h
MEL MEL
under a
trljuga.
bijÛirjl . .
ollvrèfOrmïi
panicublt?! .
trijûgfl, 1 .
M k l i c Ò p k ,
division
^lass in heat. Synonyme- I. Scytalia
. . Yelliw . S. Ew T. Antilles . 177B
. . Y e l W . S. Ev. T. N. Granada 1B24
. . S. liv. T. St. Domin. . 1820
, . S. Ev. T. Ceylon . . 1820
Forster. From mel, honey, and kopCj a
in allusion to the honey ft-lands at the
base of the ovaries. Linn. 0, Or . 1, Na t . Or. RiUacece.
An ornamental shruo, gTOwin^ freely in loam and
p e a t ; and cuttings of the youn^ wood root in sand,
under a ^lass.
teniaui . . . . White. . G. Ev. S. N. Zeal. . 1822
I N I r h l o t , see MeliJotns.
MemlOtOs, Tournejort. From me/,honey, and lotus;
honey lotus. The plants are similar to the Lotus,
and are the favourite haunt of bees. Linn. 14, Or.
10, Nat . Or. Le^ximinosoi, Very few of these plants
are worth cultivatinj; except in general collections.
M- arborea is readily increased by cuttin^rs. The
seed of the other kinds only requires to he sown in
the open border in spring. Synonyrnes : 1. M. alba.
'2. M. plicata. 3, TrifoHum Kockianum. 4. M. vulfraris.
5. TnfoHum Melilotus officinalis. 6. M.
rugulosa, 7* mauritanica.
nltîssîma, 1
HrbOréjl .
ofhcinâlïs, 5
pnllTrifl . .
Gegetâlls .
siiavOOlûns .
White
Wliite
Yellow
Pn. vel.
Yellow
Yellow
B. Franco .
Ev. S. Turkey .
A . lîritain .
B. Volhinia
A. Spuin .
Her. P. Dcilmria
1816
1826
1816
1820
1824
arvSnsis, Baumittl, lieiiseriand 2, clentatd, grilcllls,
indlcdy itdUcd, Kochidnd 3, leucdnthd 4, linedrU,
macrorhlzd, melanospSrmd, inessanensis, neapoliidnd,
palustrisy parviJlOrd 6, Petitpierrcdnd, polOnicd,
rotundifdlld, ruthenicd, sulcata 7, taurlcd.
Melissa, Bcntham. From mdissa, a bee; the bees
obtain a great quantity of honey from the Balm.
Linn. 14, Or. 1, Nat. Or. Labiatca. These plants
will grow in common garden soil, and are readily
increased by dividinj^ the
roots. Synonymes: 1.
M. altissima, M. cordifoHa.
2. Horminurn pyrenai-
cum.
Wht. pur.
W h i t e . ,
W h i t e . .
W h i t e . ,
W h i t e . ,
Wht. piir.
6, H. Her. P.
7, H.
6, H.
8,H.
7,H.
7. H.
crSticsl . .
otficiniills .
Her. P.
raiiegSti
Her. P
villOsa, 1
Her. P,
polyiinthos .
Her. P,
pyreniilcil, 2
Her.
M k l i t t a , Linn. From meJiila, a bee; a name synonymous
Candia .
S. Eur. ,
Gardens
I t a ly .
1596
1573
P. Pyrenees
1573
1820
1800
with Melissa. Linn. 14, Or. 1, Nat. Or.
Labiatce. These are showy plants when in liower,
and are, on that account, well fitted for ornamenting
flower-borders and shrubberies. They are increased
by dividing the roots in spring or autumn.
Synonyme : \. M. grandijlora.
Melissoph5»!h-iin . Flesh . . 5, H. Her. P. England .
alplnjl " . . . Flesh . . 5, H. Her. P. Switzerl. ,
grandiflorS, 1 . Wht, yel. 6, H. Her. P. Enghuid
M e l l i f e r o u s , honey-bearing.
