APICRA (from apicros, not bitter). ORD. Liliaceæ. A group of succulents allied to Aloe, and having the following among other characters:—Flowers small, loosely sub-spicate; perianth regular, cylindrical, with short spreading segments; peduncles simple or forked. Plants small; rosette leaves always elongated. Leaves thick, diffuse, never spinosely dentated. They require treatment similar to Aloes, under which genus they are included by some authors.
A. aspera (rough).* fl., perianth ½in. long; raceme loose, 3in. to 4in.; pedicels three to four lines long; peduncle slender, simple, nearly 1ft. l. dense, in many rows, spreading, rounded, deltoid, six to seven lines long and broad; face rather flat; middle three to four lines thick; back convex hemispherical, wrinkled. Cape of Good Hope, 1795.
A. bicarinata (double-keeled).* fl. unknown. l. dense, in many rows, ascending, deltoid-lanceolate, nine to twelve lines long, six lines broad, dirty green; face flat; middle two lines thick; margin scabrous; back copiously tubercled. Cape of Good Hope, 1824.
A. congesta (congested). fl., perianth six to seven lines, whitish; raceme loose, sub-spicate, about 1ft.; pedicels short; peduncles 6in. long, simple. l. dense, spreading, in many rows, deltoid-lanceolate, eighteen to twenty-one lines long, three to four lines thick; back convex; top unevenly keeled towards the margins. 1843.
A. deltoidea (deltoid). fl., perianth greenish, five to six lines long; raceme about 1ft. long, sub-spicate; pedicels short; peduncles 6in., simple or branched. l. in five regular rows, spreading, nine to twelve lines long, deltoid, shining green; when mature, upper surface rather flat, apex pungent; middle two to three lines thick; back distinctly keeled upwards; margins and keels minutely serrated. South Africa, 1873.
A. foliolosa (small-leafy).* fl., perianth greenish, five to six lines long; raceme loose, sub-spicate, about 1ft.; pedicels two to three lines long; peduncle 6in., simple. l. dense, spreading, in many rows, rounded deltoid, cuspidate, six to eight lines long and broad, without spots or tubercles; face rather flat; middle one and a half to two lines thick; back obliquely keeled upwards towards the margins. Cape of Good Hope, 1795.
A. imbricata (imbricated). Synonymous with A. spiralis.
A. pentagona (five-angled).* fl., perianth whitish, ½in. long; raceme about 1ft., loose; lower pedicels two to three lines long; peduncles 1ft., often branched. l. dense, regular, lower ones spreading, upper ones ascending, lanceolate-deltoid, fifteen to eighteen lines long; bottom six to eight lines broad, shining green; face flat; middle three to four lines thick; apex pungent; margin scabrous; back irregularly one to two keeled at top. Cape of Good Hope, 1731.
A. p. bullulata (little-blistered). l. irregularly spiral, five rowed; back with spreading close wrinkled tubercles.
A. p. spirella (small spiral). l. smaller and more deltoid, 1in. long, six to eight lines broad at the bottom, irregularly five rowed, or as if in many rows.
A. spiralis (spiral).* fl., perianth reddish-white, ½in. long; raceme loose, nearly 1ft.; pedicels ascending, two to three lines long; peduncles 6in., simple or branched. l. dense, in many rows, strong, ascending, lanceolate-deltoid, twelve to fifteen lines long, six to eight lines broad; face almost flat, without tubercles; apex pungent; back swollen, scarcely keeled; margins obscurely crenulated. Cape of Good Hope, 1790. SYN. A. imbricata.
APICULATE, APICULATED. Terminated in a little point.
APIOS (from apion, a pear; in reference to the form of the tubers of the root). ORD. Leguminosæ. An elegant little hardy twining perennial, easily trained into almost any shape. It must have a well-exposed, sunny position, and the soil should be of a warm or light sandy nature. Propagated by division of the tubers.
FIG. 117. APIOS TUBEROSA, showing Habit and Flower.
A. tuberosa (tuberous).* Ground Nut. fl. brownish-purple, sweet-scented, in axillary racemes. Summer and early autumn. l. pinnate. Tubers edible, farinaceous. Habit very light and graceful. Pennsylvania, 1640. SYN. Glycine Apios. See Fig. 117.
APIOSPERMUM. A synonym of Pistia (which see).
APIUM (from apon, Celtic for water; in reference to the habitat). ORD. Umbelliferæ. This genus contains no species worth growing for ornament, and nearly all are more or less acrid and poisonous. A. graveolens is the Celery of gardens, for culture of which, see Celery.
APLECTRUM (from a, without, and plectron, a spur; flower spurless). ORD. Orchideæ. A monotypic genus from North America. A curious, hardy, terrestrial orchid, requiring a shady spot in light loam and leaf mould, moderately damp. Very difficult to cultivate.