the similarity between the seeds of this genus and those of Coffee).
ORD. _Malpighiaceæ_. Ornamental greenhouse evergreen shrubs, nearly
allied to _Malpighia_, but having the racemes of flowers axillary.
Fruit fleshy, indehiscent, externally smooth, and containing two or
three seeds. They thrive best in a compost of loam, peat, leaf soil,
and sand, in about equal proportions. Cuttings of ripened shoots will
root in sand under a bell glass, in moist bottom heat, taking several
weeks to do so. Good drainage is essential, both in striking cuttings
and in the cultivation of the plants.
[Illustration: FIG. 302. BURBIDGEA NITIDA.]
=B. argentea= (silvery).* _fl._ yellow; racemes opposite, simple,
pubescent. July. _l._ lanceolate, silvery beneath. Branches
puberulous. _h._ 10ft. Caraccas, 1810.
=B. glandulifera= (gland-bearing). _fl._ yellow; racemes simple,
axillary. March to May. _l._ elliptical-ovate, on short petioles,
wavy, pubescent on both surfaces, furnished with four glands
beneath at the base. _h._ 10ft. Caraccas, 1806.
=B. nitida= (shining). _fl._ yellow; racemes elongated, almost the
length of the leaves. July. _fr._ large, red; it is much eaten by
turkeys and other large fowl. _l._ 4in. long, oblong, acuminated,
smooth, glandless. _h._ 4ft. Jamaica, 1800.
=B. odorata= (fragrant).* _fl._ yellow, sweet-scented; racemes
opposite. May. _l._ ovate, emarginate, downy on both surfaces. _h._
7ft. Carthagena, 1806.
=BUPHTHALMUM= (from _bous_, an ox, and _ophthalmos_, the eye; the disk
of the flower being ox-eye-like). Oxeye. ORD. _Compositæ_. Very showy
and ornamental hardy perennial plants, thriving freely in common garden
soil. They are propagated by divisions, made in autumn or spring.
=B. grandiflorum= (large-flowered).* _fl.-heads_ yellow, large;
involucre naked. June to October. _l._ alternate-lanceolate,
somewhat toothleted, smooth. _h._ 1-1/2ft. Austria, 1722. Hardy
herbaceous perennial.
=B. salicifolium= (Willow-leaved).* _fl.-heads_ yellow, solitary,
rather large, terminal; involucre naked. June. _l._ alternate,
oblong-lanceolate, sub-serrated, three-nerved, villous. _h._
1-1/2ft. Austria, 1759. Hardy herbaceous perennial.
=B. speciosissimum= (showiest).* _fl.-heads_ yellow. July. _h._
2ft. South Europe, 1826. Hardy herbaceous perennial. SYN. _Telekia
speciosissima_.
=BUPLEURUM= (derivation not satisfactorily explained). Hare's-Ear. ORD.
_Umbelliferæ_. A somewhat extensive genus of quite glabrous shrubs or
herbaceous plants. Flowers yellowish; umbels compound. Leaves mostly
quite entire. But few of this genus are worth growing, and all are of
the easiest culture in common garden soil. Seeds of the annuals may
be sown out of doors in March or April; divisions of the herbaceous
perennials made in autumn or spring; and cutting or divisions of the
greenhouse species, in March or April.
=B. fruticescens= (shrubby).* _fl._, umbels small, three to
five-rayed; involucre of three to five, very short, subulate
leaves. August. _l._ linear-subulate, stiff, striated, five to
seven-nerved. Branches slender, elongated, erect. _h._ 1ft. Spain,
1752. Hardy and evergreen.
=B. fruticosum= (shrubby).* Leaves of involucre oblong. July. _l._
of a sea-green colour; oblong, attenuated at the base, coriaceous,
one-nerved, quite entire, sessile. Bark of branches purplish. _h._
3ft. to 6ft. Spain, 1596. Hardy. This is nearly the only species
grown. (W. D. B. 1, 14.)
=B. gibraltarica= (Gibraltar). _fl._ yellow. June. _l._ lanceolate,
one-nerved, coriaceous. _h._ 3ft. Gibraltar, 1784. Evergreen,
half-hardy.