Melocactus, C. Bauhin. From melos, a melon, and
cactus; in allusion to the appearance of the plants.
Linn. 12, Or. 1, N a t . Or. Cactacece. This is a genus
of grotesque-looking plants. They are well worthy
of a place in every collection of plants, and require
precisely the same treatment as the Mammillarias.
Synonym^s: 1. Cactus Melocactus. 2. C. macracantiia.
3. M. Besleri.
5. E. Sellowii.
amoenns . .
communis, 1 .
virldls , .
depressi'is . .
excavfitiis • .
Grengeln . .
inacracSnthS, 2
maerflnthi . .
meonacanthiis
octagOniis . .
placentiformis, 3
polyncanthfl, 4
pyramidalls .
splnis-rubris
Salniiilniis . .
Sellowii, 5 . .
M b l o c a n n a , Kcempfer.
kanna. a reed. Linn
4. Echinocactus polyacantha.
Li. scar. , S. Ev. s. 1835
Red . . . 7, S. Ev. s. W. Ind. ! 1688
S. Ev. S. 1836
Scarlet . . S. Ev. S. Pernamhuco s. E v. s. 1834 s. Ev. s. St Thos. Is. 1836
Wht. red S. Ev. s. S. Amer. . 1820
Wht. red . s. Ev. s. S. Ame r . . 1820 s. E v. s. Jamaica s. E v. 8. Mexico. . 1834
Red . , s. Ev. S. Brazil . . s. Ev. S. Br.izil . .
Red . . s. Ev. S. Curacoa . 1824 s. Ev. S. s. Ev. s. 1835 s. Ev. S. Brazil . .
From
6. Or.
melon, an apple, and
1, Nat . Or. Gramineoe.
This species is nearly allied to Bambusa ; it is
MKL MEN
readily increased by suckers. Synonyme: 1. Bambusa
baccifera.
bambiisoldës, 1 . . Apetal . . 7, Grass. E. Ind. . .1818
M E LOCHIA, Linn. Altered from Melochich, the Arabic
name of Corckoriis olitorius, which is used in ihe
Fast as a salad-plant. Linn. 16, Or. 2, Nat. Or.
Sterculiaceoe. Plants of little beauty. Any light
rich soil suits them ; and cuttings root freely in the
same kind of soil, under a glass^ in heat.
pnrviilOnI . . . Purple . 7, S. Ev. S. Caraccas . 1020
parvifOlM . . . White. . 6. S. Ev. S. Trihrdad . 1B19
pyraniidiltil . . Flesli . . 5, S. Ev. S. Brazil . . 1768
tomentósa , . . Purple . 5, S. Ev. S. W. Ind. . 17(^8
Melodînus, Forster, From melon, an apple, and
dineo, to turn round. Linn. 5, Or. 2, Nat. Or.
Apocynaceoe. Ornamental plants, well worth cultivation
for the sake of thei r showy flowers. They
grow well in a mixtur e of loam and peat ; and cuttings
will root in sand, under a glass, in heat.
monòi^fnus . .White . 7, S. Ev. Tw. E. Ind. . .1820
scândêns . . . White . 7, S. Ev. Tw. N. Caled. . 17/5
M e l o n , see Citciimîs MëlÔ.
Melon-pumpkin, see CucUrbîtà Melopëpô.
M e l o n - t h i s t l e , see MelocdciJiS'
M e l o n - t u b k ' s - c a p , see Melocâctûs communis,
Melosëïra, Agardh. From melon, a melon, and
seira, a chain; shape of the filaments. Linn. 24,
Or. 7, Nat . Or. Algoe. Very minute species, found
in salt marshes, rivulets, &c—discîgërâ, linedid,
numm-uloidès.
Mki.ôthrïa, Linn. From melothron of Theophrastus ;
supposed to be Bryony. Linn. 21, Or. 2, Nat, Or.
