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Apple (ORD Anonaceae Stove evergreen)

ORD. Anonaceae. Stove evergreen shrubs, with fragrant leaves. Petals six, in two rows. Carpels indefinite, joined into one fleshy, many-celled, edible, roundish fruit, with a muricated, scaly, or reticulated skin. Anonas thrive best in rich loamy soil, mixed with a little peat. Ripened cuttings, with leaves intact, will root if inserted in sand and placed under a hand glass, in a moist heat. When seeds are procurable, they should be sown in pots, and plunged into a hotbed.

A. Cherimolia (The Cherimoyer). fl. outer petals somewhat concave, linear-oblong, brown on the outside, each marked with a dark spot at the base; peduncles opposite the leaves, solitary. July. fr. somewhat globose and scaly, dark purple; esteemed by the Peruvians as one of their most delicate, and as being not inferior to any fruit in the world. l. ovate-lanceolate, not dotted; under surface silky tomentose, strong scented. h. 20ft. Peru, 1739. A. glabra (smooth-fruited).* fl. outer petals ovate, obtuse, brown; calyx leathery, large; peduncles opposite the leaves, two-flowered. July. fr. greenish-yellow, conoid, blunt, smooth l. ovate-lanceolate, smooth. h. 10ft. West Indies, 1774.

A. longifolia (long-leaved). fl. purplish; outer petals concave, thick, all acute, large, axillary, solitary, stalked. May. fr. ovate globose, dotted, and reticulated, flesh-coloured. l. oblong, acuminated, mucronate, smooth. h. 20ft. Guiana, 1820.

A. muricata (muricated-fruited).* The Sour Sop. fl. outer petals cordate, concave, thick, acuminated, green on the outside, yellow inside, and spotted; peduncles solitary, one-flowered, sweet scented. fr. muricated, with fleshy points, green. l. ovatelanceolate, smooth, shining. h. 15ft. West Indies, 1656.

A. palustris (marsh). Alligator Apple; Cork-wood. fl. yellow; petals all acute. fr. rather areolate, large, heart-shaped, sweet scented. l. ovate-oblong, leathery, quite smooth. h. 10ft. to 20ft. South America, 1788. A. reticulata (netted). The Custard Apple, or Bullock's Heart fl. outer petals oblong-lanceolate, acute, somewhat concave at the base, brownish on the outside, whitish-yellow on the inside, marked with dark purple spots. fr. ovate-globose, reticulate, as large as a tennis ball, with yellowish soft flesh; it is much esteemed by some people. l. oblong-lanceolate, acute, smooth, somewhat dotted. h. 15ft. to 25ft. Brazil, 1690. A. squamosa (scaly). Sweet Sop. fl., outer petals linear-oblong, somewhat concave at the base, nearly closing, greenish-yellow. fr. egg-shaped, scaly. l. oblong, bluntish, smooth, full of pellucid dots, rather glaucous beneath. h. 20ft. South America, 1739.

ANOPTERUS (from ano, upwards, and pteron, a wing; in reference to the seeds, which are winged at the apex). ORD. Saxifrageae. A very handsome greenhouse evergreen shrub, having a free branching habit, large dark shining green leaves, and long panicles of salver-shaped flowers. It would probably prove quite hardy in the south and west of England, and parts of Scotland, provided it had a slight winter protection. It grows well in sandy loam and peat. When grown in pots, it requires plenty of room and water. Half-ripened cuttings root freely under a bell glass in a cool house or frame in summer. A. glandulosa (glandular).* fl. white, rose tinted, large; racemes erect, simple, terminal. April, May. l. alternate, rarely nearly opposite, ovate-oblong, attenuated at both ends, nearly sessile, leathery, toothed. h. 3ft. Van Diemen's Land, 1823.

ANSELLIA (named after Mr. Ansell, the botanical collector who accompanied the ill-fated Niger Expedition). ORD. Orchideae. Strong growing, free flowering stove epiphytal orchids. Best grown in large pots, as they produce a quantity of roots. They require a compost of turfy peat, with moderate drainage. An ample supply of water during the growing season is needed; but care must be taken not to let any remain in the heart of the plants, as they are very likely to rot. During the season of rest, little or no water, but a damp atmosphere, are the chief requirements. Propagated by divisions of the bulbs just after flowering.

