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Lettuce (Including Mulgedium ORD)
Including Mulgedium. ORD. Compositae. A genus comprising about sixty species of hardy, and usually weedy, annuals or perennials, natives of the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere and South Africa, only a few of which are worth growing. Flower-heads blue or yellow; involucre of few bracts, in several series, placed upon a flat, naked receptacle. Fruits somewhat flattened, surmounted by a long, slender beak, and a pappus of long, silky, silvery hairs. Leaves radical or alternate, entire, largely dentate or pinnatifid; margins setose-ciliate or naked. Stems erect, branching. Lactucas thrive in a deep but light or sandy loam, and may be increased by divisions of the roots, or by seeds. All the species of Lactuca abound in a milky juice, which partakes, in a considerable degree, of the qualities of opium. The production of this juice is lessened by culture, and especially by blanching. It is most abundant in plants in a wild state, and in both wild and cultivated Lettuce during inflorescence. It is from the juice of the Lettuce that the late Dr. Duncan, of Edinburgh, prepared the drug called Lactucarium, which is occasionally used as a mild narcotic or sedative where opium is not admissible. See also Lettuce.
L. alpina (alpine).* fl.-heads purplish-blue, large, numerous, disposed in a corymbose cluster. July. l. somewhat lyrate, the terminal lobe triangular and very large. Stems furrowed, erect, smooth below, hairy above. h. 3ft. Arctic and Alpine Europe, West Siberia, and Scotland (but very rare). Perennial. A handsome plant for a somewhat shaded position, in very moist, deep, loamy soil. (Sy. En. B. 809, under name of Mulgedium alpinum.) L. macrophylla (large-leaved). fl.-heads pinkish-purple, large, corymbose. July. l. radical, large, cordate. Stems stout. h. 4ft. Caucasus. A noble species.
L. macrorhiza (large-rooted).* fl.-heads bright light violet-purple, about 1in. in diameter, and disposed in loose corymbs. Autumn. l. variously formed, sometimes lyrate-pinnatifid, with one or two pairs of lateral lobes, and a large, roundish, terminal one; sometimes very slightly lyrate-pinnatifid, and at other times oblong; those of the stem with broad amplexicaul auricles. h. 6in. to 3ft. Himalayas. Perennial. (B. R. xxxii. 17, under name of Mulgedium macrorhizon.) L. perennis (perennial). fl.-heads light blue, in corymbose panicles. June to August. l. all pinnatifid; segments linear, toothed upwards. h. 2ft. South Europe, 1596. (B. M. 2130.) L. Plumieri (Plumier's). fl.-heads purple, disposed in large, spreading, terminal corymbs, with short bracts. Summer. l. broad, large, pinnatifid-runcinate, glaucous underneath. h. 6ft. South of France. A handsome perennial, like L. alpina, but larger and more ornamental. L. sativa (cultivated). Common Lettuce. fl.-heads pale yellow, disposed in corymbs on a stem about 3ft. high. June. l. large, roundish or roundish-oblong, entire, slightly toothed, milky. h. 4ft. Generally considered to be a cultivated race derived from L. Scariola, a widely-distributed weed. Annual. (B. M. Pl. 161.) L. tuberosa (tuberous).* fl.-heads pale blue, over 1in. across, disposed in loose panicles. Autumn. l. about 1ft. long, 9in. wide, runcinate-pinnatifid, with lanceolate, somewhat recurved, finely-toothed lobes. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. An ornamental perennial, with a neat habit. Tauria.
