Copyright, 1899, by 

 rbORISTS' PUBI^ISNING CO., 520-535 Caxton Building, CHICAGO. 



VoLin. 



CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, APRIL 13, J 899. 



No. 72. 



HELICONIA AUREA STRIATA. 



The accompanying illustration gives 

 us a fair idea of this handsome canna- 

 like plant, at least so far as black and 

 white can depict it, but the pleasing 

 combination of yellow and pink color- 

 ing that is found in the leaves and 

 stems of this heliconia must be left 

 to the imagination. 



This is a warm house plant, and as 

 such is well adapted for exhibition in 



a collection of variegated leaved 

 plants, its free growth and large foli- 

 age soon providing a suitable speci- 

 men tor such purpose. 



The heliconias are all natives of 

 tropical America, there being in all 

 something more than twenty species 

 known, though in all probability the 

 majority of these species are seldom 

 seen outside of botanical gardens. 



One or two of the species are used to 



Heliconia Aurea^Striata, 



some extent for food, the young shoots 

 of H. psittacorum being cooked in 

 some of the West India islands, and 

 the seeds of H. Bihai being also edi- 

 ble. A fiber is also obtained from the 

 leaf stems of some of the species, this 

 being very similar to Manila hemp, 

 the latter being the fiber of Musa tex- 

 tilis. The habit and leaves of Helico- 

 nia aurea striata remind one very 

 much of some of the small growing 

 musas, and this brings to mind the 

 fact that these two plants are closely 

 related botanically. 



H. aurea striata is comparatively re- 

 cent among our plant collections, hav- 

 ing been introduced in 18S1, and dur- 

 ing the past ten years has frequently 

 been exhibited, its yellow striped foli- 

 age proving very attractive under such 

 circumstances. As noted above this 

 plant is happiest in a warm green- 

 house, the conditions adapted for alo- 

 casias, anthuriums and plants of like 

 character being about right for the 

 heliconia. 



A rather rich open loam answers 

 well as a soil for this plant, and 

 throughout the summer especially an 

 abundance of water is required, and 

 also moderate shading will be found 

 beneficial. Propagation is usually ef- 

 fected by division of the roots in the 

 same manner as with cannas, and but 

 little more difficulty is experienced in 

 establishing the young plants. 



As a trade plant this heliconia is 

 hardly likely to become very promi- 

 nent, the foliage not being tough 

 enough to endure much decorating 

 work, but for a private colleotion it 

 is well worth a place. 



W. H. TAPLIN. 



COLEUS THYRSOIDEUS. 



Note of the introduction of this new 

 species of colons was made in the 

 Gardeners' Chronicle last February, 

 on its flowering at Kew. It was then 

 described as a showy blue labiate 

 which was likely to prove a useful 



