Tropical America
Stove. The form major is more compound, the unbranched part of the stem longer, and all its leaves adpressed. S. setosa (of gardens) is a starved, small form of this species.
S. filicina (Fern-like). A synonym of S. haematodes. S. flabellata (fan-shaped). stems 1ft. to 2ft. long, erect, simple in the lower half, deltoid and decompound in the upper half; pinnae deltoid, the lower three or four-pinnate; final branchlets contiguous, 1/4in. to 1in. long. l. of the lower plane contiguous, oblique-ovate, acute, ascending, bright green, obliquely inserted, much dilated, ciliated, much imbricated over the stem on the upper side at base; leaves of the upper plane a quarter to one-third as long, cuspidate. spikes square, 1/2in. to 1in. long; bracts cuspidate, strongly keeled. Tropics of Asia, America, and Polynesia. Stove. S. flagellata (whip-like). stems trailing, 6in. long; branches erecto-patent, the lower ones copiously compound; branches excurrent and whip-like at the end. l. of the lower plane ovate-lanceolate, very acute, above one line long, pellucid, bright green, more produced on the upper side of the midrib, rounded at the base, shortly ciliated, imbricated over the stem; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, ovate, acuminate, falcate, converging. spikes 1/3in. to 1/2in. long; bracts very acuminate, strongly keeled. French Guiana. Stove. S. flagellifera (whip-bearing). A garden form of S. plumosa. S. flagelliformis (whip-like). A synonym of S. plumosa flagellifera. S. flexuosa (flexuous). stems about 1ft. long, flat on the back, copiously branched, the lower branches elongated and copiously compound, the upper part assurgent; root-fibres often only developed from the lower half. l. of the lower plane close, spreading, bright green, oblong-rhomboidal, sub-acute, 1/8in. to 1/6in. long, more produced on the upper side of the distinct midrib, serrulated on the upper side near the base; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, long-cuspidate. spikes 1/2in. to 1in. long, square; bracts half a line long, crowded, sharply keeled. South Brazil. Stove. S. formosa (beautiful). A form of S. Martensii.
S. fulcrata (fulcrate). stems 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long, stiffly erect, simple in the lower half, with a few distant, small, adpressed leaves, deltoid and decompound in the upper half; pinnae deltoid. the lower ones three or four-pinnate, the rachises pubescent; final branchlets contiguous, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long. l. of the lower plane rather spaced even on the branchlets, ascending, lanceolate, acute, 1/12in. to 1/8in. long, truncate; leaves of the upper plane half as long, incurved, not cuspidate. spikes square, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts little longer than the sporangia. Eastern Himalayas. A well-marked, greenhouse species.
S. Galeottei (Galeotte's). stems 1ft. to 2ft. long, sub-erect, with root-fibres from the lower half, sometimes excurrent and whip-like at the tip, copiously pinnate, the branches pyramidal and decompound. l. of the lower plane close on the branchlets, spaced on the branches and stem, ascending, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acute, 1/8in. to 1/6in. long, more produced on the upper side of the midrib, broadly rounded and shortly ciliated on the upper side at the base, truncate and auricled on the lower; leaves of the upper plane one-third to one-half as long, much imbricated. spikes 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts cuspidate, strongly keeled. Mexico. Stove. S. grandis (great).* stems erect, 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long, simple in the lower half, deltoid and decompound in the upper half, the branching midway between flabellate and pinnate, the contiguous final branchlets 2/3in. broad. l. of the lower plane crowded, lanceolate, very acute, 1/4in. to 1/3in. long, bright green, equilateral except at the base, slightly ciliated; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, ovate-lanceolate, very acute, much imbricated. spikes copious, square, tetragonal, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long; bracts strongly ciliated. Borneo, 1882. A very fine, stove plant. (G. C. n. s., xviii. p. 40.) SYN. S. platyphylla (of gardens).
S. haematodes (bloody).* stems 1ft. to 2ft. long, bright crimson, unbranched in the lower half, with leaves much spaced and adpressed, deltoid and decompound in the upper half; pinnae deltoid, three or four-pinnate, the contiguous, erecto-patent ultimate divisions 1/4in. to 1in. long. l. of the lower plane contiguous, ascending, ovate or oblong-rhomboidal, acute, 1/6in. to 1/3in. long, bright green, dilated on the upper side at the base, broadly rounded; leaves of the upper plane minute, with a large cusp. spikes square, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long; bracts ovate-lanceolate. Andes. Stove. One of the handsomest species. SYN. S. filicina.
