BIEBERSTEINIA (named after Frederic Marschall Bieberstein, a Russian naturalist, author of "Flora Taurico-Caucasica," and other works). ORD. Rutaceæ. A genus of half-hardy herbaceous perennials. They thrive in a compost of loam, peat, and sand. Propagated by cuttings, placed under a hand glass in early summer; or by seeds, sown in a slight hotbed in March or April.
B. odora (sweet). fl. yellow; racemes terminal, simple; petals entire. May. l. impari-pinnate; leaflets roundish, deeply toothed. Plant beset with glandular hairs. h. 1ft. Altaia, 1837.
BIENNIAL. A term applied to plants occupying two years in the development from seed to the maturation of seed: growing one year, flowering, fruiting, and dying the next. Seeds of Hardy Biennials are, as a rule, sown from June to August, to flower the succeeding season. Tender varieties are sown in a frame or cool house, and kept there all winter, being transferred from the frames or houses to the open border, in June. Wallflowers, Foxgloves, Canterbury Bells, and Sweet Williams, may be taken as fair types of Biennials, although they often assume more than a Biennial character on light sandy soils.
BIFARIOUS. Two-ranked; arranged in two opposite rows.
BIFID. Divided about half-way down into two parts; two-cleft.
BIFOLIATE. Compound leaves with two leaflets.
BIFRENARIA (from bis, twice, and frænum, a strap; in reference to a double strap or band, by means of which the pollen masses are connected with their gland). ORD. Orchideæ. A genus of pretty stove orchids, allied to Maxillaria, and distinguished from it by having two fræna or caudicles to their pollen masses. For culture, see Maxillaria.
B. aurantiaca (orange-coloured).* fl. orange; lateral lobes of lip semi-cordate, middle one transverse, sub-undulated, callous at the base; raceme erect. October. l. oblong, plicate. Pseudo-bulb roundish, compressed, two-leaved. h. 9in. Demerara, 1834. (B. R. 1875.)
B. aureo-fulva (orange-tawny). fl. orange, on long pedicels; lip unguiculate, three-lobed; scape radical, many-flowered. October. l. oblong-lanceolate. Pseudo-bulb roundish-ovate, wrinkled, one-leaved. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1840.
B. Hadwenii (Hadwen's). fl. each nearly 4in. across; petals and sepals ½in. broad, yellow green, beautifully blotched or mottled with a rich brown; lip large, above 1in. broad, white, with striped spots of rose. June. l. long, ¼in. broad. h. 1½in. Brazil, 1851. SYN. Scuticaria Hadwenii. (B. M. 4629.)
B. H. bella (charming).* A new variety with sepals and petals whitish yellow outside, brilliant shining cinnamon inside, with a few spots, bars, and blotches of whitish sulphur colour; lip wide, white, with one light brown spot behind, and a larger one in front of the callus; radiating light brown lines on lateral lobes, and mauve ones on anterior lobe.
B. H. pardalina (leopard-marked).* A very beautiful variety, having sepals and petals with brown circles or polygonal figures on a light yellow ground; lip light ochre-coloured at its basilar part, white in front, with radiating mauve-purple streaks. This variety is extremely rare.
B. vitellina (yolk-coloured).* fl. yellowish purple; lip cuneate, three-lobed; lateral lobes acute, crenulated; racemes drooping. July. l. lanceolate. Pseudo-bulb ovate, bluntly angular, one-leaved. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1838.
BIFURCATE. Twice-forked.
BIGELOVIA (named after Dr. Jacob Bigelow, author of "Florula Bostoniensis," &c.). ORD. Compositæ. A genus of hardy shrubs, sub-shrubs, or herbaceous plants, as now understood, comprising several subjects formerly referred to Chrysothamnus, Linosyris, &c. Flower-heads disposed in corymbs; involucre imbricated, oblong, or campanulate; receptacle flat. Leaves alternate, linear or lanceolate. They thrive in any ordinary garden soil. Propagated by cuttings.