BELL-PEPPER. See [Capsicum grossum.]
BELOPERONE (from belos, an arrow, and peronne, a band; in reference to the arrow-shaped connectivum). SYN. Dianthera. ORD. Acanthaceæ. Very pretty stove evergreen shrubs, allied to Justicia. Flowers blue or purple, borne in secund, axillary, or terminal spikes, frequently subtended with coloured bracts; corolla gaping, the upper lip concave, the lower trifid. They are easily cultivated in a compost of loam, leaf soil, peat, and sand. Propagated by young cuttings, taken in spring. Beloperones may also be treated like Justicias (which see), and will succeed admirably. There are a large number of species, but few of which have been introduced.
B. oblongata (oblong). fl. rosy-purple; spikes axillary; anthers calcarate at base; bracts bracteolate. Summer. l. oblong-lanceolate, opposite. h. 3ft. Brazil, 1832. (B. H. 9, 9.)
B. violacea (violet-coloured).* fl. violet. l. lanceolate, acuminate, entire. h. 3ft. New Grenada, 1859. (B. M. 5244.)
BENDING-DOWN the branches of fruit trees, by means of weights or string attached to pegs driven into the ground, is sometimes resorted to for the purpose of acquiring a particular shape, or fruitfulness; but authorities differ as to the usefulness of the plan for the latter purpose. Young trees that are inclined to grow strong in the middle may be more evenly balanced by adopting the plan of Bending the strong branches, and so diverting the sap to the weaker ones.
BENGAL QUINCE. See [Ægle Marmelos].
BENJAMIN-TREE. See Ficus Benjamina.
BENT GRASS. See [Agrostis].
BENTHAMIA (in honour of George Bentham, a distinguished English botanist). ORD. Cornaceæ. Hardy evergreen shrubs or low trees, now referred to the genus Cornus. The first-named species is rather tender in the neighbourhood of London, and can only be grown successfully against a wall, for which purpose it is very suitable. In Cornwall and other mild places, it attains a height of 20ft. in the open. Loudon thinks it might be rendered hardier by grafting it on Cornus sanguinea. Flowers disposed in heads, each head attended by an involucre, which consists of four petal-like parts, and resembles a corolla; calyx with a minute four-toothed limb; petals four, fleshy, wedge-shaped; stamens four; style one. Leaves opposite, exstipulate, sub-evergreen, entire. Fruit constituted of many pomes grown together. They thrive in rather moist, loamy soil, in a sheltered spot. Propagated by seeds, sown when ripe, in a cool-house; or by layering, in autumn.
B. fragifera (Strawberry-flowered).* fl. large, white, sessile, densely aggregate, forming a round head. June to October. fr. large, about the size of that of the common Arbutus, reddish. l. lanceolate, acuminated at both ends, on short petioles, rather rough, with small, adpressed down. Branches spreading, smooth. h. 10ft. to 15ft. Nepaul, 1825. (G. C. xiv., 728.)
B. japonica (Japanese). fl. yellowish-red. Spring. h. 8ft. Japan, 1847. (S. Z. F. J. 16.)