S. helvetica (Swiss). stems densely matted, slender, pale, trailing, 2in. to 3in. long, forked at base, distantly pinnately branched, with short, erecto-patent, slightly compound branches. l. of the lower plane spreading, close or slightly spaced, half a line or more long, oblique, produced on the upper side; leaves of the upper plane acute, half as long, rather divergent. spikes distinctly pedunculate, 1/2in. to 1in. long, terete; bracts imbricated. Central Europe to Japan. Hardy. (J. F. A. 196, under name of Lycopodium helveticum.) S. inaequalifolia (unequal-leaved). stems sub-erect, sarmentose, 3ft. to 4ft. long; pinnae oblong-lanceolate, 6in. long, the erectopatent branchlets considerably compound, with ascending tertiary divisions. l. of the lower plane contiguous, oblong-rhomboid, 1/12in. to 1/8in. long, bright green; leaves of the upper plane half as long, shortly cuspidate, spikes square, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts ovate, cuspidate, strongly keeled. Eastern Himalayas. A well-known, stove species.
S. i. perelegans (very elegant). stems not more than 1ft. long; pinnae shorter, more deltoid, with more compound lower branches. spikes copious, often 1in. long. SYN. S. bellula (of Moore) (G. C. n. s., xi. p. 173). S. involvens (rolled up). stems very densely tufted, 2in. to 6in. long, deltoid, twice or thrice pinnate, branched nearly or quite from the base, the branching of all grades between flabellate and pinnate. l. of the lower plane very crowded, ascending, ovate, with a distinct cusp, about one line long, bright green, very thick, serrulated, nearly equal-sided; leaves of the upper plane nearly as long, oblique, distinctly cuspidate. spikes square; bracts acutely keeled. Japan, China, &c. Greenhouse. (G. C. n. s., xix. p. 404.) S. i. texta (woven). A peculiar garden form, in which the branches are almost simple. SYN. S. texta (of Belgian gardens).
S. i. variegata (variegated). This only differs from the type in having the tips of some of the branches creamy-white. See Fig. 469, for which we are indebted to Mr. Wm. Bull.
S. japonica (Japanese). A variety of S. caulescens.
S. Karsteniana (Karsten's). stems about 1ft. long, erect from a decumbent base, bisulcate down the face, copiously pinnate; branches short, erecto-patent, sparingly compound. l. of the lower plane ovate, acute, dark green, sub-diaphanous, very unequal-sided, denticulate on the upper margin, much produced on the upper side at base and imbricated over the stem; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, ovate-oblong, cuspidate. spikes short, often twin, but little flattened; bracts not very obviously dimorphous. New Grenada. Greenhouse.
S. Kraussiana (Krauss').* stems trailing, 6in. to 12in. long, jointed at the nodes, copiously pinnate, with copiously compound, erecto-patent branches. l. of the lower plane contiguous on the branchlets, spaced on the branches and main stems, oblong-lanceolate, acute, 1/8in. to 1/6in. long, bright green, ciliated and broadly rounded at base; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, not cuspidate. spikes short, square; bracts cuspidate, strongly keeled. South Africa, 1878. Greenhouse. S. Brownii is a dwarf form from the Azores. The form aurea has yellow leaves; variegata is a variegated form. S. laevigata (smooth).* stems erect, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, simple in the lower half, the leaves small, distant and soon deciduous, deltoid in the upper half, with petiolate, deltoid, once or twice pinnate pinnae; final divisions erecto-patent, 2in. to 3in. long. l. of the lower plane crowded, oblong-lanceolate, sub-patent, very falcate, acute, 1/8in. to 1/6in. long, bright green, adnate by a broad base, decurrent on the lower side; leaves of the upper plane minute, recurved. spikes square, 1/2in. to 1in. long; bracts acute, strongly keeled. Madagascar. Stove.
S. l. Lyalli (Lyall's). stems, lower pinnae bipinnate, with final divisions 1/2in. to 1in. long. A more compound variety.
S. lepidophylla (scaly-leaved).* The Resurrection Club-moss, which is frequently exposed for sale as a vegetable curiosity, owing to the manner in which its curled-up stems unroll and resume a fresh appearance when placed in water. stems densely tufted, 2in. to 4in. long, branched to the base, the primary branching closely pinnate, the broad, cuneate, ascending pinnae copiously sub-flabellately compound. l. of the lower plane much imbricated, ascending, oblique, ovate, obtuse, half a line long, minutely ciliated, when old tinted red-brown; leaves of the upper plane nearly as long, obtuse. spikes square, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts deltoid, acutely keeled. Texas to Peru. Greenhouse. (G. C. 1872, p. 69.) S. Lobbii (Lobb's). stems sub-erect, sarmentose, 3ft. to 4ft. long; pinnae regular, lanceolate-deltoid, about 6in. long, cuneate at base; pinnules contiguous, erecto-patent, the upper ones simple, the lower forked. l. of the lower plane contiguous, oblong-lanceolate, falcate, acute, 1/8in. long on the pinnules, 1/6in. to 1/5in. on the pinnae, bright green, truncate and rather dilated on both sides at base; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, cuspidate. spikes square, oblique-ovate, terminal on the branchlets, 1/4in. to 3/4in. long; bracts cuspidate, strongly keeled. Borneo. Stove. Rare in cultivation. SYN. S. cognata.
