A. carniolica (Carniolan).* fl. white. May. l. of involucre twelve to thirteen, quite entire, white, with a green line running along the middle of each, tinged with red; radical ones palmate; lobes five to seven, oblong, acuminated, unequally serrated. h. 6in. to 12in. Carniola, 1812. A pretty species.
A. helleborifolia (Hellebore-leaved).* fl. (and involucre) pink, pedicellate. June. l. of involucre twelve to thirteen, ovate-lanceolate, exceeding the umbel a little, bristly; radical ones palmate; lobes three, ovate-lanceolate, unequally serrated. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Eastern Caucasus, 1804. SYN. A. maxima.
A. major (greater).* fl. pinkish, pedicellate. May. l. of involucre fifteen to twenty, linear-lanceolate, quite entire, hardly longer than the umbel; radical ones palmate; lobes five, ovate-lanceolate, acute, rather trifid, toothed. h. 1ft to 2ft. Europe, 1596. Very distinct and ornamental.
A. maxima (greatest). Synonymous with A. helleborifolia.
ASTRAPÆA (from astrape, lightning; alluding to the brightness of the flowers). ORD. Sterculiaceæ. Elegant stove evergreen trees. Peduncles axillary, long, bearing on their apex an umbel of large sessile flowers, enclosed in a leafy involucre. Leaves alternate, stalked, cordate, three to five-lobed. They thrive well in a mixture of loam and peat, and require a plentiful supply of water; but the best results accrue if the bottom of the pot can be stood in a saucer or tub of water. Propagated by cuttings of young wood, made in April, placed in a compost of loam and peat, or sand, under a bell glass, in heat.
A. tiliæflora (Lime-tree leaved). fl. pink. h. 20ft. Isle of Bourbon, 1824.
A. viscosa (clammy). fl. pink. h. 20ft. Madagascar, 1823.
A. Wallichii (Wallich's).* fl. scarlet; umbels drooping. July. l. large, cordate, angularly lobed; stipulas leafy, ovate-acuminated; peduncles long, hairy. h. 30ft. Madagascar, 1820. This splendid species has often been described as being one of the finest plants ever introduced into this country; and, when in full flower, nothing can exceed it in beauty and grandeur.
ASTROCARYUM (from astron, a star, and karyon, a nut; referring to the disposition of the fruit). SYN. Phœnico-phorum. ORD. Palmaceæ. Very ornamental stove palms, allied to Cocos, having the trunk (when present), foliage, fruit-stalks, spathes, and sometimes the fruit, covered with spines. The flowers develop from the axils of the old decayed leaves. Drupes oval, one-seeded, orange or yellow, in some species fragrant. Leaves pinnate, with linear segments, dark green above, and often of a silvery white below. The species thrive in a compost of two-thirds rich loam and one-third vegetable mould; water may be given copiously. Propagation may be effected by seeds, which should be sown in spring in a hotbed; or by suckers, if they are to be obtained.
A. acaule (stemless). l. pinnate, 3ft. to 10ft. long, slender and spreading; pinnæ narrow, arranged in clusters, pendent. Spines very numerous, long, flat, black. h. 10ft. Brazil, 1820.
A. aculeatum (prickly). h. 40ft. Guiana, 1824.
A. argenteum (silvery).* l. arching, wedge-shaped, pinnate, distinctly plicate, bright green on the upper surface, the under surface, as well as the stalks, covered with a fine white scurf, which gives them a silvered appearance. Columbia, 1875. One of the best of silver palms.
A. filare (thready).* l. erect, narrowly cuneate, with two divergent lobes; petioles covered with white scurf, both on the upper and under surfaces. Distinct and elegant, with a comparatively small and slender growth. Columbia, 1875.
A. granatense (New Grenadan). l. pinnate, with oblong-acuminate segments; the rachis is spiny, like the petiole, both on the upper and lower surfaces; leafstalks brownish, armed with numerous scattered needle-shaped dark-coloured spines. Columbia, 1876.
A. mexicanum (Mexican). Mexico, 1864.
A. Muru-Muru (Murumuru). l. pinnate, 10ft. to 12ft. long; leaflets lanceolate, sub-falcate, dark green above, silvery white below. Stem 12ft. to 15ft. high, densely clothed with strong reflexed black spines, over 6in. long. h. 40ft. Brazil, 1825.
A. rostratum (beak-sheathed). l. irregularly pinnate, 3ft. to 8ft. long; pinnæ 12in. to 18in. long; terminal lobe much larger and bifid, dark green above, silvery white below; petioles broadly sheathing at the base, densely armed with black spines, sometimes 2in. long. Stem slender, densely clothed with long black spines. A slow grower, ultimately becoming 30ft. high. Brazil, 1854.
A. vulgare (common). h. 30ft. Brazil, 1825.
ASTROLOBIUM. See Ornithopus.
ASTROLOMA (from astron, a star, and loma, a fringe; in reference to the bearded limb of the corolla). ORD. Epacridaceæ. Very handsome, little, diffuse, greenhouse, evergreen shrubs. Flowers solitary, axillary; corolla tubular, distended above the middle, and with five bundles of hairs in the inside, near its base. Leaves crowded, alternate, linear, or obovate-lanceolate and mucronate. They thrive best in an equal mixture of sand, loam, and peat, with thorough drainage. Propagated by young cuttings, which root readily in sandy soil, under a bell glass, in a cool house.
A. denticulatum (finely-toothed). fl. axillary, erect; corolla pale red, with a ventricose tube. May to July. l. scattered, lanceolate, ciliated, usually procumbent, but sometimes slightly erect. h. 1ft. New Holland, 1824.
A. humifusum (trailing). fl. scarlet, similar to the foregoing. May and June. l. lanceolate-linear, rather convex above, with ciliated edges. Shrub prostrate, much branched. h. 1ft. New Holland, 1807.
ASTROPHYTUM MYRIOSTIGMA. See Echinocactus myriostigma.
ASYSTASIA (meaning not clear). ORD. Acanthaceæ. Stove evergreen shrubs. Flowers disposed in axillary or terminal clusters; corolla somewhat funnel-shaped, five-lobed; calyx five-lobed, regular. Branches slender. They require a compost of peat and loam, with a little sand, and, to induce a vigorous growth, a little dry cow-dung may be applied. Propagated by cuttings of young shoots, placed in sandy soil, under a bell glass, in April, with a brisk bottom heat.