A. racemosa (raceme-flowering).* fl. greenish-white, petals spreading; peduncles axillary, disposed in a terminal raceme, umbelliferous. June. l. petioles tripartite, the partitions bearing each three to five ovate or cordate, acuminated, serrated, smoothish leaflets. h. 3ft. to 4ft. North America, 1658. Hardy herbaceous species, highly ornamental. See Fig. 142.
A. reticulata (netted). l. alternate, strap-shaped when young, becoming larger with age, dark green, reticulated with a lighter shade of the same colour. A very handsome species, requiring stove heat during winter. In spring and summer it is admirably suited for conservatory or indoor decoration, having a light and graceful aspect.
A. rotunda (round). l. sometimes of a single leaflet only, which is spreading, orbicular, cordate at the base, margined with distinct white tipped teeth; at other times, especially when approaching maturity, the leaves are trifoliate, the leaflets being rounded and toothed, and the terminal one being about double the size of the lateral ones. Stems erect, brownish-green, spotted when young with pale elongate blotches. Polynesia, 1882.
A. Scheffleri (Scheffler's). l. on long petioles, digitate; leaflets five, petiolulate, lanceolate, attenuated at the base, serrulated, glabrous on both surfaces. Stem shrubby, smooth. New Zealand. Greenhouse species.
A. spectabilis (showy). A synonym of A. concinna.
A. spinosa (thorny).* Angelica Tree. l. doubly and triply pinnate; leaflets ovate, acuminated, deeply serrated. Stem simple, prickly (as are also the petioles), forming into an umbrella-like head, deciduous. h. 8ft. to 12ft. North America, 1688. A very fine hardy species for sheltered spots.
A. spinulosa (small-spined). l. alternate, pinnate; pinnæ ovate acuminate, dark green, margined with little reddish-crimson spines or prickles. Stems and petioles spotted and suffused with crimson. 1880. A bold and robust stove plant.
A. ternata (three-leafleted).* l. opposite, ternate; leaflets oblong-lanceolate; margins in some cases deeply serrate, in others sinuate, light green. New Britain, 1879. A slender growing species.
A. trifolia (three-leaved). A synonym of Pseudopanax Lessonii.
FIG. 143. ARALIA VEITCHII.
A. Veitchii (Veitch's).* l. digitate, with about eleven filiform undulated leaflets, glossy green above, dark red beneath; petioles long and slender. New Caledonia, 1867. A very handsome (said to be the best) species, with slender, erect growing stem. See Fig. 143, for which we are indebted to Messrs. Veitch and Sons.
A. V. gracillima (most graceful).* l. alternate, spreading; leaflets nearly linear, but slightly narrowed at both ends, having a prominent ivory-white central rib. South Sea Islands, 1876. An erect growing species, with an elegantly graceful habit. It is allied to A. reticulata, but is more handsome. This charming variety is undoubtedly the finest for table decoration, and is frequently grafted upon stocks of the typical form. It enjoys plenty of heat. SYN. A. gracillima.
ARALIACEÆ. An order of trees, shrubs, or (rarely) herbaceous plants, often pubescent, and sometimes spiny. Flowers variously disposed, hermaphrodite or unisexual, regular; petals usually five, and valvate. Leaves alternate, or (rarely) opposite. This order is closely allied to Umbelliferæ; and the best known genera are Aralia and Hedera.
ARAR-TREE. A common name for [Callitris quadrivalvis] (which see).
ARAUCARIA (from Araucanos, its name in Chili). SYN. Eutacta. ORD. Coniferæ. A noble genus of diœcious or sub-diœcious evergreen trees, with usually imbricated persistent flat sessile scale-like leaves. Male cones large, cylindrical, terminal; female ones very large, globular, terminal, with dense ligneous deciduous scales, each bearing a solitary seed. The majority of the species are not, unfortunately, sufficiently hardy to withstand our winters out of doors. Few trees can compete with them in symmetry and elegant proportion for conservatory decoration, where they may be grown in large tubs, or planted out. Small plants grown in pots are most serviceable for table and other decorative purposes. They thrive in a good fibrous loam, mixed with leaf soil and sand. Propagation by means of seed is the surest and most satisfactory method; the seed should be sown in pans or boxes, or if in large quantities, in a bed, with but gentle heat; they usually take some time to germinate. Cuttings are procured by taking off the leading shoots, and fixing them firmly in a pot of sand; they first require a cool place, but may afterwards be subjected to slight warmth. When rooted, they should be potted off into the soil above mentioned. The young growths which afterwards shoot from the plant, whence the cutting, may be taken off and treated in much the same manner. These are the only methods of propagation worth pursuing.
A. Balansæ (Balansa's). male cones cylindrical-conical, 2in. female cones elliptic globose, 4in.; scales obovate, cuneate. l. arcuately-uncinate, ovate triangular, imbricated round the distichous, simple branchlets. h. 130ft. to 160ft. New Caledonia, 1875. A fine greenhouse plumosely branched tree.
A. Bidwillii (Bidwill's).* Bunya-Bunya Pine; Moreton Bay Pine. cones sub-globose, longest diameter 10in. to 12in., shortest 9in. to 10in. l. ovate-lanceolate, in two nearly horizontal rows, acuminated, slightly convex above, concave beneath, leathery, deep shining green. h. 150ft. Moreton Bay. Habit very regular and symmetrical. Greenhouse species.
A. brasiliensis (Brazilian). l. oblong-lanceolate, much attenuated at the point, loosely imbricated, deep green; lower part of the trunk usually free from branches, terminating in a rounded head. h. 70ft. to 100ft. Brazil, 1819. A. b. gracilis, and A. b. Ridolfiana are two forms of this species.
A. columnaris (columnar). A synonym of A. Cookii.
A. Cookii (Cook's).* l. awl-shaped, short, densely imbricated around the frondose branches. Described by Mr. Abbay as having "a somewhat curious habit, even when growing alone, of shedding their branches for five-sixths or more of their height, and then replacing them by a smaller and more bushy growth, so that the tree at a distance presents a very columnar appearance, the resemblance being increased by the summit being crowned with a mass of foliage somewhat like a capital." h. 200ft. New Caledonia, 1851. SYN. A. columnaris.
FIG. 144. ARAUCARIA EXCELSA.