Daisy family
Compositae
Kal-lis’tee-fuss. A single, very variable Asiatic herb, known as the China, or Garden, Aster. Not closely related to the true genus Aster. Good for cutting.
Description
Leaves broadly oval, deeply and irregularly toothed. Flowerheads solitary, at the ends of relatively long stalks.
How to Grow (more…)
Grass family
Gramineae
Bry’za. A group of slender grasses, usually called quaking grass.
Description
Leaf blades flat, the spikelets suggesting small, flattened hops, often nodding on threadlike stalks.
How to Grow (more…)
Carrot family
Umbelliferae
Ak-ti-no’tus. A group of about 15 herbs, native to Australia and New Zealand.
Description
Leaves alternate, twice- or thrice-compound, hairy or woolly. Flowers very small and numerous, in dense umbels that are surrounded by raylike bracts.
How to Grow (more…)
Daisy family
Compositae
Tay-gee’teez. Marigold . A group of about 30 species of annual herbs, all native from N. Mex. to Argentina, not from Africa or France as implied by the common names African Marigold and French Marigold. The name “marigold” is commonly applied to several different kinds of plants in addition to Tagetes . The best known are the Pot Marigold ( Calendula ), the Cape Marigold ( Dimorphotheca ), and the Sea Marigold ( Mesembryanthemum ).
Description
Leaves strong-scented, mostly opposite and usually finely dissected. Flowerheads showy, solitary, or clustered. Below each head is a series of involucral bracts, united into a cuplike base.
How to Grow (more…)
Mint family
Labiatae
Sat-you-ree’a. Savory . About 30 species of aromatic herbs or small shrubs, distributed through the temperate regions of the world. The species below is used as an herb. Sometimes spelled Satureia .
Description
Stems usually square. Leaves opposite, ovalish or lance-shaped, the margins sometimes toothed. Flowers pink, white, or purplish, in whorls, in axillary or terminal racemes. Calyx 5-lobed, usually tubular. Corolla a narrow tube opening into 2 lips, upper lip 2-lobed and flat, lower lip 3-lobed and widely flaring. Stamens 4, in pairs.
How to Grow (more…)
Primrose family
Primulaceae
Prim’you-la. Primrose . A large genus of over 400 species of low-growing, herbaceous plants of the northern hemisphere, found mostly in alpine and cool localities.
Description
Stems short or none. Leaves crowded, stalked, long and narrow, or roundish or tufted, the midrib generally prominent on underside. Flowers on leafless stalks, sometimes with leafy bracts, solitary, or in loose umbels, in whorled tiers, or in rounded heads. Flowers yellow, white, red, blue, pink, or purple. Calyx of 5 sepals, joined halfway, usually slightly inflated, generally pale green. Corolla of 5 lobes, tubular at the base. Stamens 5, not protruding.
How to Grow (more…)
Daisy family
Compositae
A-jur-a’tum. A group of nearly 30 species of chiefly tropical American annual herbs, one of which is perhaps the most popular of all edging plants.
Description
Leaves opposite, generally oval, the margins with rounded teeth. Flowers blue, pink, or white in some horticultural forms, in compact, clustered heads, without rays.
How to Grow (more…)
Daisy family
Compositae
Ka-len’dew-la. A genus of 15 species of herbs, chiefly from the Mediterranean region.
Description
Leaves undivided, alternate, simple, and faintly toothed. Flowerheads large, the rays yellow, orange, or cream.
How to Grow
Calendulas grown to flower in spring are tall with small blossoms, while winter-grown plants are small with immense blossoms. For spring bloom, start seeds very early indoors and set out as soon as soil can be worked. For fall or winter bloom in warm regions, direct seed and transplant 12 in. (30 cm) apart. Prefers cool weather.
Calendula officinalis
Pot Marigold . 12-18 in. (30-45 cm) high. Flowerheads solitary, stalked, 1-3 in. (2.5-7.5 cm) wide, the day-blooming and night-closing rays flattish and orange, yellow, or cream. S. Europe. Many cultivars are available. Plants prey to slugs. Long-lasting flowers good for cutting. Blooms spring to frost. Hardy annual.
Mint family
Labiatae
Mol-lew-sell’a. Two species of aromatic Old World annual herbs, both found in old-fashioned gardens, the one below widely cultivated for fresh and dried flowers.
Description
Leaves opposite, stalked, generously toothed. Flowers very small, in whorls in the leaf axils. Corolla tiny, irregular, white or pinkish, scarcely or not exceeding the bristly or prickly calyx.
How to Grow (more…)
Pea family
Leguminosae
Loo-pine’us. Lupine . A genus of many species found in North America, South America, and around the Mediterranean; all annuals or perennials except for a tree.
Description
Herbaceous stems, with leaves compound and finger-shaped. Flowers pealike, produced in dense terminal racemes.
How to Grow (more…)
Pink family
Caryophyllaceae
A-gro-stem’ma. A small genus containing 3 species of annual herbs, native to the Mediterranean region. The seeds are poisonous, and the plants grow as weeds in grain fields.
Description
Leaves opposite and entire. Flowers solitary, with 5 petals.
How to Grow (more…)
Mallow family
Malvaceae
Hy-bis’kus. An important genus of over 250 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees, with many popular garden annuals.
Description
Leaves alternate, with veins arranged finger-fashion, sometimes lobed or parted. Flowers usually large, generally bell-shaped, with 5 petals and sepals, or sometimes the sepals united to form a 5-toothed calyx. Stamens united in a tubular structure that surrounds the style. Often a series of bracts beneath the calyx.
How to Grow (more…)
Soapberry family
Sapindaceae
Kar-dee-o-sper’mum. A genus of perhaps 12 species of chiefly tropical herbaceous vines, one cultivated, mostly in warm regions, for ornament.
Description
Leaves alternate, twice-compound, the ultimate leaflets coarsely toothed. Flowers small but numerous, unisexual, in clusters that bear tendrils. Sepals and petals each 4. Fruit a papery, inflated, and veiny capsule, 3-valved, and with black seeds with a white, heart-shaped spot, hence the common name of heart-seed for these vines.
How to Grow (more…)
Gentian family
Gentianiaceae
You-sto’ma. A small genus of North American prairie herbs, the species below cultivated in the garden.
Description
Leaves opposite, ovalish, sometimes stem-clasping. Flowers solitary or in clusters, corolla with 5-6 lobes.
How to Grow (more…)
Potato family
Solanaceae
Kap’si-kum. A genus of tropical woody plants yielding Red (but not black) Peppers, Tabasco, and Cayenne Peppers, as well as the milder peppers commonly grown as vegetables. Most are from tropical America.
Description
Leaves alternate, simple, without marginal teeth. Flowers white or greenish white, usually stalked and solitary or in 2- to 3-flowered clusters, generally wheel-shaped and 5-lobed. Fruit typically podlike with a thickish rind. Most are hot; all are edible.
How to Grow (more…)
