Acanthopanax – Adenocalymma

ACANTHOPANAX (ak-an-thop’-anax). Deciduous shrubs and trees from Asia, with ornamental foliage and prickly stems. The most striking in appearance is Acanthopanax ricinifolium, a tall tree with large and handsome dark-green leaves, resembling those of the castor-bean. Flat clusters of white flowers are borne in summer, followed by small black fruits.

Acanthopanax sieboldianum (also known as Acanthopanax pentaphyllum and Aralia pentaphylla) is a bushy shrub with slender, arching branches. It thrives in shady places and is sometimes used as a hedge plant. During May and June terminal leaves are frequently injured by the sucking of the four-lined plant bug; they can be protected by using neem oil.

ACANTHUS (ah-kan’-thus). Bears breech. Perennial herbs or thistle-like small shrubs of the Old World about 3 ft. tall, with leaves from 12 to 24 in. long and 6 to 12 in. wide, and whitish, rose; or lilac flowers borne on spikes 18 in. long. They are semi-hardy, do best in rich, yell-drained soil and full sunlight, and are especially useful for background plantings. Although semi-hardy, they need heavy winter protection in the N. Seed may be sown in late April ; plants will flower in August. Propagation by division of the roots may be done in spring or early autumn. The more useful species are:

Acanthus mollis – To 2 ft. tall, the spineless leaves 2 ft. long. Flowers rose, lilac or whitish. A pretty plant but somewhat tender. Var. latifolius is hardier, has even larger leaves, grows to 3 ft. and is much better for U.S. gardens.

Acanthus montanus -Spiny leaves 1 ft. long. Rose-tinted flowers are borne on terminal spikes about 10 in. long.

Acanthus spinosus – Flowers purplish, on dense spikes. The lobed leaves of this South European species were the inspiration for important forms in early art, including the Greek Corinthian column.

ACAULESCENT -A term sometimes used to describe plants, flowers, etc., that are stemless or that have very short, not evident, stems.

ACERANTHUS (ay-ser-an’-thus). Hardy herbaceous perennials for semi-shady locations.

ACHENE (ay-keen’). A small, dry, hard, one-seeded fruit with no fissure or “valve” along which it opens. An example is the tiny seed of a strawberry, many of which are embedded in the fleshy edible part that is actually the swollen receptacle of the flower.

ACHLYS (ak’-lis) triphylla. A Pacific Coast herb sometimes planted in rock gardens.

ACORUS (ak’-oh-rus). The name of a few, hardy, swamp-loving herbs of the Arum Family. They have slender, grassy leaves and inconspicuous, greenish flowers on a thick spike (spadix) partly surrounded by a bract (spathe). They are often planted in the bog garden and are increased by division. Acorus calamus, the Sweet Flag, grows as high as 6 ft. with attractive, long, narrow foliage and a spadix 4 in. long. The roots are dug by country people and boiled in syrup to make a spicy candy.

Acorus gramineus and its var. variegatus are much smaller plants and are often used in hanging baskets, in the rock garden, and for cutting. They are sometimes grown as house plants.

ACROCLINIUM (ak-roh-klin’-i-um) -The “trade name” name for an annual plant bearing white to deep-rose flowers of the “everlasting” type, now called by botanists Helipterum.

ACTAEA (ak-tee’-ah) – A few species of herbaceous perennials of the Buttercup Family commonly called Baneberry, Cohosh or Actea. The small white flowers borne in showy terminal clusters in spring develop into bright-colored or white berries in summer and fall. Growing to a height of 2 ft. the plants are admirably adapted to rockeries, wild gardens or borders; they are vigorous growers in shady locations. Seed may be sown in late fall or spring. Propagation generally is by root division in spring. The popular species for gardens are: alba (White Baneberry) with white berries; rubra, with red berries; and spicata (Herb Christopher), with flowers white or bluish and berries of purplish-black.

ACHRAS (ak’-ras) zapota. A large evergreen tree of tropical America where it is grown in frost-free regions for its edible fruit. Its common names are Marmalade-plum and Sapote. Do not confuse it with another tree so closely related that it was formerly called by botanists Achras sapota, but which is now Sapota achras, the Sapodilla.

ACTINIDIA (ak-ti-nid’-i-ah) – Deciduous climbing shrubs of twining habit and vigorous growth. Several of the species thrive in northern gardens. They grow well in good garden soil and are equally at home in sun or partial shade. Well adapted to clothe arbors and pergolas, to be trained on a wall, or to trail up a tree. Propagation is by seeds, cuttings and layers.

PRINCIPAL SPECIES

Actinidia arguta grows to more than 50 ft. Attractive large green leaves and small clusters of whitish flowers. Bears edible fruit resembling a gooseberry, but not all plants fruit as some have flowers of one sex only.

chinensis – The most handsome, but not reliably hardy in the North. Red hairs clothe the branches when young, and it bears the largest flowers and fruit.

kolomitka – to 18 ft., is the shortest grower. The male plant is handsome with pink and white variegated leaves.

polygamy (Silver-vine) – As it attracts cats, this species may need protection from their attentions. Young leaves of male plant are silvery.

ACUMINATE – A term applied to leaves that taper to a long, slender tip; often called attenuate. The leaf of Celtis occidentalis, the hackberry, is described as long-acuminate.

ACUTE – Sharp; said of a leaf (as of the chestnut) that ends decisively in a point, the apex forming an angle of less than 90 deg.

ADDERS TONGUE – An early spring bulbous plant of the Lily Family, also known as dog-tooth violet.

ADELIA (a-dee’-li-ah) – Former name of a genus of deciduous and evergreen ornamental shrubs or trees belonging to the Olive Family, now called Forestiera.

ADENANDRA (a-den-an’sdrah) – Small, tender, evergreen shrubs belonging to the Rue Family, natives of the Cape of Good Hope region of South Africa. Of the 20 or more species known, some are found in large greenhouse collections. Adenandra fragrans (Breath of Heaven) is grown in Calif.; and the species Adenandra amoena (with flowers white above, red below), coriacea (pink), and umbellata (pink, fringed) are occasionally found in botanical gardens where they are wintered under glass and grown outdoors in summer. Propagation is by cuttings of half-ripened wood, rooted in a fibrous loam.

ADENANTHERA (a-den-an-thee’- rah) – A genus of evergreen tropical trees of the Pea Family commonly known as Bead-trees. They have compound leaves and slender clusters of white or yellow flowers followed by narrow pods of brightly colored seeds. Adenanthera pavonina (Red Sandalwood Tree or Peacock Flower-Fence) grows to a large size in the tropics. It is frequently grown in the open in the far South and sometimes in greenhouses in the North principally because of the interesting bright-red lens-shaped seeds borne in the 7 in. pods. They are sometimes called “Circassian seeds” and used for beads in necklaces.

ADENOCALYMMA (a-den-oh-kal’-imah) – South American, mostly Brazilian, shrubby climbers related to the Bignonia with more than 50 species. The orange or yellow flowers are large and trumpet-shaped, with five lobes; they are followed by long, woody seedpods. In temperate climates plants are grown in moist greenhouses and propagated by cuttings rooted in a mixture of sand and peat in a frame.

Related Articles Of Interest:

• Callicarpa
• Vaccinium
• Sapote
• Hackberry