A. amabilis (lovely).* l. elliptic, acuminate, greenish in some stages, with the principal ribs stained with red, but under free growth becoming almost entirely suffused with rose colour, mixed with orange, the midribs continuing to be of a deep red hue. Brazil, 1868.
A. a. amœna (charming).* l. small, spathulate, orange red and purple in colour, which is shaded with deep green and bronze. Brazil, 1865. A most elegant little plant, with a spreading habit.
A. a. tricolor (three-coloured).* l. broadly ovate, glabrous, dark green at the edge, and have a centre of vivid rose, traversed by purple veins, an irregular band of orange yellow intervening between the centre and margin. Brazil, 1862.
A. Bettzichiana (Bettzich's). l. olive and red. Brazil, 1862.
A. B. spathulata (spathulate-leaved). l. spathulate, but more elongated than the others; the principal colours are reddish pink and light brown; these are shaded with bronze and green. Brazil, 1865. A rather tall species.
A. ficoidea (fig-like).* l. variegated with green, rose, and red. India, 1865.
A. paronychioides (Paronychia-like).* l. narrow, spathulate, ground colour deep orange red, beautifully shaded with olive green. Dense and compact grower, forming a little clump about 4in. high.
A. p. magnifica (magnificent).* A very fine variety, with a much higher colour than the type.
A. p. major (greater).* l. bronze, with rich orange tips; very effective.
A. p. m. aurea (greater-golden).* l. bright golden yellow, which colour they retain all through the season.
A. versicolor (various-colour).* l. medium sized, ovate, bright rosy pink and crimson, shaded with bronzy green, branching freely, and making a compact and handsome plant. Brazil, 1865.
ALTERNATE. Placed on opposite sides of an axis on a different line, as in alternate leaves.
ALTHÆA (from altheo, to cure; in reference to the medicinal qualities of some of the species). Marsh Mallow. ORD. Malvaceæ. Hardy biennials or perennials, closely allied to Malva. Outer calyx six to nine-cleft, inner one five-cleft. Most species belonging to this genus are worthy of cultivation, particularly in woods, coppices, and shrubberies; they will thrive in almost any kind of soil. They may be either increased by dividing the plants at the roots, or by seeds; the biennial species must be raised from seed every year, which may be sown in spring where they are intended to remain, or in pans placed in a cold frame, from which the young plants may be removed when large enough.
A. cannabina (Hemp-leaved).* fl. rose-coloured; peduncles axillary, many-flowered, loose, longer than the leaves. June. l. pubescent, lower ones palmately-parted, upper ones three-parted; lobes narrow, and grossly toothed. h. 5ft. to 6ft. South France, 1597. Perennial.
A. caribæa (Caribean).* fl. rose coloured, with a yellow base, solitary, almost sessile. March. l. cordate, roundish, lobed, crenate-serrated. Stem straight, hispid. h. 3ft. Caribbee Islands, 1816. Biennial.
A. ficifolia (fig-leaved). Antwerp Hollyhock. fl. generally yellow or orange coloured, in terminal spikes, large, single or double. June. l. divided beyond the middle into seven lobes; lobes oblong, obtuse, irregularly toothed. h. 6ft. Siberia, 1597. Biennial.
A. flexuosa (zigzag).* fl. scarlet, axillary, solitary, stalked; petals obcordate. June. l. cordate, somewhat seven-lobed, obtuse, on long footstalks. h. 2ft. to 3ft. North India, 1803. Perennial.
A. frutex (shrubby). Synonymous with Hibiscus syriacus.
A. narbonensis (Narbonne).* fl. pale red; peduncles many-flowered, loose, longer than the leaves. August. l. pubescent, lower ones five or seven-lobed, upper ones three-lobed. h. 3ft. to 6ft. France, 1780. Perennial.
FIG. 69. FLOWER AND BUDS OF ALTHÆA OFFICINALIS.
A. officinalis (officinal). Common Marsh Mallow. fl. of a delicate, uniform blush colour; peduncles axillary, many-flowered, much shorter than the leaves. July. l. clothed with soft, white tomentum on both surfaces, cordate or ovate, toothed, undivided, or somewhat five-lobed. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Marshes, Britain. Perennial. See Fig. 69.
A. rosea (rose).* Hollyhock. fl. rose-coloured, large, axillary, sessile, somewhat spiked at the top. July. l. cordate, with five or seven angles, crenated, rough. Stem straight, hairy. h. 8ft. China, 1573. For special culture and varieties, see Hollyhock.
A. striata (streaked). fl. white, 2½in. in diameter, solitary, on short pedicels; calyx striped. July. l. cordate, bluntly three-lobed, crenated. Stem puberulous, and somewhat scabrous. h. 5ft. Biennial.
ALUMINOUS. Pertaining to, or containing alum, or alumina; as Aluminous soils.
ALUM-ROOT. See Heuchera.
ALYSSUM (from a, not, and lyssa, rage; in reference to a fable that the plant allayed anger). Madwort. Including Psilonema, Ptilotrichum, Schivereckia. ORD. Cruciferæ. Annuals or dwarf, branching, shrubby perennials, often clothed with hoary, stellate hairs. Flowers small, cruciform, white or yellow. Leaves distant, or the radical ones tufted, usually entire. Several of the species are very much alike. They are excellent plants for the rockery, or for the front of borders, growing freely in common but well-drained garden soil. They may be increased by cuttings, by division of the roots, or by seed. The cuttings should be made from young shoots, 2in. to 3in. in length, inserted in sandy loam, early in the season, in a shady place. Seed may be raised outside, or in a frame in pans in sandy soil, most of them germinating in two or three weeks.