A. Arcei (Arce's). fl. yellow. Central America, 1866.
A. Barkeri (Barker's).* fl. yellow and dark crimson, on stout scapes, produced from the base of the bulbs, and bearing fifteen to thirty fragrant flowers. Midsummer. l. broadly lanceolate, 2ft. long. Pseudo-bulbs 5in. to 7in. long. Mexico, 1837. SYN. Peristeria Barkeri.
A. chrysantha (yellow-flowered).* fl. yellow, white, and crimson, fragrant; lower part of the lip having a blunt, papillose horn; racemes erect. May. h. 2ft. Mexico, 1850.
A. densa (dense-flowered).* fl. sub-globose, and of a waxy consistence, lemon-yellow, dotted brown, sweet-scented; racemes rather short. Costa Rica, 1849. A robust-growing species, very like A. Barkeri. SYN. A. Warczewiczii.
A. Humboldtii (Humboldt's).* fl. straw-colour, dotted with brown; scapes 2ft. long. May. l. broadly lanceolate, generally four. Columbia, 1872. A handsome species, but the flowers speedily fade. SYNS. Anguloa superba, Peristeria Humboldtii fulva.
A. sulcata (grooved). fl. bright yellow. Columbia, 1879. Very like the last species, from which it differs in mere botanical detail.
A. Warczewiczii (Warczewicz's). A synonym of A. densa.
ACINOS. See [Calamintha.]
ACIOTIS (from akis, a point, and ous, an ear; in allusion to the shape of the petals). ORD. Melastomaceæ. A small genus of pretty, stove, evergreen plants. Flowers small; panicles slender, loose, terminal; petals four, obliquely awned at the apex. Leaves thin, membranous. For culture, see Melastoma..
A. aquatica (water-loving). fl. white, small, on loose, terminal, filiform panicles. June. l. cordate, ovate-oblong. h. 6in. to 12in. South America, 1793. The pots in which this species is grown should be kept in pans of water.
A. discolor (various-coloured).* fl. small, red, in spicate racemes. l. petiolate, elliptic-oblong, purple beneath, deep shining green above. h. 1ft. Trinidad, 1816.
ACIPHYLLA (from ake, a point, and phyllon, a leaf, referring to the sharply pointed segments of the leaf). ORD. Umbelliferæ. A genus of curious and remarkable erect hardy perennials, with densely fascicled, spicate, or panicled umbels of flowers; and pinnate or bi-tripinnate leaves. They are most suited for the rockwork, in a light sandy soil. Propagated by seeds or divisions in spring.
A. Colensoi (Colenso's).* fl. white. This extraordinary evergreen forms a circular bush, 5ft. or 6ft. in. diameter, of bayonet-like spines, having flowering stems 6ft. to 9ft. high, covered with spreading spinous leaflets. New Zealand, 1875.
A. squarrosa (rough-headed).* fl. white. h. 6ft. to 9ft. New Zealand. More frequently met with than the preceding, of very dense growth. Commonly known as the Bayonet Plant.
ACIS (named after Acis, shepherd of Sicily, son of Faunus and the nymph Simæthis). ORD. Amaryllidaceæ. A genus of very pretty dwarf bulbous plants, suitable for the rockery, in sunny sheltered situations. This genus was formerly included with Leucojum, from which it is distinguished by its dwarf slender habit, filiform style, and membranous capsule. All are delicate little plants, with narrow linear leaves and bell-shaped flowers. They require a free, open, rich soil, and should remain and bloom undisturbed for years; divide the clumps every three or four years, and renew the soil.
A. autumnalis (autumn-blooming).* fl., perianth white, delicate pink at the base, preceding the leaves; two to three on a stem. Autumn. l. few in number, very slender, sheathing the stems at the base. h. 4in. to 6in. Portugal, 1629. A charming species, and the only one at all common.
A. grandiflorus (large-flowered).* fl., perianth white, larger than those of the last. August. h. 6in. Numidia, 1820. Somewhat rare in cultivation.
A. roseus (rose-coloured).* fl., perianth rose red, not more than ¼in. long; scape one to three-flowered. August. l. narrow, blunt, linear. h. 3in. Corsica, 1820. Very rare.
A. tingitanum (Tangiers). Of recent introduction; has a many-flowered umbel, and very long leaves.
A. trichophyllus (hair-leaved).* fl., perianth white, about ½in. long; segments loosely nerved, with a faint flush of red at the base. January. h. 6 in. Spain, 1820.
ACISANTHERA (from akis, a point, and anthera, an anther; anthers jointed). ORD. Melastomaceæ. A monotypic stove genus allied to Rhexia, of semi-shrubby habit. It grows well in a mixture of loam, sand, and peat; and cuttings root freely in the same soil in stove temperature.
A. quadrata (square-branched). fl. purple, ventricose, alternate, axillary, solitary. July. l. three-nerved, ovate, crenated; branches square. Habit erect, branched at the apex. h. 1ft. to 1½ft. Jamaica, 1804. More curious than ornamental.