Trichinium
(from trichinos, covered with hairs; alluding to the shaggy appearance of the blossoms). ORD. Amarantaceae. A genus comprising about fifty species of greenhouse herbs, under-shrubs, or rarely small shrubs, limited to Australia. Flowers in dense, globular, ovoid, or cylindrical spikes, very rarely elongated and interrupted; perianth usually pink or straw-colour, with a short, hard tube and five hairy segments; stamens five, but usually one, two, or three, without anthers. Leaves alternate, narrow or rarely obovate. Only three species have been introduced. They are all perennials, and thrive under cool greenhouse treatment, in any rich soil. Loam, rotten manure, and sand, make a suitable compost. The plants do best on an airy shelf, in full sunlight, and should be watered freely during the growing season. After flowering, water should be almost entirely withheld. Propagation is readily effected by means of the thick roots, which should be cut into pieces about 1in. long, and inserted in sand, in bottom heat.
T. alopecuroideum (Fox-tail Grass-like). A synonym of T exaltatum. T. exaltatum (exalted). fl., perianth about 3/4in. in diameter, the segments yellow, with dull red tips; spikes erect, on long peduncles, at length oblong-cylindrical, about 2 1/2in. in diameter. June. l., radical and lower ones oblong-lanceolate, 3in. to 5in. long, contracted into long petioles; upper ones small, sessile. h. 2ft. to 3ft. 1838. A stout plant. (B. R. 1839, 28, under name of T. alopecuroideum.) T. Manglesii (Mangles').* fl., perianth 3/4in. to 1in. long, the segments with pink or whitish tips; spikes globular or ovoid, about 2in. in diameter, the coloured tips of the perianth protruding from the long, white hairs. June. l., radical ones long-petiolate, varying from ovate to linear, obtuse or acute, 1in. to 3in. long; cauline ones few, narrow, very acute. Stems decumbent, ascending, or rarely erect, 6in. to 12in. long. 1838. (B. M. 5448; F. d. S. 2396; G. C. 1864, p. 555; I. H. 464; R. H. 1866, p. 291.) T. Stirlingii (Stirling's). fl., perianth scarcely 1/2in. long, the segments plumose, with pink tips; spikes globular, solitary at the ends of the stems or loosely paniculate, 3/4in. to 1in. in diameter. June. l. lanceolate, oblong, or almost linear; lower ones obtuse, shortly petiolate; upper ones small, more acute, sessile. Stems long, procumbent or ascending, and (as well as the leaves) clothed with white hairs. 1838.