S. ludoviciana (Louisianian). stems slender, copiously pinnate, flat, 6in. long, the upper branches simple, the lower slightly compound. l. of the lower plane much spaced below the tips of the branches, spreading, ovate-oblong, sub-acute, half a line or more long, serrulated, imbricated over the stem; leaves of the upper plane half as long, cuspidate. spikes 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts one line long, strongly keeled. United States. A well-known, greenhouse species, allied to S. apus.
S. Lyalli (Lyall's). A form of S. laevigata.
S. Martensii (Martens').* stems 6in. to 12in. long, trailing in the lower half, with copious, long root-fibres, ascending in the upper half, decompound, the branching between pinnate and flabellate. l. of the lower plane usually crowded, erecto-patent, oblong-lanceolate, sub-obtuse, bright green, unequal-sided, serrulated, a little imbricated; leaves of the upper plane half as long, with a long cusp, much imbricated. spikes 1/4in. to 1/2in. long, square; bracts acute, strongly keeled. Mexico. A common, greenhouse species, with numerous varieties, of which the most distinct are: ascendens, divaricata, formosa, the variegated robusta, and stolonifera. S. molliceps (soft-stemmed). stems erect, densely tufted, 6in. to 9in. long, copiously pinnate, the base bisulcate; lower branches copiously compound. l. of the lower plane contiguous on the branchlets, spaced on the main stem, erecto-patent, obliquely oblong-lanceolate, acute, dark green, one line long, very unequalsided, serrulated on the upper edge, broadly rounded, shortly ciliated, and a little imbricated over the stem on the upper side at base; leaves of the upper plane one-half to one-third as long, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, cuspidate. spikes copious, resupinate, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts of the upper plane lanceolate-rhomboid, those of the lower plane ovate, cuspidate. Upper Guinea. Stove. SYN. S. rubricaulis. S. mutabilis (changeable). A synonym of S. serpens.
S. patula (spreading). stems slender, pale, trailing, 6in. to 9in. long, with a long, whip-like tip, and numerous short, alternate, pinnately-arranged branches with three to seven branchlets. l. of the lower plane crowded, erecto-patent, oblong-lanceolate, bright green, the midrib distinct, ciliated and imbricated over the rachis on the upper side at the base; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, oblique-ovate, acute. spikes square, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts cuspidate, much imbricated, strongly keeled. Jamaica. A common, greenhouse species.
S. pilifera (hair-bearing). stems densely tufted, 3in. to 4in. long, copiously compound, cuneate, the branching midway between pinnate and flabellate, the branches erecto-patent. l. of the lower plane crowded on the branches, rather spaced on the main stem, ascending, oblique-ovate, half a line long, distinctly cuspidate. spikes square, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts strongly keeled. Texas. Greenhouse. A rare species in cultivation. S. platyphylla (flat-leaved). A garden synonym of S. grandis. S. plumosa (feathery). stems pale, trailing, 6in. to 12in. long, often forked low down, copiously pinnately branched, the branches copiously compound, the root-fibres extending to the upper nodes. l. of the lower plane contiguous on the branches, spreading or rather ascending, bright green, oblong-or ovate-lanceolate, acute, 1/12in. to 1/8in. long, ciliated at base, cordate on the upper side and much imbricated over the stem; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, ovate, cuspidate, much imbricated. spikes copious, square, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts acute, strongly keeled. Eastern Himalayas. Stove. S. flagellifera is merely a garden form of this species. SYN. S. flagelliformis.
S. Paeppigiana (Paeppig's). stems trailing, 1ft. to 2ft. long, forked at base, jointed at the nodes, copiously pinnate, with copiously compound, erecto-patent branchlets. l. of the lower plane spaced, except towards the tips of the branchlets, much spaced on the main stem, ascending, oblong-lanceolate, 1/8in. to 1/6in. long, broadly rounded on the upper side at base; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, oblique, with a distinct cusp. spikes square, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts acute, sharply keeled. Andes. Greenhouse.
S. Poulteri (Poulter's).* stems densely tufted, very slender, suberect, 2in. to 3in. long, three or four times trichotomously-forked, with slender radicles from the lower half. l. of the lower plane distinctly spaced, spreading, sub-orbicular, obtuse, half a line long, bright green; leaves of the upper plane nearly as long, but acute, ascending. spikes slender, 1/2in. to 1in. long; bracts scarcely longer than the sporangia. Azores, 1868. Greenhouse. S. rigida (rigid). A garden name for S. affinis.
S. robusta (robust). A garden name for S. canaliculata robusta. S. rubella (reddish). stems 1ft. long, sub-erect, with root-fibres from the lower half, reddish-brown, pinnately branched, the lower branches cuneate, with five to seven branchlets. l. of the lower plane ascending, crowded on the branchlets, oblique-oblong, obtuse or obscurely cuspidate, 1/12in. to 1/8in. long, dark green, turning reddish with age, more produced and ciliated on the upper side at the base; leaves of the upper plane half as long, ovate, cuspidate, much imbricated. spikes square, 1/2in. to 1in. long; bracts long-cuspidate, strongly keeled. Native country unknown, 1870. Greenhouse. (G. C. 1871, p. 902.) S. rubricaulis (red-stemmed). A synonym of S. molliceps. S. selaginoides (Fir Club-moss-like). A synonym of S.spinosa. S. serpens (winding). stems densely matted, quite trailing, 6in. to 9in. long, copiously pinnate, branched, with numerous, erectopatent, slightly compound branches. l. of the lower plane crowded, spreading, three-quarters of a line long, ovate-oblong, bright green with a distinct midrib, both sides rounded and ciliated at base; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, acute. spikes square, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts cuspidate, crowded, strongly keeled. West Indies. A well-known, stove species. SYNS. S. mutabilis, S.variabilis, S. varians.