LADYBIRDS (Coccinella). These are a group of small beetles of very great value to horticulturists, inasmuch as the larvae feed on Aphides, and aid much in limiting their ravages. The Coccinellidae have never more than three distinct joints in the tarsi, have antennae shorter than the thorax, and are usually hemispherical in form. The legs are short, and are seen very little beyond the wing-cases. The species are numerous, but form a very natural assemblage in respect of structure, though the individual species are so variable in colour as to have been often described under several names. They excrete, from the joints of the legs, drops of a yellowish fluid with a disagreeable smell. At times, Ladybirds appear in countless swarms, especially after severe attacks of Aphides on Hops or other cultivated plants. They are commonly red with black spots, but vary in size and number of spots, and may be black with red spots, or unspotted red or black, or more or less marked with yellow. Among the commoner species are: C. septempunctata (Seven-spotted Ladybird, C. bipunctata (Two-spotted), C. undecimpunctata (Eleven-spotted), and C. variabilis. In Roman Catholic times, in Britain, these insects were regarded as sacred to the Virgin: hence the name Ladybirds, or Ladycows. LAELIA (named after a vestal virgin of that name, because of the delicacy of the flowers). SYN. Amalias. ORD. Orchideae. A genus comprising about twenty species of beautiful Orchids, natives of the warmer parts of America, from Brazil to Mexico. They are closely allied to Cattleya, and are distinguished principally therefrom in having eight pollen masses. Flowers numerous or few, on terminal scapes. Leaves thick, hard. Pseudo-bulbs often elongated, clavate, and stem-like. For culture, &c., see Cattleya.
L. acuminata (pointed-lipped). fl. 1in. to 2in. across; sepals and petals pure white; lip white, with a dark blotch on the upper part; spikes five or six-flowered, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long. December and January. l. solitary, oblong, thick. Pseudo-bulb rather roundish in outline, and flat. Mexico, 1840. (B. M. 4905.) There is a pretty variety of this species, with delicate rosy-violet flowers.
L. albida (whitish).* fl. very fragrant, 1 1/2in. to 2in. across; sepals and petals mealy-white; lip white, or pale pink, streaked in the centre with lines of yellow; scape slender, from the top of the pseudo-bulb, from 1ft. to 2ft. long, and three to six-flowered. December and January. l. ligulate, coriaceous, dark green, usually in twos. Pseudo-bulbs roundish, clustered. Guatemala, 1838. (B. M. 3957.) There are several forms of this handsome species, some producing much larger flowers, with broader petals, than the type, while, in others, the sepals and petals are of a deep flesh-colour, with a rich mauve lip. The following varieties are especially worthy of mention: L. a. brunnea (brown). fl., sepals and petals, and the anterior part of the lip, of a fine chestnut-brown; base of lip marked with beautiful purplish veins. Mexico, 1868. A handsome, neat, and useful variety. L. a. Marianae (Marian's). fl., sepals and petals flesh-colour, changing to salmon; lip mauve, with buff stripes. A very pretty cool-house variety, with compact habit, and pale green foliage.
L. a. ochracea (ochreous). fl., sepals and petals pallid brown; lip with a white disk, washed with purple in front of the column, and with purplish veins on the lateral segments; the anterior part brownish. Mexico, 1868. L. a. rosea (rosy). fl. tipped with purple. Mexico, 1869. (F. M. 335.) L. a. Tuckeri (Tucker's). fl. amethyst, purple, and yellow. Mexico, 1868. L. anceps (two-edged).* fl. fragrant, 2in. to 4in. across; sepals and petals rose-lilac; lip deep purple, shaded with lilac; scape three to six-flowered. December and January. l. solitary, or in pairs, broadly-lanceolate, bright shining green. Pseudo-bulbs ovate, somewhat four-angled, from 4in. to 6in. long. Mexico, (about) 1834. This thrives on a block, but, as it attains to a considerable size, its weight renders it best adapted for pot cultivation. Large specimens are remarkably handsome, producing as many as twenty scapes of flowers. (B. M. 3804; B. R. 1751.) There are several varieties of this very handsome cool-house orchid, varying principally in the intensity of colour, or in the number of flowers which are borne upon the scape. The following are well worth cultivating:
L. a. alba (white).* fl. pure white; lip with a few yellow streaks. Mexico. L. a. Barkeriana (Barker's).* fl. purple. Mexico, 1833. Very scarce. L. a. Calvertiana (Calvert's). A fine variety, somewhat like Dawsoni, but with narrower petals, a rose border to the side lobes of the lip, and the front lobe wholly red-purple. 1883.
