FIG. 163. ASPERULA ORIENTALIS, showing Habit and Portion of Inflorescence.
A. taurina (bull). fl., corollas white, elongated; corymbs pedunculate, axillary, fasciculately umbellate, involucrated; bracteas ciliated. April to June. l. four in a whorl, ovate-lanceolate, three-nerved, with finely ciliated margins. Plant smoothish, erect. h. 1ft. South Europe, 1739.
A. tinctoria (Dyers'). fl. white, reddish on the outside; usually trifid. June. l. linear; lower ones six in a whorl; middle ones four; and the uppermost ones opposite; floral leaves ovate. Plant procumbent, unless supported. Stem 1ft. to 2ft. long, purplish. Europe, 1764.
ASPHALT. Artificial Asphalt is now generally used in England for footpaths, &c. The recipes are various, one of the best being the following: Lime rubbish two parts, coal ashes one part (both must be very dry), sifted very fine; mix them, and leave a hole in the middle of the heap, wherein pour boiling hot coal tar; mix well together. When as stiff as mortar, lay it down, 3in. thick, on a dry and previously well-levelled surface. A boy should follow with dry, finely-sifted sand, distributing just enough to prevent his boots sticking to the tar. Two men should be employed for the tarring, whilst another should attend to the boiling operation. Only just enough tar to last ten minutes must be taken from the furnace at one time, as, if it be not boiling, the walks will become soft under the action of very hot sun. This may be repeated every three years. It is imperative that the surface, lime, coal ashes and sand be perfectly dry, and that the days selected for the operation be very fine, the hotter the better. Another excellent plan is that of using gas lime and coal ashes. There must be a firm foundation and smooth surface. Spread the gas lime to about 1½in. deep, and level with the back of a spade. Over this place a thin layer of coal dust, and well roll. The work is then complete.
ASPHODEL. See [Asphodelus].
ASPHODELINE. ORD. Liliaceæ. A genus of plants allied to Asphodelus, but distinguished from it by having erect leafy stems. They thrive in any ordinary garden soil. Propagated by division.
A. brevicaulis (short-stemmed). fl. in lax, often panicled racemes, yellow, veined with green. l. subulate, ascending, lower ones 4in. to 6in. long. Stem slender, often flexuose. Orient.
A. damascena (Damascene). fl. white, in dense generally simple racemes, 6in. to 12in. long. l. in dense rosette, 6in. to 9in. long, subulate. Stem simple, erect. h. 1½ft. to 2ft. Asia Minor.
A. liburnica (Liburnian). fl. yellow, striped with green, in generally simple lax racemes, 6in. to 9in. long. Stem simple, erect, strict, 1ft. to 2ft. high, upper half naked. South Europe.
A. lutea (yellow). fl. yellow, fragrant, in a dense, very long, straight, simple raceme, in the axils of buff-coloured bracts, which are nearly as long as the flowers. Summer. l. numerous, awl-shaped, triangular, furrowed, smooth, dark green, marked with lines of a paler tint; root leaves tufted. Stem 3ft. or 4ft. high. Sicily, 1596. The best known and handsomest species. SYN. Asphodelus luteus.
A. l. fl.-pl. This resembles the species, but the flowers are double, and last much longer than those of the typical form; it is a very pretty plant.
A. taurica (Taurian). fl. white, striped with green, in generally simple dense racemes, 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 2in. wide. Stem simple, erect, 1ft. to 2ft. high, densely leafy at base of raceme. Asia Minor, &c. SYN. Asphodelus tauricus.
A. tenuior (slenderer). fl. yellow, in simple lax-flowered racemes, 3in. to 4in. long, 2in. wide. Stem simple lower half leaf, upper naked, 1ft. Orient. SYN. Asphodelus tenuior.
ASPHODELUS (from a, not, and sphallo, to supplant; in allusion to the beauty of the flowers). Asphodel. ORD. Liliaceæ. Very pretty hardy herbaceous perennials, with fleshy fasciculated roots. Perianth white or yellow, of six equal spreading segments; stamens six, hypogynous, alternately long and short. Leaves usually radical, tufted, narrow, or triquetrous. All the species enumerated thrive in good deep sandy loam, and are very suitable for borders and shrubberies. Propagated by division of the root, which is best done in early spring.
A. æstivus (summer). fl. white. Summer. h. 2ft. Spain, 1820.
A. albus (white).* fl. white; peduncles clustered the length of the bracts. May. l. linear, keeled, smooth. Stem naked, simple. h. 2ft. South Europe, 1596.
A. creticus (Cretan).* fl. yellow. July. l. filiform, striated, toothed, ciliated. Stem leafy, naked above, branched. h. 2ft. Crete, 1821.
A. fistulosus (pipe-stalked). fl. white. July, August. l. upright, striated, subulate, fistular. Stem naked. h. 18in. South Europe, 1596.
A. luteus (yellow). A synonym of Asphodeline lutea.
A. ramosus (branchy). fl. large, white, with a reddish-brown line in the middle of each segment, springing from the axils of ovate-lanceolate bracts, and in very long dense racemes. Summer. l. sword-shaped, stiff, sharply keeled below, channelled above. Stem much branched. h. 4ft. to 5ft. South Europe, 1829.