S. setosa (bristly). A garden form of S. erythropus. S. sinensis (Chinese). A garden synonym of S. canaliculata. S. spinosa (spiny). barren stems short, trailing, slender, little branched, with short, ascending branches. l. lax and spreading on the lower part of the barren branches, dense and ascending upwards, lanceolate, half a line to one line long, acute, bright green, ciliated. fertile stems erect, simple, 2in. to 3in. long, with a leafy peduncle about as long as the spike. spike multifarious; bracts lax, ascending, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 1/8in. to 1/6in. long, strongly ciliated, not acutely keeled. Europe (Britain), North America. Hardy. SYN. S.selaginoides.
S. spinulosa (small-spined). stems very slender, trailing, 1in. to 2in. long, little-branched, l. of the lower plane spaced even on the branchlets, oblong, obtuse, half a line long, pale green, strongly ciliated; leaves of the upper plane a quarter to one-third as long, oblong, acute. spikes short, square; bracts cuspidate, strongly keeled. Java. Stove.
S. stolonifera (stolon-bearing). A form of S. Martensii. S. suberosa (slightly erose). stems densely tufted, sub-erect, often above 1ft. long, pale, shining brown, copiously pinnate, the branching erecto-patent and decompound, the root-fibres sometimes extending half-way up to it. l of the lower plane spaced and erecto-patent on the branches, very distant and spreading on the main stem, oblique-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, bright green, unequal-sided, much produced, broadly rounded, shortly ciliated; leaves of the upper plane half as long, long cuspidate. spikes copious, 1/4in. 3/4in. long, resupinate; bracts of the upper plane lanceolate, erecto-patent, of the lower plane ascending, ovate, cuspidate. Khasis Mountains. Greenhouse. S. sulcata (furrowed). stems trailing in the lower half, usually assurgent in the upper half, deeply bisulcate down the face, jointed at the nodes, copiously flabellate-pinnate, the final branchlets contiguous. l. of the lower plane close on the branchlets, spaced on the stem, oblong-lanceolate, acute, 1/8in. to 1/6in. long, auricled on both sides at base; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, long-cuspidate. spikes 1/4in. to 1/2in. long, square; bracts acute, strongly keeled. South Brazil. Green house. S. texta. See S. involvens texta.
S. uncinata (hooked).* stems weak, slender, pale straw-coloured, bisulcate on the face, trailing, 1ft. to 2ft. long, with a long, excurrent tip, and alternate, short, pinnately arranged, copiously compound branches. l. of the lower plane sub-ovate, 1/12in. to 1/8in. long, close or rather spaced on the branches, thin, bright blue-green, minutely petiolate, both sides cordate at base; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, cuspidate, much imbricated. spikes 1/4in. to 1/2in. long, square; bracts one line long, crowded, sharply keeled. China. A well-known, greenhouse species. This is the proper name of the blue-tinted plant known in gardens as S.coesia.
S. variabilis (variable). A synonym of S. serpens.
S. varians (variable). A synonym of S. serpens.
S. Victoriae (Victoria's). stems sub-erect, sarmentose, 3ft. to 4ft. long; pinnae lanceolate-deltoid, 6in. to 9in. long, caudate; upper pinnules erecto-patent and simple, contiguous, the lower forked or slightly pinnate. l. of the lower plane crowded, oblong-lanceolate, falcate, acute, one line long, dark bright green, obscurely petiolate; leaves of the upper plane a quarter as long, much imbricated. spikes square, 1in. to 2in. long; bracts acutely keeled. Borneo, &c, 1879. Stove. Rare in cultivation. (G. C. n. s., xi. p. 75.) S. viticulosa (tendrilled). stems about 9in. long, stramineous, simple in the lower part, deltoid and decompound upwards; pinnae deltoid, bi-or tripinnate, the root-fibres sometimes extending to the axils of the lowest pinnae, the contiguous, ascending final segments 1/2in. to 1in. long. l. of the lower plane contiguous, ascending, lanceolate or oblique-ovate, acute, 1/12in. to 1/8in. long, bright green; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, oblique-ovate, cuspidate. spikes square; bracts cuspidate, strongly keeled. Central America and Venezuela. Stove.
