pubefscens (downy). 1. Green. July.

Caucasus. 1813.

seri'cea (silky). 1. Green. July. Caucasus.

1813.

ALCO'VE. A seat in a recess, formed
of stone, brick, or other dead material.

A'LDER. See ALNUS.

ALE'TRIS. (From aletrm, meal, refer-
ring to the powdery appearance of the
whole plant. Nat. ord., Blood worU
[Hasmodoracese]. Linn. Q-Hexandria 1-
monogynia). A. farinosa is the most
intense of bitters known. Hardy herba-
ceous perennials. Shady situation. Peat
or loam and leaf soil ; offsets.
A. au'rea (golden-tipped). 1. Yellow. July.
North America. 1811.

farino'sa (mealy). 1. White. June. North

America. 1768.

ALEURI'TES. (The name is the Greek
word for mealy, in reference to the mealy
appearance of the plants. Nat. ord.,
Spurgeivorts [Euphorbiacese] ; allied to
Croton). Stove evergreen trees. Loam.
Ripe cuttings root readily in sand, under
a glass, in heat.
A. corda'ta (heart-leaved). Japan. 1818.

tri'loba (three-lobed). 10. Apetal. Oeto,

ber. Society Islands. 1793.

ALEXANDERS, or ALISANDER, (Smy'r-
niwn olusatrum), received its common
name from the Greek, which means " a
helper of man," because formerly believed
to possess powerful medicinal properties.
It was also much cultivated for its stems,
when blanched, to be eaten as celery,
which it slightly resembles in flavour.
Sow any time from the end of March to
the commencement of May, in drills two
feet apart. Thin the plants when four
inches high to a foot apart, and the seed-
lings removed may be planted in rows at
similar distances. Earth them up, to
blanch like celery, when about a foot
high. The plants will last two years,
but the stems are finer and crisper if
raised from seed annually. Grow it on



ALE



[ 24]



ALL



a rich light soil, and give it abundance of
water and liquid manure.

ALEXANDRIAN LAUREL. Ru'scm race-
mo' sus.

ALHA'GI. (The Arabic name of the
plant. Nat. ord., Lcguminoiis plants ;
allied to Hedysarum [Fabacese]. Linn.
\l-Diadelphia \-tetrandria). The natural
secretion from the leaves and branches
of A. maurorum is supposed by some, to
be the manna of scripture. It is worthy of
remark, that this secretion is not now form-
ed in Arabia, Egypt, or India, but only
in Persia, where it is highly esteemed as
food for cattle. Both require the protec-
tion of a greenhouse in winter. Sandy
loam and peat; young cuttings and seeds,
the first in sand, the latter in a hot-bed.
Winter temp. 40 to 45 ; in summer,
55 to 70.

A. camelo'rum (camels). 2. Red. July. Si-
beria. 1816.

mauro'rum (moors). 2. Red. July. Egypt.

1714.

ALIBE'RTIA. (In honour of Alibert, a
French chemist. Nat. ord., Cinchonads
[Cinchonacese]. Linn. 5-Pentandrial-mo-
nogynid). Stove evergreen tree. Cuttings;
sandy peat.

A. edtflis (eatable). 12. Cream-coloured.
Guiana. 1823.

ALI'SMA. "Water Plantain. (From
the Celtic word alls, water. Nat. ord.,
Alismads [Alismaceas]. Linn. Q-Hexan-
dria ^-polygynia. Hardy aquatics. Seed ;
sandy peat immersed in water. A. Plan-
tago is recommended in hydrophobia.

A. lanceola' ta (spear-leaved). 2. Pure white.
July. Britain.

na' tans (floating). 1. White. July. Wales.

parvifio'ra (small-flowered). 1. July. North

America. 1816.

planta? go (plantain). 2. Pure white. July.

Britain.

ranunculoi' des (ranunculus-like). 1. Pur-

ple. August. Britain.

trivia' Us (trivial). 2. White. July. North

America. 1816.

ALLAM A' NBA. (In honour of Dr. Alsa-
mand of Ley den. Nat. ord., Dogbanes
[Apocynacere]. Linn., 5-Pentandria, 1-
Monogynia}. This order is remarkable for
handsome flowering plants, with delete-
rious qualities. An infusion of the leaves
of A. Cathartica is a valuable purgative.
Stove evergreen climbers. Rich loam ;
cuttings root readily in sand, with bot-



tom heat and moist air. Winter, ocP to
65. Summer, 65 to 75.