=B. graminifolium= (Grass-leaved).* _fl._ green-yellow. June. _l._
linear, grass-like. _h._ 6in. Switzerland, 1768. Hardy perennial.
=B. longifolium= (long-leaved). _fl._ green-yellow. June. _l._
ovate-oblong; radical ones stalked; cauline ones amplexicaul. _h._
3ft. Switzerland, 1713. Hardy perennial.
=BUR.= _See_ =Centotheca lappacea=.
=BURBIDGEA= (named after F. W. Burbidge, the discoverer of the genus,
a traveller in Borneo, and author of several horticultural works).
ORD. _Scitamineæ_. A very large, brilliant-flowered stove herbaceous
perennial, allied to _Hedychium_. For culture, _see_ =Alpinia=.
=B. nitida= (shining).* _fl._, perianth-tube 1in. to 1-1/2in.
long, slender; outer segments 1-1/2in. to 2in. in diameter,
bright orange-scarlet; panicle terminal, 4in. to 6in. long,
many-flowered. Summer. _l._ 4in. to 6in. long, elliptic-lanceolate,
cordate-acuminate, rather fleshy, bright green above. Stems tufted,
2ft. to 4ft. high, slender, terete, leafy. N. W. Borneo, 1879. See
Fig. 302, for which we are indebted to Messrs. Veitch and Sons. (B.
M. 6403.)
=BURCHARDIA= (named after H. Burchard, M.D., a botanical author). ORD.
_Liliaceæ_. An ornamental greenhouse herbaceous perennial, allied to
_Androcymbium_. It thrives best in sandy peat, or peat mixed with a
little loam. Propagated by offsets or divisions, made just previous to
potting, in spring. It is best to repot annually. Good drainage should
be allowed, and the plant must not be potted too firmly.
=B. umbellata= (umbelled). _fl._ white, green. August. _h._ 2ft.
New Holland, 1820.
=BURCHCHELLIA= (named after W. Burchell, a botanical traveller in the
Cape of Good Hope, and in Brazil). ORD. _Rubiaceæ_. A stove evergreen
shrub from the Cape of Good Hope. Flowers scarlet, disposed in heads
at the tops of the branches, sessile upon a villous receptacle,
intermixed with small distinct bracteoles; and each head is propped
up by the ultimate pair of leaves; corolla of a clavate-funnel-shape.
Leaves ovate, acute, a little cordate at the base, petiolate; stipules
interpetiolar, broad, cuspidate at the apex, deciduous. It grows well
in a rich light soil, or a mixture of turfy loam, turfy peat, and sand.
Cuttings, not too ripe, root readily if planted in sand, and placed
under a hand glass, in a gentle heat.
=B. bubalina= (buffalo). A synonym of _B. capensis_.
=B. capensis= (Cape).* _fl._ deep scarlet, nearly 1in. long. March.
_l._ ovate, acute, clothed with hispid pubescence; stipules very
broad, and very short. _h._ 3ft. to 5ft.; 12ft. to 14ft. in a wild
state. SYN. _B. bubalina_. (B. M. 2339.)
=BURLINGTONIA= (named after the "amiable and accomplished" Countess of
Burlington). ORD. _Orchideæ_. A small genus of epiphytal orchids, all
of which are beautiful and eminently well worth growing. They may be
grown upon small blocks of wood, or in rustic baskets, suspended from
the roof of the plant stove, where, if liberally treated with water,
and a genial moisture in the air during the growing season, very little
else will be required to ensure health and vigour. In the dull days
of winter, they should be watered less frequently, but the plants must
not be allowed to exhibit the slightest signs of distress from drought,
or the consequences may be fatal to their health. When fastening
these plants to blocks of wood, a little sphagnum should be used, for
experience proves that they thrive best when their thin white roots
can escape and hang exposed to the air. If growing them in baskets, it
is preferable first to fasten them securely upon small pieces of bare
cork, then to fill the basket, and finally to cover the whole thinly
with a layer of sphagnum.
[Illustration: FIG. 303. FLOWER-SPIKE, PSEUDO-BULB, AND LEAF OF
BURLINGTONIA DECORA.]
