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Cordyline (From kordyle a club)

(from kordyle, a club; in allusion to the large fleshy roots of some of the species). Club Palm. SYN. Taetsia. ORD. Liliaceae. A genus of greenhouse or stove Palm-like plants, usually erect, unbranched, bearing a tuft of long, narrow, drooping leaves at the summit of the trunk, which in some species acquires a height of 30ft. to 40ft. Some authors regard Mr. Baker's sections as distinct genera: Calodracon, examples Banksii and terminalis; Dracaenopsis, examples australis, indivisa, and pumilio; Charlwoodia, example stricta. Flowers white, small, solitary, in branched panicles, rarely produced on young plants; bracts two in number, one at the base of the pedicel, where it joins the peduncle, is simple; the other, opposite to it, and consequently placed in the axil of the pedicel and peduncle, is much shorter, broader, and is double, being either bifid or bipartite, always having two nerves. For culture, see Dracaena. In the following enumeration are included some of the half-score "true" species of Cordyline, and a great many sorts known in gardens as Dracaenas, but which are nearly all varieties of Cordyline terminalis, a species cultivated everywhere throughout the tropics, and producing innumerable varieties from seed. C. albicans (whitish).* l. long, narrow, pointed, about 2in. broad, narrowed into a long channelled petiole; bright green, with a pale green or whitish border, breaking out, in well-grown matured plants, into a conspicuous white variegation. 1869. Stove.

C. albo-rosea (white and red).* l. deep green, edged with rose; whitish when in a young state. 1874. Stove.

C. amabilis (lovely).* l. 24in. to 30in. long by 4in. to 5in. wide; ground-colour bright glossy green, which, as the plant grows, becomes marked and suffused with pink and creamy-white; young leaves in large specimens quite rosy. 1871. Stove.

C. amboynensis (Amboynan).* l. oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, deep bronzy-tinted green, the lower half having a distinct edging, 1/4in. wide, of bright rosy-carmine; petioles tinted with rosy-purple; spreading and gracefully arched. Amboyna, 1876. Stove.

C. angusta (narrow). l. narrow, arching, about 1in. wide, narrowed and compressed at the base into a purplish stalk; dull dark green above, tinted with purple beneath, and becoming slightly bronzed in age. 1869. A slender-growing stove species.

C. australis (Southern).* fl. white, densely crowded, sweet-scented, 3/4in. across. l. oblong-lanceolate, 2ft. to 3ft. long, and 2in. to 4in. broad, striated with numerous parallel veins. New Zealand, 1823. A very fine species for sub-tropical gardening, with a stout-branched stem, from 10ft. to 40ft. high. Hardy in warmer parts of England and Ireland. (B. M. 5636.) C. a. lineata (lined).* A very handsome and ornamental plant, with fine, broad, gracefully recurving foliage.

C. Balmoriana (Balmore's). l. bronzy, with white and rosy stripes. 1875. Stove.

C. Banksii (Banks's). fl. white, loose, very much larger than the bracts. l. very long, linear-lanceolate, 5ft. to 6ft. long by 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. broad, closely striate, and also having six to eight very evident veins on each side of the prominent midrib. Stem sub-arboreous, 5ft. to 10ft. high, simple or sparingly branched. New Zealand, 1860. Greenhouse. (R. G. 444.) C. B. erythrorachis (red-ribbed) is a form with red midrib. C. Baptistii (Baptist's).* l. 18in. to 24in. long; ground-colour green, margined and striped with yellow and pink. 1873. A very distinct form, having the stem, as well as the leaves, variegated. Stove. (I. H. n. s. 334.) C. bellula (pretty). l. purplish, margined with red, small. 1874. Stove. (I. H. n. s. 163.) C. cannaefolia (Canna-leaved).* l. on long petioles, somewhat oblong, with an obtuse apex, which, however, is frequently split; 1ft. to 2ft. long, and 3in. to 5in. wide, slightly recurved, dark green. Queensland, &c., 1820. An elegant stove species, growing to a considerable height.

C. chelsoni (Chelsea).* l. large; ground-colour a glossy dark green, almost black, which, as the plant attains age, becomes mottled and suffused with deep crimson, a broad line of the same colour bordering the leaves on either side. 1870. A remarkable stove sort, with a bold free growth. (I. H. 19, 90.) C. compacta (compact). l. numerous, crowded, recurved, about 7in. long, and nearly 3in. broad, oblong-ovate, of a dull green, with a slightly bronzy tint, and breaking out into broad streaks of rose-colour when fully developed; petioles 2in. long, margined and tinted with rose. 1873. Stove. C. Cooperii (Cooper's).* An elegant variety of C. terminalis, with deep vinous-red gracefully-recurved leaves. One of the best for decorative work. Stove.