A. Catha'rtica (cathartic). 12. Yellow. July.
Guiana. 1785.

grandiflo'ra (large-flowered). Yellow. June.

Brazil. 1844.

Parae'nsis (Paran). Yellow. Brazil. 1846.

Scho'ttii (Schott's) September. Yellow.

Brazil. 1847.

verticilla'ta (whorled-leaved) . June. East

Indies. 1812.

ALLAXTO'DIA. (From attantos, a sau-
sage ; in reference to the cylindrical form
of the indusium, or the case which en-
closes the seeds of ferns. Nat. ord.,
Ferns [Polypodiaceae]. Linn. 24-Crypto-
gamia \-Filices). Greenhouse ferns ; divi-
sion of the roots, or sowing spores ; equal
parts, turfy peat and loam.
A. austra'lis (southern) . Brown. VanDiemen's
Land. 1820.

axila'ris (axillarv). 2. Brown. Madeira.

1779.

strigo'sa (strigose). 2. Brown. Madeira.

tdnera (tender). 1. Brown. New Holland.

1820.

umbro'sa (shade-loving). 4. Brown. Ma-

deira. 1779.

ALLEYS are of two kinds. 1 the nar-
row walks which divide the compart-
ments of the kitchen garden ; and 2
narrow walks in the shrubberies and
pleasure-grounds, closely bounded and
overshadowed by the shrubs and trees.

ALLIGATOR PEAR. Persia grati'ssima.

ALLIO'NIA. (In honour of C. Allioni,
an Italian botanist. Nat. ord., Nijctagos,
allied to the Marvel of Pern [Nyctagyna-
ceae]. Linn. k-Tetrandia, \-monogynia}.
Hardy annuals. Seeds ; sandy loam.

A. incarna'ta (flesh-coloured). 1. Flesh. Au-
gust. Cumana. 1820.

ova'ta (egg-leaved). 1. Purple. July.

North America. 1827.

viola' 'cea (violet-coloured). 1. Violet. July.

Cumana. 1820.

ALLIUM. (From the Celtic all, mean-
ing hot, or burning; referring to the well-
known qualities of all the onionworts
which are now classed in the Nat. ord.,
Lily worts [Liliaceae]. Linn. -Hexandria
l-monogynia). The onion, garlic and
leek, according to Dr. Eoyle, are the
plants translated as such in the Bible
(Num. ch. xi. 5). The genus includes the
onion, garlic, &c. Hardy bulbs. Seeds
or offsets ; rich light loam.
A. ampelo'praswn (vine-leek). 2. Purple.
May. England.



ALL



[25]



ALL



A. Anderso'nii (Anderson's). 1. Purple. July.
Siberia. 1818.

angulo'siim (angulose). 1. Light purple.

June. Germany. 1739.

ascalo' nicum (askalon, or shallot) . 1. Pur-

ple. June. Palestine. 1546.
majus (greater askalon, or scallion).

1. Purple. July. South of Europe.

a'sperum (rough). 1. Purple. August.

South of Europe. 1800.

azu'reum (blue-coloured). 1. Blue. Octo-

xber. 1830.

brachi/stc' mon (short-stemmed). 1. White.

June. Europe. 1819.

cceru'lcum (sky-blue). Blue. June. Rus-

sia. 1840.

ce'pa (onion) . 3. White. June.

aggrega'tum (aggregated onion) . 1.

White. June.
pauciflo'rum (few-flowered onion).

2. White. June.

cepcefo'rme (onion-form). 2. White. Au-

gust. 1824.

cine'reum (grey). 1. Straw. July. Siberia.

1829.

confe? rtum (crowded). 4. Purple. August.

Europe.

conge 1 stum (crowded-flowered). 1. Purple.

May. Siberia. 1818.

controversy m (contrary-stemmed). 1. Pur-

ple. 1816.

descdndens (down-flowering). 1. July.

Purple. Switzerland. 1796.

Fi'sheri (Fischer's). 1. Lilac. July. Si-

beria. 1829.

fistula' sum (pipe-leaved. Welsh onion). 2.
Green yellow. April. Siberia. 1629.

ylau'cum (glaucous). Pink. June. Siberia.