L. a. Dawsoni (Dawson's).* A distinct, beautiful, and rare variety, with little if anything in its growth to distinguish it from the normal state of the type; but the inflorescence cannot be mistaken for any other species or variety. The sepals and petals are of a pure waxy-white; the lip is three-lobed, the side lobes being white, and the centre one purple streaked with lines of a deeper purple; the ridge, as in the normal state, being yellow. Mexico, 1868. (F. M. 530.) L. a. delicata (delicate).* fl., sepals and petals white, stained with rosy-purple; lip white, suffused with reddish-purple and shaded with violet, the throat being orange-yellow; spikes four to six-flowered. Mexico. A distinct and handsome form.
L. a. Hilliana (Hill's). A distinct variety, with the front lobe of the lip two-lobed, and with a deep orange-coloured disk L. a. Leeana (Lee's).* fl., sepals and petals rose-coloured, narrow; lip white, with the tips of the lateral lobes, and some veins, of a rich purple. 1882. A handsome variety.
L. a. pulcherrima (very handsome). fl., lip truncate at tip; lateral angles and front third of middle lobe mauve-purple; disk light orange, with purple-brown veins. 1883.
L. a. rosea (rosy). fl. bright rose; disk of lip yellow, marked with dark lines. Mexico, 1880.
L. a. vestalis (vestal). A very fine broad-petaled variety, with white flowers, having the callus, disk, and bases of the side lobes, of a deep shining sulphur-colour. 1880.
L. a. Warnerii (Warner's).* fl., sepals and petals light soft rose; lip of an intense crimson. June and July.
L. a. Wolstenholmae (Mrs. Wolstenholm's). fl. medium-sized; sepals and petals light amethyst, the former dotted on the edges with purple, the latter margined with purple; lip wholly deep purple. A handsome variety. L. autumnalis (autumnal).* fl. very finely fragrant; sepals lanceolate, spreading, and petals oblong-lanceolate, waved at the edges, both being of a beautiful soft rose-colour; lip three-lobed, rosy-white, with a yellow centre; scape about 1ft. high, terete, three to six-flowered. December and January. l. two or three, linear-oblong, spreading, coriaceous, bright green. Pseudo-bulbs ovate, ribbed, tapering to the apex. Mexico, 1838. A handsome species, thriving best on a block, and requiring plenty of moisture when young. (B. M. 3817; B. R. 1839, 27.) L. a. atrorubens (dark red).* fl. rich reddish or magenta-purple, deepest toward the tips of sepals and petals, especially so on the upper part of the lip, while the lower is almost pure white, and does not clasp the column, as in other species; sepals and petals revolute at tips; peduncles long. Pseudo-bulbs short.
L. callistoglossa (very beautiful-lipped). fl., sepals and petals rose-colour; lip having the disk whitish, with purple lines, and the front part of a warm dark purple. 1882. A garden hybrid between L. purpurata and Cattleya Warscewiczii. Of this very fine and distinct plant, there are several varieties, some of them having much richer-coloured flowers. L. caloglossa (beautiful-lipped).* fl. light purple; lip with an anterior, crisp, crenulate disk, dark-purplish, bordered with white; lateral edges light purplish. Gardens, 1877. A lovely hybrid.
L. cinnabarina (scarlet-flowered).* fl. orange-scarlet, with a crispy lip; scape erect, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, three to five-flowered. March. l. usually solitary, erect, dark green, from 4in. to 6in. long. Pseudo-bulbs thick and rounded at the base, somewhat flask-shaped. Brazil, 1836. This fine species is best suited for pot culture. (B. M. 4302.) L. crispilabia (curled-lipped). fl. rosy-purple; lip finely crisped or undulate; scape from 12in. to 16in. long, and three to five-flowered. l. solitary, ligulate. Pseudo-bulbs pyriform. Mexico, 1867. A very free-flowering species, known in gardens as L. Lawrenceana. (W. S. O. ser. ii. 6.) L. Dayana (Day's).* fl., sepals and petals rosy-purple; lip rich purple, margined with lilac and white. Brazil, 1877. A handsome free-flowering species, not unlike L. praestans. (B. H. 1880, 10.) L. Dominiana (Dominy's).* fl. large; sepals and petals light purple, the former with dark reticulations; lip deep blackish-purple; scape three-flowered. Autumn. l. solitary, oblong-ligulate. Pseudo-bulbs fusiform. Gardens, 1878. A handsome hybrid.