Generally speaking, this genus is not a difficult one to cultivate;
its great enemy is a small white scale, which secretes itself in the
sheathing bases of the leaves. Here it rapidly multiplies, to the great
detriment of the plants; the leaves soon turn yellow at the base, and
drop off; the whole plant looks sickly, and soon dies, or else requires
a very long time and much trouble to achieve its recovery to health.
To prevent this, the bases of the leaves must be carefully looked into
every time the plants are taken down to be dipped in water; and, should
the slightest sign of this pest appear, a thorough washing with soft
soap and tepid water must be given, repeating the operation every day
until all traces of the insect are removed. Red thrip are also apt to
work much mischief with these plants. They take up their abode in the
same way as the white scale, and if not speedily removed or destroyed,
soon make sad havoc. To put a stop to the ravages of this pest, a wash
should be given, as before recommended, and after the soap has been
rinsed out of the base of the leaf, a little tobacco powder should be
sprinkled into the hollows, and allowed to remain for a day or two
before brushing it off. This process will, however, cause a somewhat
dirty appearance, but it will ensure ultimate health and vigour.
Propagated by dividing the plants.
=B. Batemanni= (Bateman's).* _fl._ white, deliciously-scented; lip
beautiful mauve. A very pretty South American species, resembling
_B. candida_.
=B. candida= (white).* _fl._ snowy-white, with a slight stain of
yellow on the upper part of the lip, in substance and appearance
like white satin, trimmed with gold; large, sweet-scented, in
gracefully drooping three to four-blossomed racemes, produced from
the axils of the leaves. April and May, lasting about three weeks
in perfection, and sometimes having a second flowering season.
_l._ one or two in number, dark green, and firm in texture. _h._
1ft. Demerara, 1834. A very compact species, well suited for
basket culture; it should never be allowed to get dry. It may
be distinguished from other species by having a single row of
tubercles, forming a ridge upon each side of the slightly hastate
lip. (B. R. 1927.)
=B. decora= (comely).* _fl._ white or rose-coloured, spotted
with red; lip pure white; scapes erect, five to ten-flowered.
Winter. Brazil, 1852. This species differs entirely from _B.
candida_, inasmuch as it possesses a long slender-rooting stem,
from different parts of which arise small oval pseudo-bulbs, each
bearing a leaf; a lesser leaf appears at the base of a bulb, and
from the axil of this the scape springs. It is a rather straggling
but nevertheless beautiful species, and is best grown fastened upon
long strips of cork, a little sphagnum being used in the operation;
whilst, to prevent the plant getting too much "away from home,"
the young growths should be twisted back as they advance, and the
practice continued until the pseudo-bulb is ultimately left near
the centre, or in any spot which may appear bare. It likes strong
heat and a very moist atmosphere, when growing; but during the
period of rest, it should be kept cool and dry. See Fig. 303. (B.
M. 4834.)
=B. d. picta= (painted).* A beautiful variety, differing from the
type in having shorter and more acute leaves; flowers produced in
greater profusion, rose-coloured, beautifully mottled and blotched
with dark purple. October. Brazil. (B. M. 5419.)
=B. fragrans= (fragrant).* _fl._ very gratefully fragrant, disposed
in erect racemes. April, remaining in perfection about three weeks.
_l._ long, rigid, dark green. Habit compact. Brazil, 1850.
=B. pubescens= (downy). _fl._, sepals and petals snow-white;
distinguished by the somewhat hastate lip, which has three yellow
ridges on each side, and also by the downy column. November. _h._
6in. Brazil, 1850.
=B. rigida= (rigid).* _fl._ purplish-white, spotted with pink on
the lip; produced in heads. _h._ 1ft. Brazil, 1838. A handsome
plant, but difficult to flower. (L. S. O. 36.)
=B. venusta= (charming).* _fl._ white, slightly tinted with pink;
produced in heavy pendulous clusters at various seasons of the
year; lip stained with yellow. _l._ rigid, dark green. Brazil,
1840. It forms a compact mass, and requires less heat than the
kinds previously described. It is often confounded with _B.
pubescens_, from which it may be distinguished by its larger and
more loosely arranged flowers, by its smooth column, by the lip not
being hastate in shape, and by the numerous shallow ridges borne
near the base upon each side. (L. S. O. 2.)