A. africana (African).* fl., sepals and petals nearly 2in. long, greenish yellow, spotted with brownish red; lip small, yellow; spikes large, drooping, branched, each sometimes bearing nearly a hundred blooms. Stems 3ft. to 4ft. high, with light evergreen foliage. Fernando Po, 1844. Lasts two months in perfection.

A. a. gigantea (gigantic).* fl. on upright spikes from the top of the pseudo-bulbs, but smaller, of a light yellow tint, with very few narrow, transverse, brown bars, and a deep yellow lip, without warts of any kind on its middle lobe, and with more or less crenulated keels. Natal, 1847. The perfume is very peculiar. Very rare.

A. a. lutea (yellow). Not so strong a grower; producing clusters of light yellow flowers from the top of the pseudo-bulbs. Natal. A. a. nilotica (Nile district).* As a garden plant this is much superior to the type. The habit is dwarfer, the colours of the flowers brighter and more distinctly defined. The sepals and petals, too, are more spreading. Eastern Africa.

ANTENNARIA (from antennae; in reference to the similarity which exists between the seed down of the plant and the antennae, or feelers, of an insect). ORD. Compositae. Hardy herbaceous perennials, distinguished by the dry, coloured, chaffy scales encircling each head of flowers, of which the stamens and pistils are on different plants.

These are charming little alpine plants, admirably adapted for rockwork, pots, edgings, or borders, in any light soil.

Propagated by divisions of the roots in spring, and seeds; the latter should be sown in spring in a cold frame. Grown chiefly for their leaves. A. dioica (dioecious).* fl. heads pink, in crowded corymbs, 3in. to 4in. high. June. l. radical ones spathulate, woolly chiefly beneath; upper ones lanceolate. Stems simple; shoots procumbent. Britain. The two or three varieties of this pretty species exceed the type in beauty. SYN. Gnaphalium dioicum.

A. d. hyperborea (northern). l. woolly on both surfaces. A. d. minima (smallest).* A very small growing variety. A. margaritacea (pearly).* fl.-heads white, corymbose. August. l. linear-lanceolate, acute, alternate, cottony, especially beneath. Stems branched above. h. 2ft. Naturalised in England and on the Continent. Said to have been introduced from America about the sixteenth century. The prettier but much rarer A. triplinervis, from Nepaul, comes close to this species. A. tomentosa (downy).* fl.-heads corymbose. Summer. One of the dwarfest and best of silvery-leaved plants, either as an edging for small beds or for covering the higher portions of rockwork; it is much used in carpet bedding. It scarcely grows more than 1in. high, and forms a dense carpet in a short space of time. It should be grown separate from other plants. It is frequently known under the name of A. candida.

ANTHEMIS (from anthemon, a flower; referring to their general floriferous character). Chamomile. ORD. Compositae. Receptacle convex, chaffy. Involucre hemispherical or nearly flat; scales imbricated, membranaceous at the margin. Pappus none; ray florets ligulate; disk tubular. This is a large genus, principally of medicinal value, and contains very few species worth the cultivator's trouble. Of easy culture in any ordinary soil. Propagated by divisions.

A. Aizoon (Aizoon).* fl.-heads resembling a white Daisy; florets of the ray fourteen to eighteen, trifid, twice as long as the breadth of the disk. Summer. l. lanceolate, or broadly so, acutely and deeply serrated, narrowed towards the base, covered with white down; lower ones crowded; stem-leaves rather acute, gradually lessening in size. h. 2in. to 4in. Northern Greece. Free grower, dwarf, and compact.

A. Biebersteinii (Bieberstein's).* fl.-heads yellow. Summer. l. pinnately divided into linear three-lobed segments, which are covered with white silky pubescence. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Caucasus.