C. Dennisoni (Dennison's). l. 12in. to 15in. long, and 4in. to 5in. broad, bronzy-purple. 1871. Habit dwarf and compact. Stove. (I. H. 19, 360.) C. Duffii (Duff's).* l. oblong, 6in. to 8in. wide, glossy, margined and casually barred with rich crimson; the parallel margins of the channelled petiole leaf-base converging, and elegantly shaded with light-flamed crimson. 1874. A very beautiful and robust-habited variety, of erect and stately growth. Stove.

C. excelsa (lofty).* l. broadly-oblong, acute, narrowed at the base into a stalk; arching, of a deep bronzy hue, margined towards the base, and also on the wing of the petiole, with a broad edge, 1/4in. wide, of a very deep crimson-lake; this bright colour is sometimes continued throughout the margin of the leaf, and at others breaks into rays and blotches. 1869. Stove. C. Fraseri (Fraser's).* l. somewhat erect, oblong, 1ft. or more in length by 5in. broad, abruptly acute at the apex, suddenly narrowed into the petiole, which is about 3in. long; blackish-purple, with a glaucous bloom, the lower portion having a margined stripe of deep rosy-lake, which extends down the edge of the petiole. 1873. Stove.

C. gloriosa (glorious).* l. broad-oblong, 2 1/2ft. long by 5in. broad, with channelled marginate petioles 6in. long, the edges of which are tinted with the same colour, and it is continued along the marginal portion of the lower half of each leaf; the older leaves of this plant colour gradually, the young ones being green, and showing paler green stripes on those parts which, at a later period, have the peculiar bronzy-orange hue. 1872. Stove. SYN. C. Shepherdi. (I. H. 20, 85.) C. grandis (grand). l. deep and bright green, bordered with white and edged with rose. Samoa, 1874. Stove.

C. Guilfoylei (Guilfoyle's).* l. from 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long, 1 1/2in. to 2in. wide in the middle, and tapering off both ways, striped with red, light rosy-pink, very pale yellowish-white, and green, a whitish variegation invariably following the lower margins of leaf and leafstalk to its juncture with the stem. Australia, 1868. This is a very pretty variety, with elegantly recurved foliage. Stove. (I. H. 19, 249.) C. imperialis (imperial).* l. of an erect arching habit, oblong, acuminate, 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long by 3in. or 4in. wide, deep green, rayed all over with bright crimson, or pale pink in the young leaves. 1872. The foliage is very leathery, and has a peculiar metallic hue, which contrasts well with the crimson variegation. (F. & P. 1875, 62.) C. indivisa (undivided).* l. 2ft. to 4ft. long, 1in. to 2in. broad, tapering to a point, pendent, and dark green. New Zealand. A very graceful plant for decorative purposes. Greenhouse.

C. i. atropurpurea (dark purple).* A handsome form, having the base of the leaf and midrib on the under side dark purple.

C. i. lineata (lined). l. much broader than those of the type, about 4in. broad; sheathing base stained with reddish-pink.

C. i. Veitchii (Veitch's).* Similar to the type, but has the sheathing base and back of midrib of a beautiful deep red.

C. i. vera (true). l. excessively thick and leathery, 2ft. to 5ft. long, and from 2in. to 4in. wide, lanceolate, dark shining green; midrib and veins of a rich deep orange. Stem simple, 2ft. to 5ft. high. New Zealand. SYNS. C. indivisa, Dracaena aureo-lineata.

C. indivisa (undivided). A synonym of C. i. vera.

C. inscripta (inscribed). l. small, linear-oblong, 5in. long by 1in. broad, tapering to a point, and at the base narrowed into the margin of the petiole; colour lively green, streaked with thin lines of dull purple, which here and there break into linear markings of rose-colour; petioles erect, 2 1/2in. long, flushed with purple. 1873. The leaves have a twisted appearance, from the irregular undulations of the margins. Stove.

C. lutescens-striata (yellowish-striped).* l. long, gracefully arching, fresh grass-green above, yellowish-green on the under side. 1873. Stove. (I. H. 1871, 72.) C. Macarthuri (MacArthur's).* l. carmine and olive-green. 1877. Stove. C. magnifica (magnificent).* l. 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long, sometimes 10in. in width, of a beautiful bronzy-pink colour, changing when old to a somewhat darker shade; petioles nearly purple. 1869. Stove.

C. metallica (metallic).* l. oblong-acuminate, somewhat erect and arching, 16in. long, of a uniform rich coppery-purplish hue when young, becoming a dark purplish bronze when mature; petioles sheathing, 4in. long, of the same colour as the leaves 1869. Stove. (F. M. n. s. 24.) C. mirabilis (wonderful). l. oblong-lanceolate, very gracefully recurved, of a bronzy-green colour, margined with bright crimson-rose. 1880. Stove. C. Mooreana (Moore's).* l. 4in. wide, 2ft. to 3ft. long, beautifully undulated, deep bronzy-purple; the base of the leafstalk and the midrib of a bright reddish-crimson colour. 1968. Stove.