S. Vogelii (Vogel's). stems 1ft. to 2ft. long, erect, simple in the lower half, often pink-tinted, with a few distant, small, adpressed leaves, deltoid and decompound in the upper half; lower pinnae deltoid, petiolate, three or four-pinnate, the contiguous, erecto-patent final divisions 1/4in. to 3/4in. long. l. of the lower plane spaced even on the branchlets, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, ascending, acute, one to two lines long, bright green, both edges liable to be revolute, truncate at base; leaves of the upper plane minute, with a large cusp. spikes square, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; bracts cuspidate, strongly keeled. West Africa. Stove. Well known in cultivation. SYN. S. africana. There is a variegated form. S. dichrous is a garden form of this species.
S. Wallichii (Wallich's).* stems sarmentose, sub-erect, 2ft. to 3ft. long; pinnae lanceolate, 6in. to 9in. long; pinnules invariably simple, crowded, erecto-patent, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long, the end one sometimes 3in. to 4in. long. l. of the lower plane crowded, oblong-lanceolate, slightly falcate, pointed at the upper corner, equal-sided, the lower ones of the pinnules 1/12in. to 1/8in. long, the upper gradually smaller, dark bright green, obscurely petiolulate, truncate or slightly cordate on both sides at the base; leaves of the upper plane a quarter as long, much imbricated. spikes square, terminal on the pinnules, 1/2in. to 1in. long; bracts cuspidate, strongly keeled. India. A common and ornamental, stove species.
S. Willdenovii (Willdenow's).* stems climbing to a length of 12ft. to 20ft. or more; pinnae spreading, deltoid, 1ft. to 2ft. long, pinnules deltoid and decompound; ultimate branches short and contiguous. l. of the lower plane crowded, ascending, ovate or oblong, 1/12in. to 1/8in. long, green with a tint a blue, obscurely petiolate, cordate on both sides at base; leaves of the upper plane one-third as long, not cuspidate. spikes square, 1/2in. to 1in. long; bracts scarcely larger than the sporangia. Cochin China, &c. A well-known, stove species. SYN. S. coesia arborea.
SELAGO (the old Latin name, used by Pliny, for a plant which the Druids gathered with mysterious ceremonies). ORD. Selagineae. A genus comprising nearly eighty species of green-house shrubs or under-shrubs, often Heath-like, rarely dwarf, annual herbs; one is a native of Madagascar, another is found in tropical Africa, and the rest are extra-tropical South African. Flowers in the axils of the ovate or narrow bracts, or rarely shortly pedicellate with a bract, in terminal spikes; calyx two, three, or five-cleft; corolla limb oblique or subblabiate; stamens four, didynamous. Leaves narrow or rather small, sometimes very small, alternate, scattered, or the lower ones rarely opposite; often fascicled in the axils, entire or toothed. A selection of species, including those best known in gardens, is given below. They are of easy culture in sandy loam or peat and sand. Propagation may be effected by seeds; or by cuttings of half-ripened wood, inserted in sandy soil, under a bell glass, in bottom heat. All are South African sub-shrubs, flowering in summer.
S. corymbosa (corymbose). fl. white, corymbose; corolla tube scarcely exceeding the calyx; bracts ovate-linear. l. linear, fascicled. Stem erect, branched, pubescent. h. 2ft. 1699.
S. c. polystachya (many-spiked). fl. loosely paniculate-spiked or thyrsoid; corolla larger. l. acute, flat. h. 9in. 1823.
S. distans (distant). fl. white; calyx segments acuminate, shorter than the corolla tube; spikes solitary, terminal, scattered-flowered; bracts oblong. l. fascicled, two to three lines long, slightly incurved, semiterete, obtuse. Stems sub-dichotomously branched; branchlets pubescent. h. 1ft. 1845.(B. R. xxxi. 46.) S. fasciculata (fascicled). A synonym of S. serrata. S. fruticosa (shrubby). fl. yellow, in pedunculate heads, spikes, or panicles; corolla scarcely exceeding the calyx. l. linear, slightly obtuse, glabrous, slightly spreading or the lower ones reflexed, solitary or sub-fasciculate, the margins revolute. h. 1ft. 1774.
S. Gillii (Gill's).* fl. pink; corolla tubular; spikelets terminal, 1in. to 3in. long, or the panicle shortened and loosely few-flowered. l. clustered, whitish, glabrous, elliptic-lanceolate or the lower ones ovate, three to six lines long. Stem branched. h. 6in. 1829. (B. M. 3028; B. R. 1504.) S. rapunculoides (Rampion-like). A synonym of S. spuria. S. rotundifolia (round-leaved). fl. purple; corolla tube filiform, three or four times longer than the calyx; spikelets terminal, straight, pedunculate, scarcely 1in. long. l. obovate-elliptic, glabrous, entire, clustered-fasciculate. Stem straight, terete. h. 1ft. 1814. S. serrata (toothed). fl. blue, disposed in long spikes or fascicled corymbs; corolla tube filiform, elongated; bracts linear-subulate. l. obovate-elliptic, acute, serrated, decurrent, often glabrous. Stems straight, leafy. h. 1ft. 1774. SYN. S. fasciculata (B. R. 184; L. B. C. 1423). S. spuria (spurious). fl. violet; corolla tube filiform, very long; spikes short, terminal. l. linear-elongated, acute, toothed, the upper ones shorter and entire. Stem nearly simple, erect. h. 2ft. 1824. SYN. S. rapunculoides. SELENIA (probably from selene, the moon; connection not obvious). ORD. Cruciferae. A small genus (two species) of small, hardy, annual herbs, natives of Texas and Arkansas. Flowers yellowish, in terminal, leafy racemes; sepals spreading, coloured, sub-equal; petals erect. Leaves pinnatisect. S. aurea, whether for the colour or odour of its flowers, or for the considerable time it remains in blossom, is well worthy of cultivation. It requires similar treatment to other hardy annuals.