L. Dormaniana (Dorman's).* fl., sepals and petals olive, marbled outside with light port-wine colour, which is diffused as a light line inside, excepting at the top of the odd sepal and petal which have numerous dark spots around the limb; lip lightest purplish-white, with darker veins; middle lobe mauve-purple; scape two to five-flowered. February. l. one or two, very cuneate, oblong-ligulate. Pseudo-bulbs terete, thin, slender, about 1ft. high. Brazil, 1880. (G. C. n. s., xiii. 168.) L. elegans (elegant).* fl., sepals and petals white or rose, varying to carmine; lip deep rich purple; scape erect, three to six or more flowered. It flowers at various seasons, sometimes twice in a year. l. usually in twos, spreading, coriaceous, dark green. Pseudo-bulbs long, slender, stem-like. Brazil, 1865. A very beautiful species, succeeding best under pot culture. (B. M. 4700, under name of Cattleya elegans.) L. e. alba (white).* fl. white, 6in. in diameter, having the middle lobe of the lip, and a middle line running to its base, rich carmine-magenta. 1884. A grand variety. (I. H. 526.) L. e. gigantea (gigantic). fl. large; sepals and petals lilac or mauve, profusely spotted with rosy-purple; lip intensely rosy-purple; scape many-flowered. Brazil, 1862. A very desirable strong-growing kind. SYN. L. gigantea. (W. S. O. 6.) L. e. Houtteana (Van Houtte's). fl., lip with nearly rectangular blunt side laciniae; median lacinia having at top a much-dilated, nearly reniform, toothleted blade of richest purple, while the ends of the side laciniae have a little touch of mauve on their purple.
L. e. lobata (lobed). A curious variety, having petals very narrow, and bearing one obtuse lobe on either side, having also rectangular side laciniae of the lip. Brazil, 1869.
L. e. Marshalliae (Mrs. Marshall's). fl., petals purplish, handsomely veined; lip rich deep purple, broad, wavy, and recurved. Brazil, 1872. L. e. picta (painted). fl., sepals and petals light rose, marked with greyish zones, and small dark purple spots; lip yellow, with the tips of the side lobes and disk purple. 1884.
L. e. prasiata (topaz-like). fl., sepals rose-magenta, whitish in the centre, and greenish towards the base; petals rosy-lilac; lip white where it wraps round the column; disk of the richest magenta.
L. e. Turneri (Turner's).* fl. none more than 6in. across; sepals and petals deep rose-pink, slightly veined with a darker hue; lip of a rich magenta, shaded with rose. Brazil, 1863. A beautiful species. SYN. L. Turneri. (W. S. O. 12.) L. flammea (flame-coloured).* fl. 3in. to 4in. across; sepals and petals vivid orange-scarlet; lip purple-crimson, beautifully fringed at the margin. March and April. A very handsome hybrid, the result of a cross between L. cinnabarina and L. Pilcheri, in habit somewhat resembling the first-named. SYN. L. Veitchii.