Cucarbitacere. A rnere weed ; it grows in any rich
soil, and is'increased by seeds. Synonyme: 1. Trichosanthes
foetidissima—foetida 1, pendala.
Membranaceous, or membranous, having the texture
of a membrane.
Memecvlon, Linn. From memecylon of Dioscorides ;
tlie Greek name of the frui t of the Arbutus. Linn.
8, Or. 1, Nat. Or. Memecylacece. The soil best
adapted to the growth of these plants is a mixture
of peat, loam, and sand ; and cuttings of the young
wood root freely in sand, under a glass, in heat,
capitellâtûm . . . 7, S. Ev. S. E. Ind. . . 1796
edalë . . . . Purple . S. Ev. T. Ceylon . . 1820
MeniOcìjs, Besfontaines. From mene, the moon, and
okkos, the ey.e ; s-upposed to refer to the shape of
t h e seeds. Lì7in. 15, Nat . Or. Cruciferoe. A pretty
l i t t l e annual, well fitted for ornamenting rockwork.
The seed may be sown wher e it is to remain.
Synonyme: 1. Alyssum tinifolius.
linifolliis, 1 . . m i t e . . 6, H. A. Caneasus . 3819
Menïscïûm, Schreber. From meniskos, a crescent;
a l l u d i n g to the shape of the fructification. Linn.
24, Or. 1, Nat. Or. Polypodiaceoe. This is a very
elegant genus of ferns. They thrive well in loam
and peat, and are increased by dividing the roots,
or by seeds. Synonymes: 1. Hemionitis prolifera.
2. Polypodiumrkiculatum, 3. Aspleniumsorbifolium.
prolïfôrûm, 1 . . Brown . 5, S. Her. P. E. Ind. . . 1820
retiouliUûm, 2 . Brown . 5, S. Her. P. Martinique 1793
sorbifOJhlm, 3 . . Brown . S. Her. P. Brazil . . 1823
Mexispèrmum, Linn. From mene, the moon, and
sperma, a seed ; the fruit is kidney or half-moonshaped
; whence the English name. Moon-seed.
Linn. 22, Or. 10, Nat. Or. Menispermaceoe. This
genus is chiefly composed of hardy plants, well
adapted for covering arbours or trellis-work. They
grow in any common soil, and may be increased by
dividing the roots, or by cuttings planted early in
spring in a sheltered situation, or by seeds. Synonymes
: 1. M. virginicum. 2. Cissampelos smilacina.
canadùiisó . . . Grn. yel, .
6, H
6, H
6, H
6, H
lobatûm, 1
daiiricûin .
LyOnïî .
planifôlïfim
smilacinûm, 2
De
De
De. Tw
De. Tw
Ev. Tw
Tw. N. Amer.
Tw. N. Amer.
Daurta
N. Amer.
E. Ind.
1691
1732
1810
1823
1828
H. Ev. Tw. Carolina 1776
I n honour of M. Thiery
yel.Grn. yel. .
Wilt. yel..
Purple
Yellow .
Grn. yel. .
MKNONViLLiiX, Decandolle.
de Menonville, an enterprising French naturalist.
Linn. 15, Nat. Or. Crncifene. Rather a pretty
h a r d y plant, growing freely in light loamy soil,
and is increased by seeds.
filifOlIit . . . . Grsh. wilt. 8, H. A. Chile . .1836
Menstruum, a liquor used as a dissolvent.
i 202 1
M E N MEN
Mentha, Linn. The poets celebrate Minthe, a
daughter of Oocytus, as being turned into mint by
Proserpine in a fit of jealousy. Linn. 14, Or. 1,
N a t . Or. Labiatoe. The Mint is a well-known
genus of useful herbs, wi t h the culture and propagation
of which every one is fami l iar. Synonymes :
I. M. pyramidalis. 2. M. crispa. 3. M. hirsuia,
M. nepeioides. 4. M. paludosa, M. palustris. 5. M.
rivalis. 6. M. agrestis. 7- M. proecox. 8
M.
