FIG. 176. ASPLENIUM VIRIDE, showing Barren and Fertile Pinnæ (a and b), Sorus (c), and Sporangium (d).
A. viride (green). Green Spleenwort.* sti. densely tufted, 2in. to 4in. long. fronds 4in. to 6in. long, ½in. broad, with twelve to twenty sub-sessile pinnæ on each side, ovate-rhomboid; upper edge narrowed suddenly at the base, the lower one obliquely truncate, outer part deeply crenated. sori copious, linear-oblong, oblique. Great Britain, &c., widely distributed in both hemispheres. It requires to be planted in a well-drained but moist situation. Hardy species. See Fig. 176.
A. vittæforme (narrow-fronded).* rhiz. creeping. sti. short, erect. fronds entire, lanceolate, 12in. to 18in. long, 1½in. to 3in. broad, narrowed to an acute point, and very gradually into the stem below; margin obscurely toothed. sori copious, often reaching from the midrib nearly to the edge. Java, &c. Stove species. SYN. A. sundense.
A. viviparum (plant-bearing).* sti. tufted. 6in. to 9in. long. fronds 1ft. to 2ft. long, 6in. to 8in. broad, ovate-lanceolate, with numerous close-placed erecto-patent pinnæ on each side, which are 3in. to 4in. long, 1½. to 2in. broad, cut down to a compressed rachis into numerous pinnatifid pinnules, the lower segments of which are again forked; ultimate segments ¼in. to ⅜in. long, quarter-line broad. sori solitary, marginal. Mauritius, &c., 1820. A very handsome stove species.
A. vulcanicum (volcanic). sti. 6in. to 9in. long. fronds 1ft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 8in. broad, oblong-lanceolate, with a linear-terminal pinna, or gemmiferous at the apex, and six to twelve lateral ones on each side; lower ones stalked, 2in. to 4in. long, ¾in. to 1in. broad, acuminated; edge slightly dentate; the base truncate. sori very regular and parallel, falling short of the edge. Malay Islands. Stove species. SYN. A. heterodon.
A. zeylanicum (Ceylonese).* sti. scattered, 4in. to 8in. long. fronds 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 2in. broad, the point acuminated, apex slightly lobed, the lower two-thirds more deeply so, and the base quite down to the rachis; lobes blunt, ¼in. to ½in. across. sori linear, two to three lines long. Ceylon. Stove species. SYN. Diplazium zeylanicum.
ASSONIA (commemorative of Ignatius de Asso, a distinguished Spanish botanist, who wrote on the plants of Arragon). ORD. Sterculiaceæ. This genus is now included by best authorities under Dombeya. Ornamental stove evergreen trees, with undivided leaves, and axillary, bifid, sub-corymbose peduncles. They are of easy culture; thriving freely in any light rich soil, or a mixture of loam and peat. Young cuttings will root freely in sand, with a brisk bottom heat, if covered by a bell glass.
A. populnea (Poplar-leaved). fl. white, disposed in a terminal, bifid corymb; peduncles scarcely longer than the petioles. June. l. cordate, acuminated, smooth, a little serrated. h. 10ft. to 20ft. Bourbon, 1820.
A. viburnoides (Viburnum-like). fl. white; peduncles three times longer than the petioles. l. cordate, somewhat acuminate, crenated, tomentose beneath, as well as younger leaves. h. 10ft. to 20ft. Bourbon, 1822.
ASTARTEA (a mythological name: Astarte, the Syrian Venus). ORD. Myrtaceæ. An ornamental greenhouse evergreen shrub, requiring a mixture of loam, peat, leaf soil, and sand. Young cuttings root readily in sand under a bell glass in gentle heat.
A. fascicularis (bundle-flowered). fl. white, pedicellate, solitary, axillary. May. l. opposite, linear, fleshy; when young, disposed in axillary fascicles. h. 6ft. to 9ft. West Australia, 1830.
ASTELMA (from a, not, and stelma, a crown; in reference to the construction of the fruit). ORD. Compositæ. Greenhouse evergreen shrubs from the Cape of Good Hope. Some species of this genus, which is now generally referred to Helipterum, are very handsome, and thrive well in a mixture of fibrous peat, leaf soil, and sand, with thorough drainage. Fill the pots one-third full of crocks; water carefully, and only when absolutely necessary; and place in a situation near the glass, allowing a free admission of air. Seeds should be sown in pots of light, open soil, and placed in a gentle heat; half-ripened cuttings will strike readily in sandy soil with a hand glass placed over them. They are now but rarely seen under cultivation.
A. canescens (hoary). fl.-heads purple; scales of involucre ovate; branches one-flowered. May to June. l. oblong, blunt, imbricated. h. 1½ft. 1794.
A. eximium (fine).* fl.-heads crimson; corymbs sessile. July. l. sessile, ovate, close, erect, white with thick woolly pubescence. Stem stout. h. 3ft. 1793. This is a very beautiful species.
A. speciosissimum (showiest). fl.-heads white, large, solitary, terminal. July. l. sessile, lanceolate-obovate, acute, three-nerved, woolly. h. 8ft. 1691.
ASTEPHANUS (from a, without, and stephanos, a corona; corona absent). ORD. Asclepiadeæ. A genus of pretty evergreen greenhouse twiners. Flowers few, small, disposed in interpetiolar umbels; corolla campanulate. Leaves small, opposite. They thrive in a compost of turfy peat, leaf soil, and loam, in equal parts. Very little water is required when the plants are at rest. Cuttings root readily in sandy soil in a moderate heat. Propagation may also be effected by division.