62 



POPULAR GARDEN BOTANY. 



XANTHORRHCEA. 



Gen. Char. (Hexandria Monogynia.) Flower six-parted ; fila- 

 ments flat and naked ; capsule three-cornered ; seeds two. 



The name is derived from the Greek for yellow and to 

 flow, from the yellow gum produced by X arborea, which 

 plant is sometimes introduced into the greenhouse; it has 

 long grass-like leaves, and long spikes of white flowers. 

 The following species are more hardy, and will stand the 

 outer air in the summer, Australis, hastilis, media, minor, 

 and bracteata ; they are all from Australia, where the na- 

 tives call them " Grass Gum -trees," and eat the inner por- 

 tion either raw or roasted, taking off all the outer leaves. 

 The grass-like leaves, and tall spikes of flowers, it is said, 

 create an amusing variety in the otherwise monotonous 

 scenery of Australia. 



HYACINTHUS. (Hyacinth.) 



Gen. Char. {Hexandria Monogynia.} Flower erect, six-cleft, 

 with equal segments, not divided to the base ; stamens inserted 

 in the middle of the flower ; cells of capsule two-seeded. 



The name is derived from the fable that Hyacinthus was 

 killed by Apollo, and changed into this flower. Hyacin- 