C. nigro-rubra (black and red).* l. linear-lanceolate, dark brown, with bright rosy-crimson centres, the young foliage usually entirely of the latter showy colour. A fine variety, of bold erect growth. Stove. C. ornata (adorned).* l. small, recurved, oblong, 8in. long, 2in. broad, dark bronzy-green, marked with a narrow margin of rosy-pink, which is continued along the edge of the petioles; petioles almost erect. 1873. Stove. C. porphyrophylla (purple-leaved). l. broadly ovate-oblong, of a fine deep bronzy hue, contrasting well with the glaucous tint of their under surfaces. Habit somewhat erect-growing. 1870. Stove. (I. H. 1872, 277.) C. pulchella (beautiful).* l. nearly 1in. wide, deeply bronze-tinted, of a spreading-arching habit; the contracted petiole-like base being of a deep wine-red, which colour also marks the edges of the leaves. 1870. Stove. C. pumilio (dwarf). fl. white; panicle very lax, spreading, 2ft. long, with slender branches. l. very narrow, linear, 1 1/2ft. to 2 1/2ft. long, 1/4in. to 1/3in. broad, with a stout prominent midrib, and a few slender veins on each side of it. Trunk short, slender, as thick as the finger, or none. New Zealand, northern islands. Greenhouse.

C. Reali (Real's). l. dark green, striped and edged with rose. 1874. Stove. (I. H. 20, 140.) C. Rex (king).* l. erect, broadly or oblong-lanceolate, about 1ft.long, of a bronzy-green colour, flushed with rosy-purple, freely streaked with bright carmine-rose; petioles margined with purplish-rose, and the back of the costa is of the same colour. 1875. Stove.

C. Robinsoniana (Robinson's).* l. long, lanceolate-acuminate, elegantly arched; ground-colour light green, variously striped and marked with dark bronzy-green and brownish-crimson; petioles also striped with brownish-crimson. 1877. Stove.(I. H. 1879, 342).

C. rosacea (rose-coloured). l. gracefully recurving, oblong-acuminate, dark bronzy-green, broadly margined with bright pink; some of the young ones almost entirely of a light creamy-pink colour. 1872. A compact-habited dense-growing variety. Stove.

C. rubella (reddish). l., young ones variegated with bluish-rose.1872. Stove. C. Shepherdi (Shepherd's). A synonym of C. gloriosa. C.spectabilis (showy). l. broad oblong-acute, arching, narrowing and compressed at the base into a longish green stalk; of a deep full green, slightly bronzed from being tinged beneath with reddish-purple. 1869. An erect free-growing plant. Stove.

C. splendens (splendid).* l. dense, short, ovate-acute, about 9in. long, 4in. broad, arranged spirally; of a deep bronzy-green, breaking out in the young growth into bright rosy-carmine; the petioles and bases of the leaves are margined with the same colour. 1871. Stove. The colouring sometimes appears in stripes, and at others occupies the whole surface; while the recurved character of the foliage gives the plant a flat, almost table-like head. C. stricta (upright). fl. light blue, rather crowded. l. linear-lanceolate or narrowly ensiform, contracted for some way above the bases, 1 3/4ft. to 2 1/2ft. long, 1in. to 1 1/4in. broad, with slightly roughened margins; indistinct midrib striated with numerous parallel nerves. Trunk slender, simple, 6ft. to 10ft. high Moreton Bay. SYN. Dracaena stricta. Greenhouse. (B. M. 2575.) C. s. congesta (crowded) differs from the type in having broader and more crowded foliage.

C. sulcata (grooved).l. spreading, oblong, abruptly pointed; upper surface scored with numerous shallow parallel furrows, following the obliquely transverse direction of the veins; under surface slightly streaked with blackish-purple; petioles purplish. 1872. Stove.

C. terminalis (terminal).* fl. sub-sessile, in branched panicles. l. petioled, lanceolate, narrowed to both ends, dark green or bronzy, and crimson. h. 10ft. to 12ft., when fully mature. South Sea Islands, and cultivated everywhere in tropical countries. From this species have originated the host of popular stove so-called Dracaenas.

C. triumphans (triumphant).* l. narrow-lanceolate, appearing to taper into the stalk by the incurving of the winged edges of the petiole, while in the upper part the blade assumes a half-channelled form; black-purple, relieved by the glaucous hue of the under surface and of the petioles, while the edges of the young leaves towards the centre are deeply margined with rose-colour. 1875. Stove.

C. Weismanni (Weismann's).* l. rather narrow, gracefully recurved; in a young state, light coppery-red, more or less tinged with creamy-white, changing with age to a deep bronzy hue, except at the edges, where they are margined with red. 1871. Stove.

C. Youngi (Young's).* l. broad, of a somewhat spreading habit, without being pendulous; in a young state, bright light green, streaked with deep red, and tinged with a rosy hue, changing with age to a bright bronze. 1872. A robust and rapid grower. Stove.