L. flava (yellow). fl. very brilliant yellow, about 2in. across; scape 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, from three to five-flowered. April. Brazil, 1841. A pretty species, similar to L. cinnabarina but rather smaller, and the leaves are shorter and more erect. (B. R. 1842, 62.) L. furfuracea (scurfy-stalked). fl. about 5in. in diameter, rosy-purple or bright lilac, with a darker lip; scape usually two-flowered. Autumn. l. usually solitary, light green. Mexico, 1838. A fine species, resembling L. autumnalis in habit, but with much broader petals. (B. M. 3810.) L.gigantea (gigantic). A synonym of L. elegans gigantea. L. grandis (large). fl., sepals and petals of a light nankeen colour; lip white in the throat, edged and veined with lilac and purple. Summer. l. usually solitary, rigid, dark green. Stems small at the base, thicker at the upper part. Bahia, 1850. (B. M. 5553.) L. harpophylla (sickle-leaved).* fl., sepals and petals bright orange-scarlet; lip of the same colour, with a white blotch at the apex; scapes short, erect, five to ten-flowered. February and March. l. solitary, lanceolate. Pseudo-bulbs slender, cylindrical, about 1ft. high. Brazil, 1873. (F. M. n. s. 70.) L. Jongheana (Jonghe's).* fl. from 4in. to 5in. across; sepals lanceolate, 2 1/2in. long, of a beautiful bright amethyst-purple tint; petals ovate or oblong, nearly 2in. broad, with slightly wavy margins of the same colour as the sepals; lip having pale purple lateral lobes, yellowish outside, golden-yellow within, having seven lamellae or plates over its disks; central lobe of a pure white, with a narrow margin of the brightest amethyst-purple; spikes one or two-flowered. l. dark green. Brazil, 1872. (B. M. 6038; G. C. 1872, 425.) L. Lawrenceana (Lawrence's). A garden synonym of L. erispilabia. L. Lindleyana (Lindley's).* fl., sepals and petals white or pale rose-colour, 2in. long, lanceolate; lip rosy-lilac, pale creamy-yellow, blotched and streaked with pale purple on the disk; peduncles one or two-flowered. l. in twos, thick, narrow, glaucous, 5in. to 7in. long. Pseudo-bulbs erect, slender, 6in. to 9in. high. Brazil, 1865. This plant flowers freely at various parts of the year, and remains from three to six weeks in perfection. (B. M. 5449, under name of Cattleya Lindleyana.) L. majalis (May-flower).* fl. of a bright silvery-lilac, from 4in. to 5in. across; lip blotched with crimson-purple, margined with rosy-lilac, centre white; scape one-flowered. Early summer. l. solitary. Pseudo-bulbs ovate, almost the size of pigeons' eggs. Mexico, 1838. A very beautiful species, known to the Mexican Spaniards as the Flor de Maio, or May Flower. It is somewhat difficult to manage, and should be grown in a cool house, being fully exposed to the sun all the year round, and suspended near the glass. (B. M. 5667; B. R. 1844, 30.) There is a white-flowered variety in cultivation. L. monophylla (one-leaved).* fl. (excepting the purple anther) entirely orange-scarlet, 1 1/2in. in diameter; sepals and petals equal, oblong, acute; lip exceedingly small, adnate to the column; peduncles one-flowered, with two or three greyish speckled sheaths. Stems very slender, one-leaved. Jamaica, 1883. A showy, free-flowering little species. (B. M. 6683.) L. Mylamiana (Mylam's). A curious hybrid between Cattleya crispa and C. granulosa, the flowers closely resembling those of the first-named parent; spike about six-flowered. l. solitary, leathery, ovate, obtuse, 8in. long. Pseudo-bulbs stout, cylindrical, about 1ft. high. Gardens, 1876. (G. C. n. s., ii. 741.) L. peduncularis (peduncled). fl., sepals and petals of a beautiful dark rose; lip same colour, with darker spots in the centre. Winter. Mexico, 1841. A very pretty evergreen species, with a compact habit, somewhat resembling L. acuminata. (B. R. 1845, 69.) L. Perrinii (Perrin's).* fl., sepals and petals rosy-purple, tipped with purplish-magenta; lip deep crimson, distinctly three-lobed; scape erect, three to six-flowered. October and November. l. solitary, narrow, dark green, 9in. to 12in. long. Pseudo-bulbs stout, purplish, clavate, distinctly furrowed. Brazil, 1831. (B. R. 1828, 2.) L. P. irrorata (bedewed). fl. light rose-colour; lip nearly white, with a pale yellow disk, and a light purple apex. 1881. A fine form. L. P. nivea (snowy). A very pretty variety, having pure white flowers, with the end of the lip purple. Brazil, 1880. (F. M. 429.) L. Philbrickiana (Philbrick's).