1800.

Illy'ricum (Illyrian). 1. Purple. July.

Austria. 1820.

intermedium (intermediate). 2. White.

August. South of Europe. 1827.

litto'reum (sea-side) . 2. Purple. Italy.

1818.

longifo'lium (long-leaved). 1. Dark pur-

ple. July. Mexico. 1826.

medium (middle). 1. White. June. Hun-

gary. 1820.

mo'ly (moly). 1. Yellow. June. South

of Europe. 1604.

ophiosco'rodon (garden rocambole). 4. Pale

red. August. Greece.

oxype'talum (sharp-petaled) . 2. White.

August. South of Europe. 1818.

po'rrum (leek). 2. White. Switzerland.

proli'ferum (proliferous). 3. White. 1820.

pu'lchrum (beautiful). Yellow. June. South

of Europe.

Pu'rshii (Pursh's). 2. Pink. August.

North America. 1818.

ramo'sum (branchy). 2. Pale yellow.

June. Siberia. 1819.

sati'vum (garlic). 2. White. June. Sicily.

1548.

Schasno' prasum (chives). L Flesh. May.

Britain.

Scorodo' prasum (rocambole). 3. Light

purple. July. Denmark. 1596.

scorzonercefo'lium (scorzonera-leaved). 1.

Yellow. June. South of Europe. 1820.



A. spu'rium (spurious). 1. Purple. June
Siberia. 1820.

Victoria' lis (Victor's). 2. Green yellow.

May. Austria. 1739.

angustifo' Hum (Victor's narrow-
leaved). 1. Green yellow. April.
Scotland.

viola' ceum (violet). 1. Violet. June.

Europe. 1823.

Waldstei'nii ( Waldenstein's) . 2. June.

Hungary. 1826.

ALLOPLE'CTUS. (From alias, diverse,
and plekein, to plait ; in reference to the
leaves. Nat. ord., Gesnerworts [G-esner-
aceoe]. Linn. Sys., \-Didynamia 2,-an-
giospermia). Stove evergreens. Light
rich soil ; cuttings.

A. di'chrous (two-coloured). 2. Purple yellow.
Brazil. 1845.

re" pens (creeping) . Yellow brown. Febru-

ary. St. Martha. 1845. This is a
climbing plant.

ALLOSO'RUS. (From allos, diverse, and
soros, a heap ; in reference to the variety
of the patches of fructification sori 011
the hack of the leaf. Nat. ord., Ferns
[Potypodiacea]. Linn. Sys., l^-Crypto-
gamia \-Jilices}. ABritish species of fern.
A. crispus (curled). . Brown. July. Britain.

ALLOTMENT. A space of land divided
amongst so many labourers or artisans,
and generally at the same price as that
which the farmer pays. It may just
be such a piece of ground as a man and
his family may successfully cultivate in
their over-hours, after attending to their
usual employment during the day. The
term allotment thus becomes synonymous
with garden ; and if near to the occupier's
home, such a piece of ground is of great
importance to him, socially and morally.
Or, secondly, an allotment may be such
a space of ground as will secure the la-
bourer in employment when otherwise
he might be without it. In that sense
it becomes a mere temporary palliative
for a social evil, and ultimately entails
upon its occupier all the disadvantages
of a small farmer without many of his
benefits.

ALLSEED. Poly car pcm.

ALLSPICE. Calycanthus.

ALLSPICE-TREE. Pimenta.

ALLUVIAL SOIL is so called from the
Lathi word alluere, to wash down ; be-
cause the soil so named is that rich de-
posit of finely-divided earths and decom-



ALM



[26]



ALO



posing vegetable matters which, forming
the land in valleys, and on the banks of
rivers, are evidently formed of the richest
and finest portions, washed down from
higher-situated soils. Alluvial soils are
usually very fertile, and excellent for
pasturage.

ALMOND. Amygdalus.

ALNUS. The Alder-tree. (From al,
near, and Ian, the bank of a river ; in
reference to the situation where the alder
delights to grow. Nat. ord., Birchworts
[Betulaceae]. Linn. Sys., 1\-Moncecia 4-
tetrandria). Hardy deciduous trees. The
flowers have no petals. Layers, or seeds ;
light loam, in moist situation.

