BOMBAY FERNERIES 171 



destitute of their ornamental leaves, are very pleasing. The highly 

 eulogised Burbidgeanitidah&a not as yet flowered iu Bombay. Though 

 beautiful or quaint flowers occasionally are met with in the many 

 varieties of Calaihea and Maranta, these arc principally conspicuous by 

 t heir magnificent loaves, presenting an almost endless variety, in shape, 



1 and colour. The tall-growing broad-leaved Calathea princeps 

 with purplish and yellowish marked leaves, the charming Calathea 

 zebrina with drooping satiny green leaves striped with velvety black, 

 the neat C. regalis with small leaves, densely veined with bright red 

 or white, the panthcr^spotted C. pardina, the compact and elegant 

 G. Leiizii, and the highly effective creamy-white variegated Maranat 

 amindinacaefol.pol. var. are among the best of the numerous varieties 

 found in Bombay Ferneries. The Lily order (Liliacew), which is so 

 rich in beautifully flowering plants, is curiously enough in our 

 Ferneries only represented by plants conspicuous by their foliage. 

 Such are the Cordtjlines and Draccenas, which by the brilliant colour 

 of their leaves, varying in all shades of green, yellow, red, white, 

 and almost black, coupled with a graceful habit, are well calculated 

 to range ajnong the most effective ornamental plants. It is needless 

 Kere to enumerate the numerous varieties and kinds represented in 

 Bombay, only one of which, Dracama surcvlosa maculata, is of so 

 entirely a different type, that it is rarely recognised as a Dracama, 

 it is distinguished by its compact shrubby habit, its shining 

 pale blotched small leaves, and by drooping tassels (umbels) 

 of small white flowers, often succeeded by bright scarlet berries. 

 Anthericum (P/dangium variegatum), with tufted, linear, creamy white 



iped leaves, is another effective foliage plant, belonging to the 

 same order, as does also the recently introduced, still rare and charm- 

 ing Asparagus plumosus, which in fineness even surpasses the 

 most beautiful fern. Plants of the order Amaryllideace, are, or should 

 at least not as a rule be, permanent inhabitants of the Fernery, 

 but they are, when in flower, not only most beautiful ornaments, but 

 they also generally benefit greatly by their temporary stay there, 

 and subsequent removal to a dry and sunny position, which treat- 

 ment in most instances results in a successful development of 

 flowers. The brilliant Eippeastrum (Amaryllis), whose scarlet, 

 crimson, orange, 01 occasionally pure white or rose-coloured, 