gentilis. 9. M. Badensis. 10. M. rubra. 11
M.
acutifolia, M. sativa. 12. M. austriaca. 13. M. bo
M E R MES
realis. 14. M. odorata. 15. Ìli. gracilis,
macrostackya, M. rugosa. 17- M. capensis.
hirta. 19.'M. xtndulata. 20. M. canescens.
nemorosa, M. NHiaca. 22. M. gratissima.
brevispicata, M. levigata. —
Pur. red
Purple
Purplo
Purple
Purplish.
Purple
aquaticS, 1 .
crìspìi, 2 . .
hirsût{1,3 . .
subspic^itìi, 4 .
arvènsts, 5 . .
agrêstls, 6 *
glabri, 7 .
gracilis, 8 . .
nitida, 9 . .
rubra, 10 .
sativa, 11 .
vulgaris, 12
auriculilrlà .
balsfiméa . •
blanda . . .
canadensis .
glabrata, 13
c i t r a t i, 14 . .
coccinéa . .
dentata . . .
divaricata . .
Klabratà . .
incAnA . . .
Invimdiilûcëa .
piperita . . .
praténsls, 15 .
pubescgns . .
Puleglûm . .
Requiënî . .
rctundìfòlùl, 16
sallcïna, 17
suâvïs, 18 . .
sylvéstris . .
crispa, 19 .
mollissîmg, 20
nemorósa, 21
vulgaris, 22
tënxils . . .
villosa
Purple
Purple
Purple
Purple
Purple
Purple
Purple
Purple
W h i t e .
, Purple
. Purple
, Red pur.
, Scarlet
. Purple
. Purple
. Purple
. Purple
, Purple
. Purple
. Purple
. Purple
. Pa. pur.
. lac .
. Whitish
! Red .
. Purplish
. Purple
. Purple
. Purple
. Purple
. Purple
, Purple
. Purple
. Purple
16. M.
18. M.
21. M.
23. M.
24. M. crispata.
H. Her. P. Britain .
7, H. Her. P. Siberia .
8, H. Her. P. Britain .
8, H. Her. P. Britain .
8, H. Her. P. Britain .
6, H. Her. P. Britain .
6, H. Her. P. Britain .
7, H. Her. P. Britain .
7, H. Her. P. Britain .
9, H. Her. P. Britain .
7, H. Her. P. England
7, H. Her. P. Germany
7, H. 'Her. P. E. Ind. .
7, H. Her. P. Italy .
9, H. Her. P. Nepal .
8, H. Her. P. N. Amer.
, 7, H. Her. P. N. Amer.
. 7, H. Her. P. Britain .
. 7, H. Her. P. E. Ind. .
. 7, H. Her. P. Germany
. 7, H. Her. P. Spain .
. 7» H. Her. P. Egypt .
. 7, H. Her. P. Greece .
, 7, H. Her. P. Spain .
. 8, H. Her. P. England
8, H. Her. P. England
. 7, H. Her. P.
. 8, H. Her. P. Britain .
. 8, H. Her. P. Corsica .
. 8, H. Her. P. Britain .
H. Hir. P. C. G. H.
. 7, H. Her. P. S. France
. 7, H. Her. P. Britain .
. 7, H. Her. P.
. 7, H. Her. P. Spain .
. 7, H. Her. P.
. 7, H. Her. P. Germany
. 7, H. Her. P. N. Amer.
. 9, H. Her. P. Britain .
. 8. H. Her. P. Britain .
. 7, H. Her. P.
1640
1796
1804
1824
1800
1800
1823
1816
1824
1802
1790
1823
1829
1816
1800
1799
MERcrnrÂLÏs, Linn. After Mercury, who is said to
have first discovered the plant. Linn. 22, Or. 8,
Nat. Or. Euphorbiaceoe. Weeds of the simplest
c u l t u r e . The juice of M. perennis is emetic, while
t h e seed is purgative, and highly dangerous—
amhigfid, dnnud, elliptica, perënnîs, tomentOsd.