A. larba'ta (bearded). March. Russia. 1838.

Canadefnsis (Canadian). June. Canada.

cordiftflia (heart-leaved). June. Naples.

1818.

gla'uca (glaucus). June. North America.

1820.

glutino'sa (sticky). April. Britain.
emargina'ta (five notched-leaved).

April. Britain.

fo'liis variega'tis (variegated-
leaved). April. Britain.

inci'sa (cut-leaved). April. Britain.

lacinia'ta (jagged-leaved). April.

Britain.

quercifo'lia (oak-leaved). April.



Britain. 1838.

inca'na (hoary-leaved] . 20. June. Europe.

1780. '

angula'ta (angular-leaved) . 20.

pinna' ta (pinnate). 26. June. Europe.
jorullen'sis (Jorulla). Mexico.

macrocar'pa (long-fruited) . 20. June.

macrophy'tta (long-leaved). 20. June. Naples.

obconda'ta (two-lobed). March. Russia.

oblonga'ta (oblong-leaved). 20. June. South

of Europe. 1730.
ellip'tica (elliptic-lod). 20. June.

oxyacanthifo' lia (Oxycanth-lod). 20. June.

pu'mila (dwarf). 10. June.

ru'bra (red). 20. June.

ruffo'sa (wrinkled). March. North America.

seirula'ta (saw -leaved). 20. June. North

America. 1769.

SiU'rica (Siberian). Siberian. 1820.

subrotu'nda (poundish-leaved). 23. April.

undula'ta (via\e-leaved). 20. June. North

America. 1782.

ALOCA'SIA. See Colocasia.

A'LOE. (From alloeh, its Arabic name.
Nat. ord., Lilyivorts [Liliacese]. Linn.
Sys., &-Hexandria \-monogynia}. Green-
house evergreen succulents, from the
Cape of Good Hope. Sandy loam and
peat, with a little reduced manure, and
full one-third of broken bricks and lime-
rubbish, and good drainage. Give very
little water in winter. Medium temp.,



in winter 40 ; in summer 50 to 70 ;
water with care in winter. Propagated
from suckers or leaves, inserted in gravelly
soil. As purgatives, the juice of the
tree-aloes are exclusively in use ; parti-
cularly that of A. socotrina, vulgaris, pur-



A. acumina'ta (spike-leaved). Orange. April.

a?6tsp?''wa(white-spined). Scarlet. June. 1796.

alboci'ncta (white-banded). Orange. June.

1812.

arbores'cens (tree-nice). Red. June. 1731.
arista' ta (awned). Orange. May. 1801.

brevi/o'lia (short-leaved). Orange. June. 1810.

ccn'sia (caecious). 2. Orange. July. 1818.

ela'tior (taller). 9. Red. June. 1821.

chine? nsis (Chinese). Yellow. June. 1821.

cilia! 'ris (eyelash-haired). Red. June. 1821.

Commeli'ni (Commelin's). 1819.

depre'ssa (depressed). Orange. August. 1831.

dicho'toma (pair-branched). Red. July. 1781.

disftans (distant). 6. Red. July. 1732.

depre'ssa (Hat-leaved) . 6. Red. July. 1820.

'reflet a (reflexed). 4. Red. Julv.

1820.

echina'ta (echinate). 6. 1820.

flavispi'na (yellow-spined) . Red. August.
1793.

frutes'cens (shrubby). Red. June. 1818.

gla'uca (glaucous). Red. April. 1731.

rhodaca'ntha (lesser red-spined). 4.
Red. May. 1731.

gra'cMis (graceful). Orange. June. 1822.

hu' mills (humble). Orange. April. 1731.

mcifrva (incurved). Orange. May. 1791.

latifo'lia (broad-leaved). Scarlet. July. 1795.

Unea'ta (line-marked). Scarlet. 1789.
glance 1 seem (idaucous-marked). Scar-
let, 1789.

mitrcefo' rmis (mitre-shaped). Red. August.

1731.

no' Ulis (noble). Blue. August. 1800.

pallejscens (palish). Red. July. 1820.

panicula'ta (panicled). Scarlet. July. 1795.

plu'ridcns (many-toothed). Red. July. 1823.

proli'fcra (proliferous). Orange. April. 1819.

ma'Jor (larger proliferous). Orange.

April. 1819.

purpura' scens (purplish). Purple. August.

