tropical house, both because of its beautifully-marbled leaves, 

 and the length of time which these keep in good condition. 

 In fact few plants are better adapted for permanent border- 

 ing in tropical houses than Peperomias, their leaves varying 

 so much in depth of colour, in marbling, in the different 

 hues of their upper and under surfaces, and in the colour of 

 their stalks; then too they are not attractive to insects, make 

 no litter, and give very little trouble in propagating and culti- 



vating. 



Desck. Rhizome very short, rooting, as thick as the little 

 finger. Leaves tufted at the apex of the rhizome, alternate ; 

 petioles dark red, four to eight inches long, terete ; blade 

 three to five inches long, orbicular-ovate or -cordate, acute, 

 rounded retuse or two-lobed at the base, quite entire, rather 

 succulent, concave, bright green but not shining above with 

 broad white belts between the nerves, pale below. Peduncles 

 as long as and of the same colour as the petioles. Catkin three 

 to four inches long, slender, pale green. Flowers close set, 

 but not densely packed, very minute. Bract peltate, orbi- 

 cular, with a short, stout stalk. Filaments very short; anthers 

 oblong. Ovary t obovoid, with a globular, sessile stigma.— 

 .7. R H. 5 



Fig. 1. Portion of catkin. 2. and 3. Side and front views of bract, 

 stamen, and pistil : — all magnified. 