S. aurea (golden).* fl. erect, the lower ones solitary in the upper axils, the upper ones collected into a sub-corymbose raceme; sepals greenish-yellow; petals golden-yellow, twice as long as the sepals, obovate-spathulate. June. l. 1in. to 2in. long, 1/3in. to 1/2in. broad, linear-oblong, pinnatifid; segments about five to seven pairs. h. 9in. 1881. (B. M. 6607.) SELENIPEDIUM (from selenis, a little crescent, and pedion or podion, a slipper; in allusion to the crescentic, slipper-shaped labellum). South American Lady's Slipper. Including Uropedium. ORD. Orchideae. A genus comprising about a dozen species of stove, terrestrial Orchids, differing from Cypripedium in having a three-celled and three-furrowed or three-lobed ovary; they inhabit the mountainous parts of South America, Flowers showy or rarely mediocre, pedicellate; sepals spreading; petals free; lip sessile, spreading, inflated like a slipper; peduncles many-flowered. Stem erect, leafy. Regarding S. Schlimii, Mr. B. S. Williams remarks (in the "Orchid Grower's Manual"): "This is a difficult plant to cultivate. The imported plants appear as if they had been growing beside streams of water which are subjected to being flooded, for the leaves are frequently coated to a great extent with deposited mud; and it would, therefore, appear that our difficulties with this plant have arisen chiefly from an insufficient supply of water. We pot in peat, adding a little turfy loam and sand, with good drainage, and take care that water does not lodge in the heart of the plant. It is best grown at the cool end of the Cattleya house." For general culture, see Cypripedium (under which the species were formerly included).
S. Ainsworthii (Ainsworth's).* fl., upper sepal whitish or yellowish-green, bordered with pale purple, the lower one very wide, ventricose; petals rather broad, purple, with a green mid-vein and a pallid area near the base; side laciniae of lip reflexed, pale sulphur-yellow, copiously spotted inside at base; staminode sulphur-colour, with a dark purple, hairy border outside. 1878. A hybrid between S. Sedeni and S. Roezlii.
S. albo-purpureum (white-and-purple). fl. much larger than in S. Sedni; dorsal sepal having a pinkish tinge on the margin, elongated-ovate; petals pinkish, 5in. to 6in. long, twisted, hanging down beyond the lip; pouch of the lip dull crimson-red, the inflected edges at its base ivory-white, bordered with pink, and nearly covered by rosy spots. l. long, green, linear-lorate. A handsome garden hybrid between S. Dominianum and S. Schlimii. SYN. Cypripedium albo-purpureum (Gn. xxi. 332).
S. calurum (beautiful-tailed).* fl. large and showy, freely produced; dorsal sepal pale green, longitudinally ribbed with purple; petals pale green, edged with rose-red near the base, wholly bright rose-red at apex, 2 1/2in. long, narrower and more twisted than in S. Sedeni; lip of a deep wine-crimson outside, very handsome. l. elongated, channelled, acute, greer, in a thick tuft. Stems tall, branched, brownish-red. A handsome, free-flowering hybrid between S. longifolium and S. Sedeni. SYN. Cypripedium calurum (F. &P. 1884, 145; W. O. A. iii. 136).
S. cardinale (cardinal). fl., dorsal sepal blush-white, faintly striped with green; petals blush-white, with a patch of crimson-purple hairs towards the base; lip similar to that of S. Schlimii, but about 1in. in diameter. December. A beautiful hybrid between S. Sedeni and S. Schlimii albiflorum. S. caricinum (Carex-like).* fl. pale green, the sepals and petals having a white margin, and the ends being blotched with brown; petals narrow, deflexed and twisted; lip black-dotted on the inner margin, oblong; staminode bordered with black hairs; spike rising clear of the leaves, four to seven-flowered. l. stiff, narrow, channelled. h. 1ft. or more. Peru. Plant having a Sedge-like appearance. SYNS. S. Pearcei (F. d. S. 1648), Cypripedium caricinum (B. M. 5466).
S. caudatum (tailed).* fl., sepals and petals yellowish, marked with brown; petals tail-like, often reaching 2 1/2ft. in length, more deeply coloured towards the base; lip reddish-brown, the basal portion yellow, spotted with reddish-brown; scapes 1ft. to 1 1/2ft high. April and May. l. ensiform, distichous, light green. Chiriqui, Peru, 1851. A very remarkable, stemless, evergreen orchid. SYN. Cypripedium caudatum (F. d. S. 566; G. C. n. s., iii. p. 211; Gn. iii. 313; L. & P. F. G. i. 9; R. G. 661; R. H. 1857, p. 318, and 1885, p. 472; W. S. O. ii. 1).