1789.

sapona'ria (soapy). Red. July. 1727.
lu'teo-stria'ta (yellow-striped soapy).

Red. July. 1821.

sdrra (saw). Orange. July. 1818.

serrula'ta (finely-toothed) . Red. July. 1789.

socotri'na (socotrine). Red. March. 1731.

spica' ta (spiked). Red. 1795.

spino'sior (more spiny). Red. April. 1820..

stria' tula (slight-striped). Red. June. 1821.

suberecf ta (slightly-leaning). Scarlet. April.

1789.

scmigutta'ta (half-spotted ditto).

Orange. May. 1819.

subtubercula' ta (slightly-knobbed). Orange.

June. 1620.

tenuifo'lia (thin-leaved). Orange. June. 1R31.

tcnu'ior (thinned). Orange. June. 1821.

tubercula'ta (knobbed). Orange. April. 1796.

variega' ta (variegated). Pink. June. 1790.



ALO



[27 J



ALP



A. xanfhaca'ntha. Yellow-spined. Orange.

June. 1817.

ALO' MI A. (From #, not, and loma, a
fringe. Nat. ord., Composites. Allied
to Eupatoria [Asteraceae]. Linn. Sys.,
19-Syngenesia \-cequalis). Half-hardy
evergreen. Sandy loam; cuttings; temp,
not below 35 in winter.
A. ageratoi'des (ageratum-like) . White. July.
Spain. 1824.

ALO'NA. (Letters of the primitive
name, Nolana. transposed from Nola, a
little hell, in reference to the form of the
flowers. Nat. ord., Nolanads [Nolan-
acese]. Linn. Sys., o-Pcntrandia 1-
imnogynici}. A small order of pretty
Chilian half-shrubby. Greenhouse ever-
greens, with large flowers ; cuttings root
freely in sandy loam-; peat and loam.
A. bacca'ta (berry-bearing). Yellow. Co-
quimbo.

ccetestis (sky-blue). 2. Blue. Chili. 1843.

carno'sa (fleshy). Blue. Coquimbo.

glandulo'sa (glandulous) . Blue. Valparaiso.

Inngifo'lia (long-leaved). Blue. Coquimbo.

obtu'sa (blunt-leaved). Blue. July. Co-

quimbo.

revolu'ta (revolute-leaved) . Blue. Peru.

rostra' ta (beaked). Blue. July. Coquimbo.

tomento'sa (white-downed). White. Val-

paraiso.

ALONSO'A. (In honour of Z. Alonzo, a
Spaniard. Nat. ord., Figwo-rts. Allied
to Hemimeris [Scrophulariacese], Linn.,
Sys., \4:-Didynamia 2-angiospermia).
Greenhouse evergreen, except A. caulia-
lata, which is a half-hardy herbaceous.
Rich mould ; cuttings, or seeds, the first
in sandy loam in August or March;
the seeds in March in gentle heat.
A. acutifo'lia (acute-leaved). 3. Scarlet. June.
Peru. 1790.

cauliala'ta (wing-stemmed). 3. Scarlet. June.

Chili. 1823.

incisifo'lia (cut-leaved). 2. Scarlet. June.

Chili. 1795.

intermedia (intermediate). 2. Scarlet. June.

Hybrid.

linea'ris (linear-leaved). 2. Scarlet. June.

Peru. 1790.

ALOY'SIA. Sweet-scented Verbena. (In
honour of Maria Louisa, Queen of Spain.
Nat. ord., Verbenes [Verbenacese]. Linn,
Sys., \^-Didynamia 2-angiospermia).
Greenhouse deciduous shrub. Rich
mould ; cuttings in sandy soil of the old
stem, or young shoots, ; if the latter
shade ; August and March best times.
A. citriodo'ra (lemon-scented), 3. Pale purple.
August. Chili. 1784.



ALPI'NES, strictly speaking, are plants
from alpine, that is, mountainous dis-
tricts, usually requiring the protection of
a frame in winter, because we cannot
secure to them their natural covering of
snow during that season. Gardeners,
however, include in their lists of Alpines,
a great diversity of small plants, difficult
of cultivation. They are best grown in
pots, and require light sandy loam and
peat, with abundant drainage.

