ARU 
ATR 
Composite. An extensive group, for trie 
most part hardy and herbaceous ; some 
of the species are interesting objects 
among rockwork, where their silvery 
leaves have a pleasing effect. The best 
of the hardy kinds are: A. cerulescens , 
A. lednicensis, A. Marshallicma, A. re¬ 
pots, A. rupestris, and A. taurica. The 
tender species are scarcely worth the 
trouble of growing. 
ARU M (Linn.) Nat. Order Araceee. 
There are several interesting species con¬ 
tained in this genus which may be ac¬ 
counted pretty additions to the collec¬ 
tions of the stove and greenhouse, 
though' the flowers of them possess a 
disagreeable odour; they are easily cul¬ 
tivated in loam, and should have a liberal 
supply of water; numerous offsets are 
commonly produced, by which the spe¬ 
cies are extended. The finest of the 
stove kinds are: Campanut aturn, hedera- 
ceum, orixense, sagittlfolium , and triloba- 
tum, while of the hardy ones, atro-rubens , 
Bracontium, italicum, tennuifolhm , and 
triphyllum are most esteemed. 
ASCLEPIAS (Linn.) Nat. Order 
Asclepiadaceae. An extensive genus of 
tall growing plants, mostly of hardy her¬ 
baceous character, remarkable for their 
curious flowers and the silky substance 
which fills the seed-pod. A. tuberosais 
a general favorite, on account of its 
bright orange-coloured flowers. 
ASPERULA (Linn.) Nat. Order 
Pubiacece. Pretty, dwarf, hardy plants, 
well adapted for shaded situations among 
trees; chiefly natives of the European 
Continent. A. odor at a, the common 
woodruff, is esteemed for its delightful 
SCGIlt 
ASPHOHELUS (Linn.) Nat. Order 
Liliacece. Showy plants suitable for the 
open border, with white or yellow flowers, 
may be grown in common soil, and are 
readily increased by separation of the 
roots. 
ASPIDIUM (Swartz.) Nat. Order 
Polypodiaceee. An extensive and beauti¬ 
ful genus of ferns, of various habitudes, 
from the open ah to the warm and moist 
plant stove. A shaded, humid situation 
is indispensable in the culture of this and 
all other ferns. 
ASPLENIUM (Linn.) Nat. Order 
Polypodiacece. Another and very similar 
genus of ferns of the same character, and 
requiring the same treatment as the last. 
ASTELMA (R. Brown.) Nat. Order 
Composites. Lovely free flowering plants, 
from the Cape of Good Hope, requiring 
the treatment usually adopted with Cape 
Heaths. Potted in sandy peat, carefully 
watered, and allowed an airy place in the 
greenhouse, they grow and flower with 
freedom. Propagated by cuttings, placed 
in sand, covered with a bell glass, and 
plunged into a gentle bottom heat. 
Erimiim, imbricatim, fragrans, and spe- 
ciosissimum, are the most beautiful. 
ASTER (Linn.) Nat. Order Com¬ 
posites. There are upwards of one hun¬ 
dred and fifty species included in this 
genus, chiefly hardy herbaceous plants, 
useful for ornamenting the flower _ bor¬ 
ders in the autumn; generally attaining 
a height of from two to four feet, and 
ju'oduciug white, red, or blue flowers; 
easily increased by separating the old 
stools, and will grow in any situation or 
soil. 
ASTEROCEPHALUS (Yaillant.) 
Nat. Order Bipsacere. Showy border 
plants, blooming through the summer 
months, mostly of European origin, and 
therefore of easy culture. Many of the 
species included were some time since 
separated from the genus Scabiosa. 
ASTRAGALUS (Linn.) Nat. Order 
Leguminosa. Another large genus of or¬ 
namental hardy plants, particularly va¬ 
luable in the larger beds of the flower 
garden. Purple and yellow are the pre¬ 
vailing colours of the flowers. The her¬ 
baceous species only require to be planted 
in the open ground ; and the annuals to 
be sown in March, where they are in¬ 
tended to bloom. 
ASTROLOBIUM ( Decandolle. ) 
Nat. Order Leguniinosce. A pretty genus 
of dwarf annuals, producing a multitude 
of yellow flowers ; they grow in any soil, 
and should be sown where they are to 
remain. 
ATRAGENE (Linn.) Nat. Order 
Panunculacece . Pretty, hardy, climbing 
plants, suitable for covering walls, ar- 
I bours, &c., growing in common soil, and 
