MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 75 
native of Africa, the Garden collection being represented by 
three species. 
Strelitzia augusta is the largest-growing type of the genus, 
forming a woody trunk with numerous suckers and fan- 
shaped leaves attaining a height of 20-25 feet. In general 
habit it strongly resembles the ‘travelers’ tree” of Mada- 
gascar especially in the fan formation of the leaf stalks, and 
is like the common banana in the large flat leaves which 
often measure 3-4 feet in length. These split readily to 
the central stalk, giving the same ragged appearance as the 
banana when subjected to the action of winds. 
The large specimen on the west side of the palm house 
has been in the collection for fifteen years. Previous to its 
removal to the palm house, it was grown in a tub under 
crowded conditions in the old greenhouses. However, since 
being placed under more natural conditions, a considerable 
growth has been attained, its first flowers having finally been 
produced. The formation of the flowers is unusual ; they are 
enclosed in a large dark purple bract which emerges from 
the base of the imbricated leaf stalk. When fully matured 
the single flowers have to force their way through the apical 
portion nearest the trunk. New flowers appear every two 
or three days, pushing the preceding ones back.. The petals 
are pure white with a beak-like lip of pleasing dark blue 
color. During its present blooming period it has produced 
two spikes with over twenty flowers. Propagation 1s accom- 
plished by suckers or seeds. 
DRACAENA GLOMERATA AND DRACAENA 
KINDTIANA 
During the World’s Fair at St. Louis in 1904, arrange- 
ments were made with Mr. Verner, who brought the South 
African pygmies for exhibition, to collect rare plants for the 
Garden. In 1906 a consignment of rare plants was re- 
ceived, including two very rare dracaenas, D. glomerata and 
D. Kindtiana, at that time the only specimens of these 
varieties in any botanical collection of the world. Some- 
time later, however, the Laurente expedition collected these 
same varieties. 
Dracaena glomerata is the more ornamental of the two, 
resembling in habit D. Goldieana, although the growth is 
more vigorous. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate, light green, 
sparsely mottled with lighter green. The flowers are white. 
At the St. Louis Spring Flower Show in 1917 the Society 
of American Florists silver medal was awarded to this new 
introduction. D. Kindtiana grows to a height of 2-3 feet 