S. c. roseum (rose-coloured). fl. dark rose, intermixed with the yellow and green. (I. H. 1886, 596.) S. conchiferum (shell-bearing). fl., dorsal sepal whitish, veined with pale greenish-yellow, oblong-triangular; petals white, veined with green at base, brownish-crimson towards the tips, twisted, ribbon-like; lip pale olive-green, having the inflexed side lobes spotted with brown, and covered at the top with green warts. A hybrid between S. caricinum and S. Roezlii. S. Dominianum (Dominy's).* fl. yellowish-green, tinged with coppery-brown; lip deep reddish-brown in front, with sharper reticulations, yellowish-green behind, the incurved mouth also yellowish, spotted with dark purple; stems erect, three-flowered. l. linear-elongate, broader than in S. caricinum, between which and S. caudatum this plant is a hybrid. SYN. Cypripedium Dominianum (F. M. 499; F. & P. 1874, 57; Gn. iii. 491). S. grande (large).* fl. large; dorsal sepal yellowish-white, veined with yellowish-green, elongated, incurved; petals ribbon-like, more than 1ft. long, pendulous, broadest at base, where they are yellowish-white and hairy, the narrow part crimson; lip large and prominent, narrow at base, where the unfolded lobes are whitish, spotted with crimson, the front part greenish-yellow, paler and whitish beneath; staminode yellow, flushed with crimson, fringed on its upper edge with blackish-crimson hairs; scape 3ft. high, many-flowered. l. sword-shaped, 2ft. to 2 1/2ft. long. A grand hybrid between S. caudatum and S. Roezlii.
S. Hincksianum (Hincks'). fl., sepals whitish-green, with nerves of a darker tint; petals light greenish, with a deep greenish middle line and a brown border at base, the tails brown; lip green, marked with some small, brown spots near the base, long and narrow. Darien, 1878. SYN. Cypripedium Hincksianum.
S. kaieteurum (Kaieteur Fall). A synonym of S. Lindleyanum. S. Lindeni (Linden's).* fl., sepals white, veined with green, broad, oval-lanceolate, the linear-ligulate petals and lip velvety-white, streaked with green at base, the points lengthened out into purplish-red, tail-like appendages, sometimes 2ft. long; scape branching, velvety, two-flowered, 1ft. or more high. May. l. erect, ligulate, obtuse, pale green, 10in. long, forming a distichous tuft. New Grenada, 1850. SYN. Uropedium Lindeni (B. H. 1854, 193; F. d. S. vi. 123; R. G. 315; R. H. 1857, p. 511; R. X. O. 15). S. Lindleyanum (Lindley's). fl., sepals pale green, with reddish-brown nerves on the outside, pubescent, with crisped margins, the upper one hooded at apex; petals pale green, with brownish-crimson veins, 2 1/2in. long, falcately linear, the margins recurved and ciliated; lip light olive-green, with brownish-crimson veins, and densely dotted on the side lobes; scape many-flowered, pubescent. l. coriaceous, bright dark green, 7in. to 9in. long, 2in. to 2 1/2in. broad. Kaieteur Fall, British Guiana, 1885. SYN. S. kaieteurum.
S. longifolium (long-leaved). fl., dorsal sepal yellowish-green, streaked with purple, the lower ones large; petals green, with a red marginal band, bordered with white, several inches long; lip green, suffused with shining purplish-brown; spike many-flowered. l. distichous, long-ligulate, keeled, dark green. Central America, 1869. SYN. Cypripedium longifolium (B. H. 1873, p. 65; B. M. 5970; F. & P. 1871, 126), C. Reichenbachianum. S. l. coloratum (coloured). fl. with purplish-veined sepals and purplish petals. l. broader. 1873. A fine variety.
S. Pearcei (Pearce's). A synonym of S. caricinum.
S. porphyreum (porphyry-coloured). fl. nearly purplish, very much like those of S. Sedeni, but the open sides of the slipper-like lip are not provided with tumid protuberances, and both petals and the odd sepal are very distinctly shaped, more tapered to the point. l. as in S. Roezlii. 1878. A hybrid between S. Roezlii and S. Schlimii.
S. reticulatum (reticulated). fl. whitish, reticulately veined with green; dorsal sepal narrow-lanceolate, acute; lower ones broadly elliptic-oblong, very obtusely rounded at apex; petals linear, acute, twisted, horizontally spreading. Ecuador, 1885. A remarkable species.