Merendkra, Ramond. A name given to Colchicum
by the Spaniards, and applied to this genus because
of its affinity. Linn. 6, Or. 3, Na t . Or. Melanthaceoe.
This species thrives well in a l ight loamy soil, and
is readily increased by seeds, or offsets from the
bulbs. Synonymes: 1. Bulbocodium trigynum, Colchicum
caucasicum.
caucâslca, 1 . . Purple . 8, H. Bl. P. Cauca&us . 1823
M e r i X n i a . In honour of Maria Sybylla Merian,
authcress of a work on insects. Linn. 10, Or. 1,
Nat. Or. Melastomacece. This is a genus of very
beautiful stove plants, which grow iveely in sandy
peat mixed with a little loam ; and cuttings of
t h e half-ripened wood root freely in sand, under
a glass, in heat,
leucflntha . . . Wliite. . S. Ev. S. Jamaica . 1825
purpùréi . . . Purple . S. Ev. S. .famaica . 1825
Merisma, Fries. From merismos, a division ; because
of the branched habit. Linn. 24, Or. 9, Nat. Or.
Fmigi. These plants are found in woods and damp
places—cristâtd,foetîdâ-anthocëphdId, tiiberOsd.
Mertënsïa, Willdenow. In honour of F. C. Mer tens,
professor of medicine at Bremen. Linn. 2,3, Or. 1,
Nat. Or. Vrticaceoe. All the species of this genus
are highl y esteemed by the lovers of border plants
for the brilliant colour of thei r blossoms. M. mariiima
and parvijlora require to be grown in pots,
in very sandy peat. The other species will grow
in common garden soil, though they succeed much
b e t t e r when kept in a peat border; increased by
divisions. Synonymes: 1. Pulmonaria dahurica.
2. P. denticulata. 3. P . lanceolata. 4. P. maritima.
6. P . parvijlora. 7* P» virginica.
Blue . . 5, H. Her P. Dahuria . 1812
Blue . . 6, H. Hei. P .N. Amer. . 1800
Blue . . 6, H. Her. P. Louisiana . . 1813
}}lue . . 7, H. Her. P. Britain . .
Blue . . 6, H. Her. P. Hud. 'sBaj 1778
Blue . . 7, H. Her. P. Canada . . , 1827
Blue . . 4, H. Her. P .N. Amer. . . 1699
Blue . . 6> H. Her. P. Siberia . , . 1801
virldls, 23 . • . X Lii . w. — - —
crlsp-i,24 . .Purile . 7, H. Her. P. .1 8 0 7
M e n t z e l i a , Linn. In honour of C. Mentzel, a botanical
author of Brandenburg. Liini. 12, Or. 1,
N a t . Or. Loasacece. These curious plants grovv
f r e e l y in a mixture of sandy loain and peat; and
cuttings root freel y in sand, under a glass, in heat.
fispSri . . . .Yel W . 7, F. A.America .1733
h i s p l d i i . . . .Yellow . 4,S Her. P. Peru . . 1831
oligospSrmS . .Yellow . 5, G. Her. P . Louisiana . 812
stipitata . . . Y e l l o w . 10, H. Her. P. Mexico . .1835
M e n y X n t h e s , Linn. From men, a month, and anthos,
a flower; alluding to the duration of the flowers.