ALPI'NIA. (In honour of Alpini, an
Italian botanist. Nat. ord., Gingcrworts
[Zingiberacese]. Linn. Sys., \-Monan-
dria \-monogynia). Stove herbaceous
perennials, except A. penicittata, which
is a greenhouse plant. Rich sandy soil
and peat. They like much moisture and
pot room in the growing season; root
division in moist air.

A. allu'ghas (allugahs). 2. Red. February.
East Indies. 1796.

antitta'rum (antilles). 4. Flesh. May. West

Indies. 1826.

auricula' ta (eared). 5. Reddish yellow. East

Indies. 1814.

Iractea'ta (bracteate). 3. White. May. East

Indies. 1824.

calcara'ta (spur-flowered). 3. White. Sep-

tember. East Indies. 1800.

Cardamo'mum (Cardamom). 8. White. Au-

gust. East Indies. 1815.

ce'rnua (drooping). 6. Pink. April. East

Indies. 1804.

como'sa (tufted-spiked). 1. White, May.

Caraccas. 1752.

diffi'ssa (two-cleft). 6. Purple-blue yellow.

April. East Indies. 1818.

exalta'ta (lofty). 20. Red yellow. Surinam.

1820.

Gala'nga (Galanga). 6. White yellow. Oc-

tober. East Indies.

lingucefo' rmis (tongue-formed). 6. Red.

July. East Indies. 1820.

magni'fica (magnificent). 10. Red. July.

Mauritius. 1830.

malacce'nsis (malayan) . 5. White. April.

East Indies. 1799.

me? dia (mediate). 6. Red. Julv. East

Indies. 1815.

mu'tica (spurless). 5. White. August. East

Indies. 1811.

nu'tans (nodding). 13. Pink. May. East

Indies. 1792.

occidenta' lis (western). 6. White. July.

Jamaica. 1793.

penicilla'ta (pencilled). 3. Pink. May.

China.

puni'cea (scarlet). 6. Scarlet. June. East

Indies. 1820.

racemo'sa (branchy). 5. White. August.

West Indies. 1752.

Roscoea'na (Roscoe's). 3. Red. May. East

Indies. 1823.

spica' ta (spiked). 2. Sumatra. 1822.

stria' ta (striated). 4. East Indies.. 1818.



ALS



[28]



ALT



A. tuliula'ta (tubular). 2. Eed. July. De-

merara. 1820.

ALSI'NE. Chickweed. (From alsos, a
grove ; in reference to the situation pre-
ferred by these plants. Nat. ord., Clove-
worts [Caryophylacese]. Linn. Sys.,
5-Pentandria Z-tryginia}. Hardy an-
nuals. Seed ; common loam.
A. laricifo'lia (larch-leaved). 4. Siberia. 1834.
This is perennial ; root division.

molluqi'nea (mollugo-like) . L White. July.

Spain. 1816.

mucrona' ta (spine-pointed-leaved). 1. White.

July. South of Europe. 1777.

pttbe'scens (downy), i. White. July. 1810.

segeta'lis (sedge'-like) . 1. White. July.

France. 1805.

ALSODEI'A. (From alsodes, leafy. Nat.
ord., Violet worts [Violacese]. Linn. Sys.,
5-Pentandria \-monogynid). Stove ever-
green shruhs. Loam and peat ; cuttings
in sand, under a bell-glass.
A. latifo'lia (broad-leaved). White. Madagas-
car. 1824.

pauciflo'ra (few-flowered) . White. Mada-

1824.



ALSO' PHIL A. (From alsos, a grove, and
phileo, to love ; in reference to the situa-
tion best suited for the plants. Nat. ord.,
Ferns [Polypodiaceael. Linn. Sys., 24-
Gryptogamia \-filices). Greenhouse her-
baceous fern. Peat and loam ; division.
A. austra'lis (Australian). Brown. New Hol-
land. 1823.

ALSTO'NIA. (In honour of Dr. Alston.
Nat. ord., Storaxworts [Styracacese].
Linn. Sys., 5-Pentandria \.-monog ynia\.
The leaves of alstonia are slightly as-
tringent, and are used as tea. Stove
evergreen shrubs, allied to the Oleander.
Sandy loam and peat ; cuttings root
readily in moist bottom heat. "Winter
temp. 50 to 55. Summer, 60 to 75.
A. schola'ris (oleander-leaved). 8. White.

May. East Indies. 1824.
venena'ta (poisonous). 6. White. June.