* fl. very beautiful; sepals and petals light chestnut-brown, with purple spots; lip anterior; blade transverse, sub-cordate, emarginate, deep rich purple, with a little white triangle in the middle of the base; side laciniae oblong-triangular, whitish, with light purple borders; disk light purple, with a whitish line; scape two-flowered. l. in twos, the larger 3 1/2in. long, 1 3/4in. wide. Pseudo-bulbs dwarf. 1879. A garden hybrid between L. elegans and Cattleya Aclandiae. L. Pilcheriana (Pilcher's). fl., sepals and petals light rose, oblong-ligulate; lip rolled round the column, three-lobed, the anterior part very crisp; disk whitish-yellow, with deep purplish veins. Gardens, 1868. A handsome hybrid between L. Perrinii and Cattleya crispa. L. praestans (excelling).* fl. solitary, or very rarely two together; sepals and petals broad, rich deep rose; lip crimson-purple. April and May. Pseudo-bulbs and leaf rarely exceeding 6in. in height. Brazil, 1859. A very beautiful dwarf-growing species, often flowering twice in a year, and thriving best on a block of wood or cork. It resembles Cattleya marginata in growth and size of flowers. (B. M. 5498.) L. purpurata (purple-stained).* fl. very large; sepals and petals pure white; lip very large, sometimes as much as 3in. in length, rich deep purplish-crimson; scape erect, three to seven-flowered. May to July. l. solitary, broad, leathery, dark green. Pseudo-bulbs large, stout. Brazil, 1852. This species has been often, and not without reason, styled the grandest orchid in cultivation. It is one of the noblest for exhibition purposes; and grows best in a pot, in coarse fibrous peat, with fresh sphagnum, crocks, and charcoal freely interspersed. The pot must be half full of crocks, and the plants need plenty of water when growing. (G. C. n. s., xx. 533; P. F. G. iii. 962; W. S. O. 40.) Of the several varieties, the undermentioned are most desirable:
L. p. alba (white). fl. pure white; lip faintly tinted and veined with pale rose, and stained with yellow at the base. Brazil, 1869. L. p. Nelisii (Nelis's). fl. large; sepals and petals white, tinged with rose on the inside, whilst the sepals only on the outside are of a rich rose-colour; lip large, reddish-crimson. Brazil.
L. p. Williamsii (Williams's).* fl. large, over 5in. across; sepals and petals beautiful delicate rose; lip rich crimson, very large; spike three or four-flowered. May and June. l. rich dark green. Brazil. L. superbiens (gorgeous-flowered).* fl. from 6in. to 8in. across; sepals and petals rich rose, streaked with red; lip deep crimson, striped with yellow; spike about 5ft. high, bearing from ten to twenty flowers near the apex. Winter. l. in twos, thick, leathery, rather light green. Pseudo-bulbs spindle-shaped, long, stout. Guatemala, 1840. (B. M. 4090; W. S. O. 20.) L. Turneri (Turner's). A synonym of L. elegans Turneri. L. Veitchiana (Veitch's).* fl., sepals delicate lilac; petals of a deeper colour, with pale amethyst-purple spots; anterior half of lip crimson-purple, with a sulphur-yellow disk behind, streaked with purple in centre; the whole with a narrow pale lilac border. l. dark green, of great substance. A gorgeous hybrid. (G. C. n. s., 1883, Aug. 4.) L. Veitchii (Veitch's). A synonym of L. flammea.
L. virens (green). This species is something like L. cinnabarina, but has greenish-yellow sepals and petals, and a narrow, threelobed, white lip. 1879. L. Wallisii (Wallis's).* fl. of a charming rosy-blush colour; lip finely marked with yellow. Rio Negro, 1866. A remarkably beautiful epiphyte, with the aspect of Cattleya bulbosa.
L. Wyattiana (Wyatt's). fl., petals white, very acute; lip almost rhomboid; nervings of disk dark purple; side lobes light yellow outside; anterior lobe fine light purple. A lovely hybrid.
L. xanthina (yellow-flowered).* fl. of a clear golden-yellow, from 2in. to 3in. across; lip whitish, with orange streaks on the disk; scapes erect, five to seven-flowered. Summer. l. solitary or in tubes. Pseudo-bulbs clavate, 9in. to 12in. high. Brazil, 1859. (B. M. 5144.)