Linn, o, Or. 1, Nat . Or. Gcntianacex. Plants of the
simplest culture. M. trifoHata is bi t ter , tonic, and
febrifugal. Synonyme: \. M. americana.
trifoliate . . .White. . 7, H. Aq. P. Britain . .
americana, 1 . Pa. red . 7. H. Aq. P. N. Amer. . 1818
MekziesTa, Smith. In honour of Archibal d Menzies,
F L S. &c , surgeon and naturalist to the expedition
unde r Vancouver ; he collected many specunens
of plants on the North-west coast of .America, New
Holland, Van Diemen's Land, &c. Linn. 8, Ur. J,
Nat. Or. Ericacece. A very ornamental genus ot
p l a n t s ; for culture and propagation, see Azalaa,
Synonyme: Erica Dab a ci
foiTuglnea . . . Brown
globularls . . . Brown
polifom, 1 . . . Purple
atro-purpiirSa . Drit. pur.
flOrS-albO . . White.
latifSlia . . . Pnrple
longifOlIil . . Purple .
nana . . . . Purple
pallida . . . Purple .
MenziesYa, see P h y imm
L 203 ]
5, H. "De. S. N. Amer.
5, H. De. S. N. Amer.
7, H. Ev. S. Ireland .
H. Ev. S.
6, H. Ev. S. Ireland .
7, H. Ev. S.
7, H. Ev. S.
7, H. Ev. S. Ireland .
7, H. Ev. S. Britain .
1811
1806
5. p . paniculata
8. P . sibirica.
dalmrlcfl, 1
denticulata, 2 .
marginatii, 3 .
mHrltlma, 4 .
panicuhita, 5 .
parviriOr;!. 6 .
pulmonarioideG,
sibirica, 8 . .
Mehulius, Bailer. From mcta, a pillar; because of
the resemblance in the original fungus metvjius.
Linn. 24, Or. 9, N a t . Or. Fungi. This is one of the
most important of parasitical fungi, bein^? wha t is
called the dry rot, so well known as the pest of
wooden cons t ruc t ions—l a c h r ^ m a n s - o b -
liquus, tremeU6sus.
MKSEMBRYANTHiiMUM, Ltnn. From mesembria, rnidday,
and anthcmon, a flower. Linn. 12, Or. 2, Nat.
Or. Ficoidece. This beautiful and \vell-known
g-enus of succulents is very easily cultivated. If
t h e y are intended to remain in pots, a l ight sandy
loam will suit them best; but if they are planted
out in a dry hot border, they will flower more profusely.
Many of the kinds are very beautiful
objects for the flower-garden; for this purpose,
cuttings should be struck in the autumn, and
allowed to remain in the store-pots all winter.
A dry pit or frame, where frost is excluded, is
sufficient for their protection in winter. Cuttings
of the most succulent kinds should be allowed to
dry a little after planting before water is given,
a f t e r which they root readily. M. edule is the
Hottent(.it-fig, the leaves of which are eaten. M.
nodiflornm is used in making Maroquin leather.
\. M. stellatum. 2. M. Candollci. 3.
, 5. M.
micran-
10. M.
. 1825
. 1714
' 1820
. 1821
. 1793
. 1805
. 1795
. 1791
. 1824
Synonymes
M. purpureo croreum. 4. M. dirrtidiatum
parvijiorum. 6. M- magnipunctatum*1. M.
thurn. 8. M. canescens. 9. M. hirsutxLm.
hispidum.
nbbreviûtûm
Q.
Ev.
Tr.
acinacifôiTué
Pink .
G.
E v.
Tr.
lôngûni .
Pinlc .
8 , O,
E v.
Tr.
acuminfitfim
While
8, G. Ev.
S.
acutflngûlûm
White
G. E v.
S.
acûtûm . .
Red .
7, G. Her.
P.
adscëndëns.
Yellow
9, G. Her.
P.
adxinci'im .
Pink .
2, G. E v.
S.
sequi Literal ô
Pink .
6, G. Ev.
agnïnûm .
Yellow
6, G. Her.
N. H oil.
C. G. H.
C. G. H.
C. G. H.
C. G. H.
C. G. H.
C. G. H.
C. G. H.
Tr. N. Holl.
P. C. G. H.
H
i