[Illustration: FIG. 31. FLOWER OF ADONIS ÃSTIVALIS.]
=A. vernalis= (spring).* _fl._ yellow, large; petals, ten to twelve, oblong, rather denticulated. March. _l._ lower ones abortive, or reduced to somewhat sheathing scales, the middle and upper ones sessile and multifid, with very entire lobes. _h._ 9in. to 1ft. Europe, 1629. Charming rock plant. This handsome species requires a rich moist sandy loam, and should not be disturbed for years. Perennial.
[Illustration: FIG. 32. ADONIS ÃSTIVALIS, showing Habit and Flowers.]
=A. v. sibirica= (Siberian) differs only in having larger flowers.
=A. volgensis= (Volga). An intermediate species between _A. vernalis_ and _A. pyrenaica_, differing from the first in the stems being branched, leaves more distant; from the last by the lower leaves being abortive, and formed like scales; and from both in the sepals being pubescent on the outside, not smooth. _fl._ yellow. _h._ 1ft. Russia, 1818.
=ADPRESSED.= Brought into close contact with anything without adhering.
=ADULT.= The full grown of anything. Full grown leaves are termed adult.
=ADVENTITIOUS.= Developed in an unusual position. Applied to buds, roots, &c.
=ADVENTURE BAY PINE.= _See_ _Phyllocladus rhomboidalis_.
=ÃCHMEA= (from _aichme_, a point; in reference to the rigid points on the calyces, or flower-envelopes). Including _Pironneaua_. ORD. _Bromeliaceæ_. Very handsome stove plants. Flowers scapose, panicled; perianth six-cleft, three outer segments sepaloid, longer than the three inner or petaloid ones. Leaves ligulate or sword-shaped, sometimes with marginal spines. The species thrive best in a well-drained compost of rich fibrous loam and leaf mould. They like plenty of light, which may be afforded by standing them on inverted pots, so as to raise their heads well up above the surrounding plants. Propagation: When the flower-spikes, which are sent up from the heart or crown of the plant, die away, suckers or offsets are produced near the base, and from these other flowers appear the year after. If large plants are desired, these suckers should be left to grow and spread around; but to produce single plants, the suckers must be taken off and potted singly, in sharp soil, and then stood where they can get a moist heat till rooted. To enable them to do this it is necessary to strip off a few of the lower leaves, and trim the bottom with a sharp knife, in order that it may heal over and callus more readily than it otherwise would. When rooted, the plants may be shifted into larger-sized pots; but for single crowns 32-sized pots are large enough, as the plants, being epiphytal in their nature, do not require much soil or any great supply of water, except when growing freely or sending up their flower-spikes. In winter, they should be kept rather on the dry side, to induce partial rest; and an important point is to see that water is not allowed to lie for any length of time in the crown of the plant, as when that is the case it is likely to cause them to rot.