=BUR MARIGOLD.= _See_ =Bidens=.
=BURNET= (_Poterium Sanguisorba_; from _poterion_, a cup; being used
in cooling drinks). ORD. _Rosaceæ_. A native perennial. The leaves
are sometimes used in soups, and with Borage in cooling drinks; they
are also put in salads. The foliage only being useful, keep the
flower-spikes removed, as this tends to increase the luxuriance of the
plants. It thrives in any light soil. Propagated by division.
=BURNET SAXIFRAGE.= _See_ =Pimpinella=.
=BURNING BUSH.= _See_ =Euonymus atropurpureus= and =E. americanus=.
=BURN ONION.= _See_ =Potato Onion=.
=BUR REED.= _See_ =Sparganium=.
=BURSARIA= (from _bursa_, a pouch; the capsules very much resemble
those of the Shepherd's Purse). ORD. _Pittosporaceæ_. A handsome,
much-branched, greenhouse evergreen shrub, forming a very pretty object
when covered all over with its elegant white blossoms. It thrives
well in a compost of sandy loam and peat, in equal proportions. Young
cuttings will root freely in sand, under a bell glass, with a little
bottom heat.
=B. spinosa= (thorny).* _fl._ white, small, disposed either in
lateral or terminal panicles. July to December. _l._ small,
oblong-cuneated, entire. _h._ 10ft. New Holland, 1793. (B. M. 1767.)
=BURSERA= (named after Joachim Burser, a disciple of Caspar Bauhin).
ORD. _Burseraceæ_. Stove balsam-bearing trees. Flowers polygamous, or
hermaphrodite; calyx small, four to six-toothed; petals four to six,
spreading, generally valvate in æstivation; stamens eight to twelve;
disk annular, with usually six to ten teeth; drupe oblong, covered by a
three-valved succulent rind, containing three to five nuts. They thrive
in a compost of loam and peat. Propagated by cuttings, placed under a
glass, with bottom heat.
=B. gummifera= (gum-bearing). _fl._ whitish, hexandrous; racemes
terminal and axillary. _l._ deciduous, usually impari-pinnate;
leaflets ovate, acute, membranous. _h._ 60ft. West Indies, 1690.
=B. serrata= (serrate).* _fl._ whitish, decandrous; panicles
axillary, shorter than the leaves. _l._ impari-pinnate, with three
to five pairs of broad-lanceolate, bluntly-acuminated, serrulated
leaflets; petioles and pedicels pubescent. _h._ 25ft. India, 1818.
=BURSERACEÆ.= An order of shrubs or trees, abounding in resinous juice;
with opposite compound leaves, full of pellucid dots, and axillary and
terminal fascicles of flowers. Fruit indehiscent, somewhat drupaceous.
The genera best known are _Amyris_, _Balsamodendron_, _Boswellia_,
_Bursera_, and _Canarium_.
=BURTONIA= (named after D. Burton, a plant collector for Kew Gardens).
ORD. _Leguminosæ_. A genus of handsome greenhouse dwarf Heath-like
shrubs, natives of West Australia. Flowers axillary, often thickly
gathered at the ends of the branches; corollas rich purple; keel
generally of a deeper colour, and the standard having sometimes a
yellow blotch at its base. Leaves simple or trifoliolate, sessile,
usually awl-shaped. They thrive well in a mixture of loam, peat, leaf
soil, and sand, in equal proportions, with thorough drainage; but care
must be taken not to give them too much water, as they require to be
kept moderately dry, and are difficult to preserve in a living state.
Young cuttings root freely in a pot of sandy soil, in a cool house,
with a bell glass placed over them; but some of the species produce
seed in abundance, which are the best means of increasing them.
=B. conferta= (cluster-flowered).* _fl._ violet. July. _l._ simple,
very much crowded, six to eight lines long, linear-subulate, with
revolute margins, and are, as well as the branches, smooth. _h._
2ft. 1830. (B. R. 1600.)
=B. minor= (smaller). A synonym of _Gompholobium minus_.