S. Roezlii (Roezl's). fl. very large; dorsal sepal yellowish-green, suffused with rosy-purple on the borders, the lateral ones flesh-coloured; petals green, with a bright red-purple border and tip, linear-lanceolate, spreading; lip 3in. long, the saccate part greenish-yellow; scape many-flowered, 3ft. high. March to May. l. 2ft. long, 2in. broad, bright green, ligulate, keeled. New Grenada, 1873. SYN. Cypripedium Roezlii (B. M. 6217; F. M. ser. ii. 119; I. H. ser. iii. 138; R. G. 754).
S. Schlimii (Schlim's).* fl. 2in. across; sepals and petals white, mottled and striped with dark rose; lip white, the front of the pouch marked with a large blotch of deep rose; stem hairy, longer than the leaves, branching, eight-flowered. l. ligulate, acute, 8in. long, light green. New Grenada, 1867. SYN. Cypripedium Schlimii (B. M. 5614; F. d. S. 1917; I. H. ser. iii. 183; R. X. O. i. 44).
S. S. albiflorum (white-flowered). fl., sepals and petals white, dusted with delicate pink at the base; lip white, suffused with rose, more deeply coloured opposite the bright yellow column. Winter. 1875. A robust, free-growing variety. SYN. Cypripedium Schlimii albiflorum (I. H. 183.) S. Schroderae (Baroness Schroder's).* fl., dorsal sepal pale reddish-green, lined with greenish-purple; petals whitish-green in the centre, stained with purplish-crimson, 4in. long, very broad, turned downwards; lip dull crimson, resembling that of S. caudatum. December. l. as in S. Sedeni. Stems branching. A very distinct hybrid between S. caudatum and S. Sedeni. (W. O. A. 196.) S. Sedeni (Seden's).* fl. large and showy; sepals greenish-white, ovate; petals longer, white, edged with purplish-crimson, twisted; lip rich crimson, white and crimson-spotted inside; stem taller than the leaves, bearing several flowers. l. ligulate, tapering, about 1ft. long, deep green. A handsome hybrid between S. longifolium and S. Schlimii. SYN. Cypripedium Sedeni (F. M. ser. ii. 206, 302; R. G. 1875, p. 150, and 1877, p. 86; R. H. 1879, p. 470). S. S. candidulum (whitish). fl., sepals and petals white, with a rosy hue on the edge; lip purple. A hybrid between S. longifolium and S. Schlimii albiflorum.
S. stenophyllum (narrow-leaved). fl., dorsal sepal rosy, very pallid, green-nerved; the lower one the same colour, but nearly white in the centre, shell-like; petals purplish at their ends, much bearded towards the cordate base; lip pale purplish, the mouth of the inflexed lobes greenish-white, and streaked with rows of purple blotches. l. lorate, linear-ligulate, acute, very long. 1876. A hybrid between S. Schlimii and S. caricinum. S. vittatum (striped). fl., sepals pale green, the upper one only half as broad as the lower, striped with red; petals brownish-red, lined with green towards the base, linear, arcuate-deflexed, undulated; lip brownish, inside green, spotted with reddish-brown, shorter than the lower sepals, and half as long as the petals; scape 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, minutely puberulous, few-flowered. l. 1ft. long, linear-ligulate, acute, bright green, very distinctly margined with yellow. Brazil, 1876. (I. H. 238.) S. Wallisii (Wallis'). fl., sepals pale green, striped and slightly spotted with bright green; petals white, veined with green, about 8in. long, passing into very narrow tails, tinted with very pale brown at apex; lip large, white, spotted and veined with crimson, the mouth margined with yellow; stems three to five-flowered. l. ligulate, acute. Ecuador. SYN. Cypripedium Wallisii (R. X. O 181).
SELINUM (from Selinon, the Greek name for Parsley; applied to this genus on account of the resemblance in the leaves). SYNS. Cnidium, Mylinum. Including Oreocome. ORD. Umbelliferae. A genus comprising about twenty-five species of mostly hardy, branched, glabrous, perennial herbs; one is found in the mountainous parts of Columbia, and another in South Africa, the rest being all natives of the Northern hemisphere. Flowers white or rarely yellowish-green, in compound, many-rayed umbels. Leaves pinnately decompound. The species possess no interest from a garden standpoint.
SEMECARPUS (from semeion, a mark, and karpos, a fruit; the black, acrid juice of the nut is used by the natives for marking cotton cloths). ORD. Anacardiaceae. A genus comprising about a score species of stove, evergreen trees, inhabiting tropical Asia, and especially abundant in Ceylon. Flowers small; calyx five-cleft, the segments imbricated, deciduous; petals five, spreading, imbricated; stamens five; panicles terminal or lateral, branched, bracteate. Nuts or drupes reniform. Leaves alternate, simple, coriaceous, on simple petioles. The only species introduced requires culture similar to Anacardium (which see).
S. Anacardium (Anacardium). Kidney Bean of Malacca fl. greenish-yellow, disposed in a terminal, tomentose panicle. July and August. l. oblong, rather blunt, beneath glaucous and more or less covered on the nerves with scabrous down h. 50ft. East Indies (on mountains), 1824. (B. F. S. 166.) S. A. cuneifolium (cuneate-leaved). l. wedge-shaped and acuminate at base, blunt at apex.