A. nobilis (noble). Common Chamomile. fl.-heads solitary; disk yellow; ray white; scales of the receptacle membranous, scarcely longer than the disk. l. bipinnate; segments linear-subulate, a little downy. Stem procumbent, and much branched. England. For culture, see Chamomile.

A. tinctoria (dyer's). fl. bright yellow. July and August. l. bi-pinnatifid, serrate, downy beneath. Stem angular. h. 1 1/2ft. England. ANTHERICUM (from anthos, a flower, and kerkos, a hedge; in reference to the tall flower stems). SYN. Phalangium. ORD. Liliaceae. A large genus, belonging to the capsular group of the order, and inhabiting, for the most part, the Cape of Good Hope. Flowers white, racemose or panicled, scapose; perianth segments either spreading from near the base or campanulately united; stamens short, with naked or bearded filaments. Leaves radical, filiform or linear. The hardy varieties are now extensively grown, and are among the most ornamental of border plants. They thrive best in rich light soil, and are excellent subjects for pot culture; for which purpose use a compost of fibrous loam, leaf mould, or well-decayed manure, and coarse sand. The pots should be about 12in. across, well drained, and the plants potted just previous to, or so soon as, growth commences. During activity, plenty of water is needed, until the plants have finished flowering, when the quantity may be lessened; but never allow them to get dry. Propagated by division of the roots or seeds, sowing the latter, as early as possible after they are ripe, in a cold frame. A. graminifolium (grass-leaved). A garden name of A. ramosum. A. Hookeri (Hooker's). See Chrysobactron Hookeri.

A. Liliago (Liliago).* St. Bernard's Lily. fl. pure white, 1in. to 1 1/2in. across; perianth segments spreading; style curved. May to August. l. tufted, narrow, channelled, 12in. to 18in. high. South Europe, 1596. A very free flowering species, of which there is a major variety in gardens. SYNS. Phalangium and Watsonia Liliago.

A. Liliastrum (Liliaster).* St. Bruno's Lily. fl. much larger than the last, 2in. long, and as much across, fragrant, of a transparent whiteness, with a delicate green spot on the point of each segment, campanulate, arranged in loose spikes. Early summer. l. long, narrow, six or eight to each plant, about 1ft. to 2ft. long, h. 1ft. to 2ft. South Europe, 1629. SYNS. Czackia Liliastrum and Paradisia Liliastrum (this is the correct name). A. l. major (greater). fl. about 1in.larger than the type. h. about 6ft. A very desirable border plant.

A. ramosum (branched).* fl. white, rather smaller than those of A. Liliago; perianth segments narrow and spreading; style straight; flower stems much branched. June. l. long, narrow, channelled, grass-like. h. 2ft. South Europe, 1570. A rapid grower. SYN. A. graminifolium (of gardens). A. serotinum (late-flowering). See Lloydia.

A. variegatum (variegated). l. keeled, grass-like, striped and margined with white. South Africa, 1875. Half hardy. The proper name of this plant is Chlorophytum elatum variegatum. SYNS. A. Williamsii and Phalangium argenteo-lineare.

A. Williamsii (Williams'). Synonymous with A. variegatum. ANTHOCERCIS (from anthos, a flower, and kerkis, a ray; in reference to the radiated corolla). ORD. Solanaceae. Handsome greenhouse evergreen shrubs, with alternate leaves, attenuated into the petioles or base, thick, sometimes glandularly dotted. Flowers axillary, generally solitary; corolla campanulate. Cuttings strike freely in sand under a bell glass, with a mild bottom heat. So soon as they have well rooted, pot off into very small pots in two-thirds good loam and one of peat. After having made a little headway, the leading shoots should be pinched off, to induce a lateral growth; they may be transferred to pots a size larger when the roots have filled the first pot. Continue growing throughout the summer in frames or in the greenhouse, near the glass, allowing plenty of air. Vigorous growth should be checked; thus encouraging bushy plants.

A. albicans (whitish-leaved).* fl. white, streaked with bluish-purple inside the tube, fragrant; petals longer than the tube. April. l. oblong, obtuse, densely tomentose on both surfaces, as well as the branches. h. 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. New South Wales, 1824.