=B. pulchella= (beautiful). A synonym of _B. scabra_.
=B. scabra= (rough).* _fl._ purple; peduncles axillary,
bi-bracteate. April. _l._, leaflets glabrous, linear-mucronate.
Branches puberulous. _h._ 2ft. 1846. SYN. _B. pulchella_. (B. M.
5000.)
=B. villosa= (villose). _fl._ purple, large; peduncles axillary,
bi-bracteate. May. _l._, leaflets linear-subulate, bluntish,
scabrid. _h._ 2ft. 1846. (B. M. 4410.)
=BUSHEL.= _See_ =Measures=.
=BUTCHER'S BROOM.= _See_ =Ruscus aculeatus=.
=BUTEA= (commemorative of John, Earl of Bute, once a munificent patron
of botany). ORD. _Leguminosæ_. A genus of very ornamental stove
evergreen unarmed trees. Racemes many-flowered; flowers three together,
on short pedicels, and furnished with two bracteoles each, under the
calyx; corolla deep scarlet; down on the calyces usually black and
velvety. Leaves pinnately-trifoliate; leaflets large, ovate, roundish,
stipellate. For culture, &c., _see_ =Erythrina=.
=B. frondosa= (leafy). _fl._ 2in. long. _l._, leaflets roundish,
obtuse, or emarginate, rather velvety beneath. Branches pubescent.
_h._ 40ft. India, 1796. (B. F. S. 176.)
=B. superba= (superb).* _l._, leaflets roundish, obtuse, velvety
beneath. Branches glabrous. Coromandel, 1798. This approaches the
preceding species, from which it differs mainly by its scandent
habit, and not by any botanical characters. (B. F. F. 143.)
=BUTOMACEÆ.= An order of aquatic plants, now usually included under
_Alismaceæ_.
=BUTOMUS= (from _bous_, an ox, and _temno_, to cut; in reference to the
sharp leaves, which injure the mouths of cattle that browze upon them).
Flowering Rush. ORD. _Alismaceæ_. A very handsome hardy perennial
aquatic, of extremely easy culture on the margins of ponds or muddy
banks. Propagated by divisions of the roots, in spring.
[Illustration: FIG. 304. BUTOMUS UMBELLATUS, showing Habit and single
Flower.]
=B. umbellatus= (umbelled).* _fl._ rose-coloured, umbellate;
pedicels with scariose sheathing bracts at the base; scape naked,
terete, longer than the leaves. Summer. _l._ all radical, 2ft.
to 3ft. long, linear, acuminate, triquetrous. Ditches and ponds;
frequent in England, and rare in Ireland. See Fig. 304.
=BUTTER AND EGGS.= The double-flowered variety of =Narcissus aurantius=
(which _see_).
=BUTTER AND TALLOW TREE.= _See_ =Pentadesma=.
=BUTTER-BUR.= _See_ =Petasites vulgaris=.
=BUTTERCUPS.= _See_ =Ranunculus=.
=BUTTERFLY ORCHIS.= _See_ =Habenaria bifolia= and =H. chlorantha=.
=BUTTERFLY PLANT.= _See_ =Oncidium Papilio=.
=BUTTER NUT.= _See_ =Caryocar= and =Juglans cinerea=.
=BUTTERWORT.= _See_ =Pinguicula=.
=BUTTON FLOWER.= _See_ =Gomphia=.
=BUTTON-TREE.= _See_ =Conocarpus=.
=BUTTON-WOOD.= _See_ =Cephalanthus=.
=BUXUS= (from _pyknos_, dense; referring to the hardness of the wood).
Box Tree. ORD. _Euphorbiaceæ_. A genus of hardy evergreen shrubs or
small trees. Flowers unisexual, monœcious; male flowers, calyx of four
minute segments, stamens four, inserted under the rudiment of a pistil;
female flowers singly, at the tips of groups of male ones. Fruit, a
regma, leathery, beaked with the styles. Leaves simple, opposite,
exstipulate, evergreen. These well-known plants thrive in any light,
well-drained soil. Seeds should be sown in similar situations as
soon as ripe. Cuttings, made of the young shoots, from 4in. to 6in.
in length, inserted in a shady place, in August or September, root
readily. Layers of either young or old wood, made in autumn or early
spring, will make good plants. They can also be increased by suckers
and division.
