A. subsignatum (nearly allied to Signatum).* l. thick and fleshy, hastate, with blunt points, 12in. to 18in. long, and as much in breadth at the widest part; dark shining green above, paler beneath; petioles about 1ft. long. h. 1½ft. Costa Rica, 1861. An excellent species.
A. tetragonum (four-angled). l. erect, commences very narrow, 1ft. wide at its broadest part; margins undulate, deep shining green on the upper surface, paler below; petioles short, quadrangular. Tropical America, 1860. An excellent sub-tropical species.
A. triumphans (superior). fl., spathe narrow, green; spadix stout, greenish-white; peduncle quadrangular. l. alternate, elongately cordate, bright green; ribs prominent, and of a paler hue. Stem erect. Brazil, 1882. A handsome plant.
A. Veitchii (Veitch's).* l. ovate-oblong, greatly elongated, 2ft. to 3ft. long, with a breadth of less than one-third of these dimensions, leathery, deep green, with a glossy metallic surface when first expanded that becomes paler with age; the principal nerves are arched and deeply sunk, imparting a curiously waved appearance to the surface. h. 2½ft. Columbia, 1877. Rare but very handsome.
A. Waluiewi (Walujew's).* l. broadly cordate, 12in. to 14in. long, 8in. to 10in. broad, olive metallic green, when young, bright reddish crimson; petioles four to five-angled. h. 2ft. Venezuela, 1880. A very distinct and noble species.
A. Waroqueanum (Waroque's).* l. elongated, from 24in. to sometimes 36in. long, and 8in. to 11in. broad, very rich deep green, of a velvety lustre; midribs and veins light, forming a very pleasing contrast. Columbia, 1878. A very free grower.
A. Wildenowii (Wildenow's). A synonym of A. lanceolatum.
It may be here remarked that by far the majority of species enumerated in the Supplement of Johnson's Dictionary are chiefly of botanical interest, and will, therefore, never become extensively cultivated.
ANTHYLLIS (from anthos, a flower, and ioulos, down; flowers usually downy). Kidney Vetch. ORD. Leguminosæ. Herbaceous or sub-shrubby plants, of variable habit. Flowers in spikes or heads; calyx tubular, five toothed, permanent after flowering, more or less inflated. Petals nearly equal. Although not extensively grown, all the species are very beautiful when in flower, the hardy sorts being admirably adapted for rockwork. The herbaceous perennials may be easily propagated by seed or division. The seeds of the annual kinds should be sown in a rather dry, warm situation in the open ground. The shrubby evergreens will need the protection of a frame or cool greenhouse in cold northern climates, and are best grown in a mixture of loam, sand, and peat. Young cuttings of most species will root in a pot of sandy soil, with a bell glass placed over them, in a cool house or frame.
A. Barba-Jovis (Jupiter's beard).* fl. pale yellow, numerous, in globose, bracteate heads. March. l. pinnate, and are as well as the branches, clothed with silky tomentum; leaflets nine to thirteen, oblong-linear. h. 4ft. to 8ft. Spain, 1640. Shrub.
A. erinacea (prickly).* fl. bluish-purple; heads few flowered, on short peduncles, bracteate. April. l. very few, oval, or oblong. h. 6in. to 12in. Spain, 1759. A much branched, spiny, almost leafless, and slow-growing species; hardy in a dry sunny position on the rockery. SYN. Erinacea hispanica.
A. Hermanniæ (Hermann's). fl. yellow; heads few flowered, nearly sessile in the axils of the upper leaves. April. l. almost sessile, simple, or trifoliate; leaflets oblong-cuneated, glabrous or clothed with adpressed pubescence. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Corsica, 1739. Shrubby, much branched.
A. montana (mountain).* fl. pink or purplish, in dense heads, on peduncles, with a leafy involucre. June. l. pinnate, and are as well as the branches, silky and hoary; leaflets numerous, oval-oblong, acute, small, entire. h. 3in. to 6in. Alps of Europe, 1769. A very handsome little rock plant, with a dwarf and tufted habit.
A. tetraphylla (four-leaved). fl. white; heads axillary, sessile, few flowered. July. l. pinnate, the terminal leaflets ovate and large, the other three small and acute. South Europe, 1640. A procumbent annual.
A. Vulneraria (Common Woundwort).* fl. generally yellow, sometimes white, red, or pinkish, in crowded twin heads. Summer. l. pinnate, with five or more unequal leaflets; the lower ones smallest. An elegant native herbaceous, perennial, admirably adapted for rockwork. It is plentiful in most dry pastures. There are several varieties, the best of which is alba.
ANTIARIS TOXICARIA. This is the famous Upas tree of Java, from which is obtained poison of a most deadly nature. It belongs to the NAT. ORD. Urticaceæ.
ANTIGONON (from anti, against, or opposite, and gonia, an angle). ORD. Polygonaceæ. Elegant stove climbers. Flowers racemose, cirrhose at the apex of the rachides; petals five, three outer ones broadly cordate, two inner oblong. Leaves alternate, cordate. Although extremely handsome plants, they are difficult to flower. They seem to succeed best when planted out in a very thoroughly drained border over hot-water pipes or flues, the long climbing stems being trained near the glass in full light.
A. amabile (lovely).* fl. bright rose, profusely borne in axillary and terminal racemes. l. 3in. to 5in. long, ovate-cordate, and deeply lobed at the base. It is of free slender growth, the young shoots are pubescent, and having a slight reddish tinge. An exceedingly attractive and effective species.
A. guatemalensis (Guatemala). Probably the same as A. insigne.
A. insigne (remarkable).* fl. very numerous, borne in tufts along the sides of long racemes or panicles, which terminate in branched tendrils; the calyx, which is the showy part of the flower, has five membranous sepals, the three outer are of a beautiful rosy pink colour, about 1in. in length by rather less in breadth, cordate at the base, oblong, rounded towards the apex; the two inner sepals about the same length as the outer ones, but much narrower, falcate, lanceolate; pedicels ¾in. long. l. broadly ovate oblong, deeply cordate at the base, with two rounded lobes; 4in. by 3in., the upper ones smaller, supported on short terete downy stalks. Stems slender, angular, pubescent. Columbia, 1876.
A. leptopus (slender-stemmed). fl. numerous; the outer three sepals of a beautiful rose colour, the centre of a much deeper tint; racemes secund, bearing several coloured bracts as well as flowers, and end in a branched tendril. l. alternate, cordate, petiolate. Stem slender, sub-pubescent. Mexico, 1868.
ANTIGRAMME. See Scolopendrium.
FIG. 113. ANTIRRHINUM CAPSULE, with Persistent Style.