AMORPHOPHALLUS (from amorphos, deformed, and phallos, a mace; alluding to the inflorescence). SYN. Pythion. Including Proteinophallus. ORD. Aroideæ (Araceæ). A very remarkable genus, closely allied to Arum, but distinguished therefrom by "their spreading, not convolute, spathes; by their anthers opening by pores, not by longitudinal slits; by the numerous cells to the ovary; and by the solitary, erect ovules, those of Arum being horizontal." A soil consisting of two-thirds good rich loam, with the additional third of sweet manure, thoroughly rotted, suits them well. Other essentials are plenty of pot room, a genial atmosphere, and a temperature ranging from 55deg. to 65deg., or even 70deg. They require to be kept dry, and warm in winter, as nothing is more fatal to them than cold or damp. Beneath a shelf or stage in the stove is an excellent spot for them, or they may be stored in sand, and kept free from frost. They are difficult to increase; the corms of most of them are of great size, and rarely make offsets. Efforts should consequently be made to induce the plants to seed whenever practicable. All the species are strikingly effective in sub-tropical bedding. For fertilising and growth of seedlings, see [Arum.]
A. campanulatus (bell-shaped).* Similar to A. Rivieri, but the flowers are brown, red, and black, and the scape is neither so stout nor so tall. h. 2ft. India, 1817. SYN. Arum campanulatum.
A. grandis (large). fl., spathe green, white inside; spadix purplish. h. 3ft. Java, 1865. Stove species.
A. Lacourii (Lacour's).* l. pedatisect, the ultimate segments lanceolate, yellow-spotted; petioles transversely mottled with yellow markings. Cochin China, 1879. Greenhouse. The correct name of this species is Pseudodracontium Lacourii.
A. nivosus. See Dracontium asperum.
A. Rivieri (Rivier's).* fl., spadix, spathe, and scape, reaching 3ft. or more in height, appearing before the leaves; scape stout and strong, of a deep green colour, speckled or dotted with rose; spadix projecting, deep red; spathe of a rosy-green colour. March to May. l. solitary, decompound, 40in. to 50in. across, on tall marbled petioles. Cochin China. Perhaps the most useful species. SYN. Proteinophallus Rivieri. See Fig. 78.
FIG. 78. AMORPHOPHALLUS RIVIERI, Foliage and Inflorescence.
A. Titanum (Titan's).* fl., spadix 5ft. high, black purple; spathe nearly 3ft. in diameter, campanulate in shape, with patent and deeply toothed edges. The deeper portion of the interior is pale greenish, but the limb is of a bright black purple hue; the outside is pale green, smooth in the lower portion, but thickly corrugated and crisp above; scape about 1½ft. long, green, marked with small whitish orbicular spots. l. the divided blade covers an area of 45ft. in circumference. West Sumatra, 1878. As will be seen from the above, this extraordinary plant is of gigantic proportions, and, in size of the flowers, eclipsing nearly all others in the vegetable kingdom. SYN. Conophallus Titanum.
AMORPHOUS. Without definite form.
AMPELOPSIS (from ampelos, a vine, and opsis, resemblance; resembling the Grape Vine in habit, and to which it is closely allied). SYN. Quinaria. ORD. Ampelideæ. A genus nearly allied to Vitis. Calyx slightly five toothed; petals concave, thick, expanding before they fall; disk none. Fast growing and ornamental climbing, hardy deciduous shrubs, of very easy culture in common garden soil. Cuttings, having a good eye, may be taken in September, and pricked either under handlights in sandy soil on the open border, or in pots stood on the stage or shelf in a greenhouse; they root readily, and will be fit for transplanting early in the spring. Or cuttings made from the young soft wood, expressly grown for the purpose, in spring, root freely in gentle heat. This applies especially to A. tricuspidata. They are also easily increased by layers. Most of the species will thrive with equal vigour in almost any position, however exposed.
A. aconitifolia (Aconite-leaved).* l. palmisect, with pinnatifid segments. China, 1868. A slender and very elegant free-growing species, with long reddish branches. There are two or more varieties. SYNS. A. lucida, A. triloba, A. tripartita, and Vitis dissecta. See Fig. 79.
A. bipinnata (bipinnate). fl. green, small; raceme stalked, twice bifid. Berries globose. June. l. bipinnate, smooth; leaflets deeply lobed. h. 10ft. Virginia, 1700.
A. hederacea (Ivy-leaved). Synonymous with A. quinquefolia.
A. japonica (Japanese). Synonymous with A. tricuspidata.
A. lucida (shining). Synonymous with A. aconitifolia.
A. napiformis (turnip-like).* Greenish. China, 1870. See Fig. 80.
A. quinquefolia (five-leaved).* Virginian Creeper. fl. greenish-purple; raceme corymbose. June. l. palmate, with three and five leaflets, smooth on both surfaces; leaflets stalked, oblong-acuminated, mucronately toothed; autumnal tint red. North America, 1629. SYN. A. hederacea.
A. q. hirsuta (hairy). l. downy on both surfaces.
A. serjaniæfolia (Serjania-leaved).* l. green, palmately five-parted, or the upper ones three-parted, the intermediate division being often ternate or pinnate; leaflets obovate acute, and incisely toothed or sublobate; the rachis is articulately winged. Japan, 1867. SYNS. A. tuberosa, Cissus viticifolia. Roots tuberous; see [Fig. 81.]
FIG. 79. STEM AND LEAVES OF AMPELOPSIS ACONITIFOLIA.