A. moschata (Musk-scented). Plume Nutmeg. fl. white. June. h. 40ft. New Holland, 1824.
ATHEROSPERMEÆ. See Monimiaceæ.
ATHRIXIA (from a, not, and thrix, a hair; the receptacle being destitute of hairs). ORD. Compositæ. A greenhouse evergreen shrub. It succeeds best in turfy loam, peat, and sand, and requires to be potted firmly. Propagated by cuttings of young wood, placed under a bell glass in sandy soil, and treated like Ericas (which see).
A. capensis (Cape).* fl.-heads bright crimson, solitary, terminal. April. l. narrow, lanceolate, alternate, entire. h. 3ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1821.
ATHROTAXIS (from athros, crowded together, and taxis, arrangement; in reference to the disposition of the scales of the cones). ORD. Coniferæ. A small genus of Tasmanian evergreen diœcious trees or shrubs, with small scale-like leaves, and small globular cones of many imbricated scales, with from three to six carpels under each scale. In very sheltered situations they will probably prove hardy; but, otherwise, they are only suitable for botanical collections. Increased by cuttings. This genus is almost universally misspelt Arthrotaxis.
A. cupressoides (Cypress-like). l. small, thick, leathery, spirally arranged, closely imbricated, deep glossy green. h. 30ft. A small, erect, and very slow growing tree, with numerous slender branchlets.
A. Doniana (Don's). A synonym of A. laxifolia.
A. imbricata (imbricated). A garden synonym of A. selaginoides.
A. laxifolia (loose-leaved). Differing from A. cupressoides in having longer, more pointed, open, and spreading leaves, which stand out from the stem in a Juniper-like fashion. Its lateral growths are rather pendulous. h. 20ft. to 25ft. SYN. A. Doniana.
A. selaginoides (Selago-like). l. glossy green, scale-like, spirally disposed, closely appressed to the shoots, branches and their ramifications very numerous. h. variable, up to 40ft. Very interesting, and quite distinct. SYN. A. imbricata (of gardens).
ATHYRIUM. See [Asplenium.]
ATRAGENE (a name originally given to Clematis Vitalba by Theophrastus). ORD. Ranunculaceæ. A genus of ornamental, hardy, climbing, deciduous shrubs, closely allied to Clematis, from which they differ in having numerous petals. They are increased by cuttings, which should be pricked in light sandy soil and placed under a hand glass; also by layering in the autumn. Both methods are slow; the layers should not be separated for about a year, when they will be vigorous plants. Seeds must be sown in early spring, in gentle heat; when the seedlings are large enough to handle, they should be pricked off and grown on in pots till they are strong plants.
FIG. 189. ATRAGENE ALPINA, showing Habit, Twining Leafstalk, and Flower.