds, which they ripen 

 freely, or by division of the root. 



Stenochis. — Composites. — S. spe- 

 cibsa is a very showy perennial, with 

 large and very handsome flowers. It 

 is a native of California, and will 

 grow in any common garden soil. It 

 is increased by seed, or by dividing 

 the roots. 



Stenochilus; — Myoporinece. — 

 Australian shrubs, with scarlet flowers, 

 which should be grown in sandy 

 peat. 



Stercu LiA.--Byttneriacece.-Stove 