=B. balearica= (Balearic).* _l._ yellowish-green,
oblong-elliptical, emarginate, coriaceous, about 2in. long, with
a cartilaginous margin. _h._ 15ft. to 20ft. South Europe, 1780.
This is a handsome species. The cuttings will require a shelter in
winter, and in exposed situations it will be better to afford the
plants protection.
=B. sempervirens= (evergreen).* Common Box. _l._ oval-oblong,
retuse, convex, coriaceous, shining; stalks slightly hairy.
_h._ various. England. There are numerous forms of this popular
shrub: _argentea_, silver-variegated; _aurea_ has its leaves
variegated with a golden colour; _marginata_ has leaves with a
golden margin; _myrtifolia_ has small, oblong, narrowish leaves;
_obcordate-variegata_ is a variegated variety, with obcordate
leaves, from Japan; _suffruticosa_ is the form usually cultivated
for edgings, its leaves are small, obovate, this is readily
increased by divisions, and requires to be planted firmly, in order
to keep it dwarf.
=BYRSONIMA= (from _byrsa_, a hide, and _nimius_, much used; because
the bark of some of the species is used in tanning, in Brazil). ORD.
_Malpighiaceæ_. Ornamental stove evergreen trees or shrubs. Flowers
racemose, terminal, simple or branched. All the species thrive very
well in any light soil, or a mixture of loam and peat. Cuttings made of
half-ripened shoots will root freely in sand, under a hand glass, in a
moist bottom heat.
=B. altissima= (tallest).* _fl._ white; racemes clothed with rufous
hairs. July. _l._ ovate-oblong, covered with rufous down beneath,
but beset with bristles above, which are fixed by the centre. _h._
60ft. Guiana, 1820.
=B. chrysophylla= (golden-leaved).* _fl._ yellow; racemes simple.
August. _l._ oblong, short, acuminated, acute at the base, rather
wavy on the margin, and revolute, smooth above, clothed beneath
with silky down, which is of a rusty golden colour. _h._ 14ft.
South America, 1823.
=B. coriacea= (leathery-leaved). _fl._ yellow, sweet-scented;
racemes densely spiked, pubescent, erect. May. _l._ ovate, acute,
quite entire and smooth. _h._ 30ft. Jamaica, 1814.
=B. crassifolia= (thick-leaved). _fl._ yellow; racemes erect,
elongated, brownish-velvety. July. _l._ ovate, acute at both ends,
at length smooth above, but clothed with brownish down beneath.
_h._ 6ft. Guiana, 1793.
=B. lucida= (shining).* _fl._ pink; petals hastately kidney-shaped;
pedicels hispid; racemes spiked, erect, short, smooth. May. _l._
obovate, cuneiform, obtuse, or mucronate, smooth, veinless,
shining. _h._ 8ft. Caribbee Islands, 1759. Described as "a
beautiful shrub."
=B. verbascifolia= (Verbascum-leaved). _fl._ yellow; racemes
terminal. July. _l._ lanceolate-obovate, quite entire, downy on
both surfaces. _h._ 6ft. Guiana, 1810.
=BYSTROPOGON= (from _byo_, to close, and _pogon_, a beard; in reference
to the throat of the flower being closed up with hairs). ORD.
_Labiatæ_. Greenhouse evergreen sub-shrubs, nearly allied to _Mentha_.
Flowers small, in dichotomous, sub-corymbose, or panicled cymes; or
else disposed in dense spicate whorls. Bracts lanceolate or subulate.
This genus contains easily cultivated species, which are, however, of
no value for garden purposes.
=CAA-CUYS.= _See_ =Ilex paraguariensis=.
=CAA-MINI.= _See_ =Ilex paraguariensis=.
=CAAPEBA.= _See_ =Cissampelos Pareira=.
=CAAPIM DE ANGOLA.= _See_ =Panicum spectabile=.
=CAA-QUAZU.= _See_ =Ilex paraguariensis=.
=CABARET.= The French name of _Asarum europæum_.