A. floribunda (many-flowered). fl. white. h. 3ft. New South Wales. A. ilicifolia (Holly-leaved). fl. yellowish green. June. h. 6ft. Swan River, 1843.

A. littorea (shore). fl. white. June. h. 3ft. New Holland, 1803. A. viscosa (clammy).* fl. large, white. May. l. obovate, glandularly dotted with scabrous margins; young leaves and branches clothed with fine down. h. 4ft. to 6ft. New Holland, 1822.

ANTHOLOMA (from anthos, a flower, and loma, a fringe; in allusion to the fringed or crenulated limb of the corolla). ORD. Tiliaceae. A fine greenhouse evergreen tree, thriving in a mixture of light loam and peat. Cuttings of ripened wood root in sand, under a hand glass.

A. montana (mountain).* fl. white; corolla ovately cylindrical, with a crenate, rather toothed margin; racemes axillary, some-what umbellate, reflexed. May. l. elliptical-oblong, leathery, stalked, scattered at the top of the branchlets. h. 20ft. New Caledonia, 1810.

ANTHOLYZA (from anthos, a flower, and lyssa, rage, in reference to the opening of the flowers, which resemble the mouth of an enraged animal). SYN. Petamenes. Including Anisanthus. ORD. Irideae. A very pretty genus of bulbous plants from the Cape of Good Hope, having narrow, erect, Iris-like leaves, and flower-spikes that over-top the foliage, bearing numerous bright-coloured flowers. Perianth tubular, six-cleft, unequal, the upper segments longest; stamens three. The species may be grown in a greenhouse, or planted out in a frame. They also thrive excellently out of doors, and should be planted 8in. or 9in. deep for fear of frost, or have a winter protection of several inches of cocoa-nut fibre refuse or litter. The safer plan is to raise the roots, winter them in some dry part of the greenhouse; but, previous to storing, divide the clumps, clean them, and re-plant or pot in February, or early in March. A mixture of equal parts peat, sandy loam, and leaf soil is most suitable for their culture. Just previous to flowering, if in pots, frequent doses of-weak manure water will be found beneficial. They may be propagated by off-sets, which are produced in abundance, at almost any time. Seeds are sometimes procured, which should be sown so soon as ripe, in light soil, in a cool house, where they will germinate the following spring, and will be fit to plant out in the summer of the same year. With the exception of A. Cunonia, they all much resemble each other. Only four or five species of this genus are worth cultivating.

A. aethiopica (AEthiopian).* fl. scarlet and green. June. h. 3ft. 1759. SYNS. A. floribunda, A. praealta.

A. ae. ringens (gaping). fl. red and yellow, rather smaller than those of the type. SYN. A. vittigera.

A. bicolor (two-coloured). Synonymous with A. Cunonia. A. caffra (Caffrarian).* fl. rich scarlet; spike distichous, many-flowered. June. l. long, linear, or linear-ensiform. h. 2ft. 1828. A very showy and pretty species, but rarely seen in our gardens. SYN. Anisanthus splendens. A. Cunonia (Cunon's).* fl. scarlet and black, a combination of colours uncommon among bulbous plants; spikes secund. June. h. 2ft. 1756. SYN. Anisanthus Cunonia.

A. floribunda (much-flowered). A synonym of A. aethiopica. A. praealta (very tall). Synonymous with A. aethiopica. A. vittigera (glandular). Synonymous with A. ae. ringens. ANTHOSPERMUM (from anthos, a flower, and sperma, a seed). Amber Tree. ORD. Rubiaceae. An ornamental greenhouse evergreen shrub from the Cape of Good Hope. It thrives in peat, loam, and sand, with a summer temperature of 50deg. to 65deg., and winter, 40deg. to 45deg. Increased by cuttings, in sand, under a bell glass. There are above twenty other species belonging to this genus. A. aethiopicum (AEthiopian).* fl. dioecious, male brownish, and the female ones green, disposed in verticillate spikes. June. l. linear-lanceolate, three in a whorl, shining above, glabrous beneath, about 1/4in. long. Stem much branched, downy above. h. 2ft. to 3ft. 1692.