East Indies. 1825.

ALSTROME'RIA. (In honour of Baron
Alstromer, a Swedish botanist. Nat.
ord., Amaryllids [Amaryllidaciae]. Linn.
Sys., 6-Hexandria \-monogynia). All the
species of this beautiful genus live out of
doors with us, with a slight protection
from frost, except A. caryophyllcea, er-
roneously called ligtu ; and this requires
stove heat and absolute rest in winter.
All the species also have one uniform
mode of upright growth, by which they



are easily distinguished from BOM ARE' AS ;
the species of which are all twiners.
The golden Alstromer from Chiloe (A.
aurea), is perfectly hardy in England,
and prefers a damp situation and strong
loam ; the other species are chiefly
from the Alpine regions of Chili, and
require free air and lighter soil their
long fascicled (or bundled) roots are
not well adapted for pot cultivation.
They succeed in deep rich light loam, or
loam, peat, and sand, and should be plant-
ed eight or ten inches deep, and receive
abundance of water while they are grow-
ing. Alstrb'mers have a strong natural
tendency to variation, but will not cross
with Bomareas, as has been asserted ;
no limits can be assigned between species
and varieties in this family ; a race of
endless variations has been obtained from
A. Hookeria'na by the pollen of A. Jfeem-
a'ntha and its varieties. These are called
Van Houtcs seedlings. The following are
the most distinct forms of the genus in
our gardens ; but many more are record-
ed and described, which remain to be in-
troduced :

A. au'rea, syn. auranti'aca (golden). 2. June.
Orange. Chili, 1831.

Cummingia'na (Cumming's). Chili.

caryophylM 'a, syn. Li'gtu (clove-like scent).

1. February. Scarlet. Brazil. 1776.

hcema'ntha, va.r.'Barclcya'na (blood-colour-

ed). 24. July. Crimson. Chili. 1830.

HooJce'riL syn. ro'sea (Dr. Hooker's). 3.

June. Pink. Chili. 1834.

li'fftu. See Caryophylloea ; the true ligtu is

not introduced.

Nei'llii (Neill's). 2. June. Pink. Chili.

1827.

pelegri'na (spot-flowered). 1. July. Striped.

Chili. 1754.

psittaci'na (Parrot-like). September. Crim-

son. Brazil. 1829.

pulche'lla, see Si'msii.

pu'lchra, syn. Flos Marti' ni ; syn. tri' color

(fair). H. June. White, purple, and
yellow. Chili. 1822.

Si'msii. syn. pulchc'lla (Sims's). 3. June.

Scarlet. Chili. 1822.

ALTEBNANTHE'RA. (Alluding to the
anthers, being alternately barren. Nat.
ord., Amaranths [Amarantaccoe]. Linn.
Sys., 5-Pentandria \-monogynici). Chiefly
tove herbaceous perennials. Cuttings
root readily in common hotbed heat ;
light rich loam.

A. achyra'ntha (chaff-flowered). 1. White
July. Buenos Ayres. 1732.

cane' seem (hoary). 1. White. July. Cumana.

1825.



ALT



[29]



ALT



A. Caracasa'na (Caraccas). 1. White. July.
Caraccas. 1819.

denticula'ta (finely-toothed-leaved). White.

July. 1822.

filifo'rmis (thread-shaped). White. July.

East Indies.

fruWscens (frutescent) . 1. White. July.

Peru. 1820. This will do in a green-
house.

nodijio'ra (knot-flowered). White. May.

New Holland. 1826.

polygono' ides (polygonum-like). 1. White.

July. America. 1731.

procu'mbens (procumbent). 4. White. July.

Brazil. 1818.

seri'cea (silky). 2. White. July. Quito.

1820.

scfssilis (sessile). |. July. Brown. East

Indies. 1778. A biennial.

spino'sa (spinous). Yellow. June. 1823.

Stove Annual.

ALTHJE'A. Mallow. (From altheo, to
cure, in reference to the medicinal quali-
ties. Nat. ord., Mallowworts [Malvaceae].
Linn. Sys., \Q-Monadelphia 8-polyan-
dria}i The biennials and annuals sow
in spring. The herbaceous, dividing the
roots, or seeds, which, if sown as soon as
ripe, produce flowering plants next year.
A. rosea is the Hollyhock.