A. microphylla (small-leaved).* fl. green, small, in close heads, furnished with showy, long crimson spines. Summer. l. small, pinnate. h. 1in. to 2in. New Zealand. A neat evergreen with a compact and cushion-like growth; it is a very effective subject for the rock garden, and grows freely in most situations. The crimson globular heads of spine-formed calyces form a conspicuous and ornamental feature of the plant. SYN. A. Novæ Zealandiæ. See Fig. 6.
A. millefolia (myriad-leaved).* fl. inconspicuous. A very distinct species with finely-cut pale green leaves. The fruiting spikes of this are not collected in globular heads, as in the others, and their presence detract from its value as an ornamental plant. Otherwise, it is very graceful.
FIG. 6. ACÆNA MICROPHYLLA.
A. myriophylla (many-leaved).* fl. green, small, in rounded spikes. June. l. pinnate; leaflets deeply cut. h. 6in. to 1ft. Chili, 1828. Small, fern-like.
A. Novæ Zealandiæ (New Zealand). A synonym of A. microphylla.
A. ovalifolia (oval-leaved). fl. green. Summer. h. 9in. Chili, 1868. Good for rock gardens.
A. pulchella (pretty).* fl. inconspicuous. A pretty bronzy-leaved species, admirably suited for rockwork crevices, where space is no object. It grows very rapidly, and forms handsome tufts.
ACALYPHA (the name given by Hippocrates to the Nettle). ORD. Euphorbiaceæ. Stove ornamental and variegated nettle-like leaved shrubs. Flowers greenish or reddish, inconspicuous, in erect or drooping bracted axillary or terminal spikes; those of the upper portion sterile, of the lower, fertile. The undermentioned only are those most worthy of cultivation. They are very easily grown, with ordinary stove treatment, and in a peat and loam compost. When well cultivated, the leaves of the hybridised varieties are highly coloured, but rather coarse than otherwise. Increased by cuttings under a glass in sandy soil, in stove heat, during April.
A. Macafeeana (Macafee's). l. red, blotched with bronzy crimson. 1877.
A. macrophylla (large-leaved).* l. cordate ovate, russet brown, blotched with paler spots. The best and handsomest stove species.
A. marginata (margined). l. large, very hairy, ovate-acuminate, centre brown, with a distinct margin of rosy carmine, about ¼in. wide. Fiji Islands, 1875.
A. musaica (mosaic).* l. bronzy green, variegated with orange and dull red. Polynesia, 1877.
A. torta (twisted). l. dark olive, tinted green; margin cut into blunt, oblong segments. Samoan Islands. Remarkable for its curiously contorted foliage. It has erect stems, which are terete, and covered by the leaves in a very singular way.
A. tricolor (three-coloured). A synonym of A. Wilkesiana.
A. Wilkesiana (Wilkes').* l. ovate-acuminate, curiously blotched, mottled, and splashed with red and crimson; ground colour coppery green. h. 6ft. to 10ft. New Hebrides, 1866. SYN. A. tricolor.
A. W. marginata (Wilkes's margined).* l. large, olive brown, margined with rosy carmine. Fiji Islands, 1875.
ACANTHACEÆ. A large order of soft-wooded, herbaceous plants, usually having gamopetalous axillary flowers; calyx composed of deeply imbricated scales; bracts large, leafy.
ACANTHEPHIPPIUM (the derivation of this word is not apparent). ORD. Orchideæ. A peculiar class of terrestrial stove orchids. Flowers rather large, racemose, few; sepals combined in a broad oblique pitcher, including the petals, which are adnate to the base of the column; column short, produced into a long foot. Pseudo-bulbs oblong. Leaves few, large, longer than the scapes. The best species are the two first-mentioned. They will thrive well in sandy peat, with a quantity of small stones, broken pots, or gravel. A great deal of heat and moisture are absolutely essential during the growing period. Propagated, as soon as growth commences, by dividing the pseudo-bulbs.
A. bicolor (two-coloured).* fl. purple and yellow, about 2in. long, campanulate, produced in clusters of three or four together; petals oblong-lanceolate, acutish; lateral lobes of lip rounded. June. h. 9in. Ceylon, 1833.
A. Curtisii (Curtis's).* fl. same shape as above (except the lip), with numerous purple spots, light rose, and flush; column white, nail of lip yellow, keels yellowish, laciniæ white with purple. Malay Archipelago, 1881. The five keels between the side laciniæ distinguish it from the foregoing species and A. sylhetense.
A. javanicum (Javanese).* fl. yellow and red, with distinct longitudinal stripes; petals triangular; lip three-lobed; lateral lobes truncate; intermediate lobe constricted in middle, ovate, and tuberculate at the apex, fleshy on both sides at base, with truncate emarginate inflexed teeth. September. h. 1½ft. Java, 1843.
A. sylhetense (Sylhet). fl. white, with many irregular spots and blotches towards the extremities of the outer portions. June. h. 9in. Sylhet, 1837.