AGATHA ROSE. See Rosa gallica Agatha.
AGATHIS. See Dammara.
AGATHOPHYLLUM (from agathos, pleasant, and phyllon, a leaf; referring to the pleasant clove-like smell of the leaf). Madagascar Nutmeg. ORD. Lauraceæ. A stove evergreen tree, of economic value only, having the fruit enclosed by the persistent calyx; thriving in peat and light rich loam. Of easy propagation by cuttings in sand, with a moderate bottom heat.
A. aromaticum (aromatic). fl. white. l. stalked, alternate, obovate, obtuse, leathery, entire, smooth. h. 30ft. Madagascar, 1823.
AGATHOSMA (from agathos, pleasant, and osme, smell; the plants contained in this genus have a pleasant smell). SYNS. Bucco, Dichosma. ORD. Rutaceæ. Beautiful small heath-like greenhouse shrubs, from the Cape of Good Hope. Flowers in terminal heads, or umbels; petals five, divided, with long claws, and scattered, short, narrow leaves, usually with revolute edges. They are of easy culture, thriving best in a mixture of sand and peat, with the addition of a little turfy loam. Young cuttings will strike root freely in a pot of sand, under a bell glass, in a cool house. They require to be shaded somewhat in the summer. Winter temperature, 40deg. to 45deg. About forty-six species are known.
A. acuminata (taper-pointed leaved).* fl. violet; calyces smooth, glandular, on terminal subcapitate heads. April. l. ovate, somewhat cordate, long acuminated, fringed, at length spreading. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1812.
A. bruniades (Brunia-like).* fl. lilac or white, on terminal sub-umbellate heads; peduncles fastigiate, elongated. April. l. scattered, linear-trigonal, awl-shaped, dotted, and a little fringed; branches hairy. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1820.
A. cerefolia (chervil-leaved). fl. white, small; pedicels and calyces beset with glandular hairs; heads terminal sub-umbellate. April. l. crowded, lanceolate, acute, spreading, keeled, fringed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1794.
A. ciliata (ciliated).* fl. white; pedicels smoothish; heads terminal sub-umbellate. April. l. scattered, lanceolate, acute, with toothletted-fringed, revolute edges, dotted beneath, and bearing hairs on the middle nerve, becoming at length reflexed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1774.
A. erecta (upright).* fl. pale violet, terminal, sub-umbellate; peduncles short, villous. April. l. imbricate, trigonal, blunt, dotted beneath, a little fringed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1818.
A. hirta (hairy). fl. purple, densely capitate; petals bearded at the claws. April. l. somewhat imbricate, linear, awl-shaped, channelled, hairy on the back, decurrent. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1794.
FIG. 41. AGARICUS MUSCARIUS (FLY AGARIC).