390 HORTUS MORTOLENSIS 
E. Stapfii, an interesting shrubby species, was received from 
Entebbe in August, 1906. Unfortunately it is not hardy. 
E. uncinata was lately collected by Dr. J. Brunnthaler on hills 
near Port Elizabeth. 
E. viscosa grows extremely slowly. The plants in the garden 
must be nearly forty years old. They are quite hardy.* 
EURYOPS SPATHACEUS. 
This pretty shrub was sent to the garden by Mr. D. Hanbury 
in August, 1870. When not in flower it much resembles a 
shrubby pine. 
FALKIA REPENS. 
A pretty little Cape plant, adapted for borders and rock-work, 
was received from the Botanic Garden at Genoa, in November, 
1901. 
FERDINANDA EMINENS. 
Grows here into an enormous bush, and flowers every year in 
great profusion. 
FERULA COMMUNIS. 
Now very common and almost a weed, was originally intro- 
duced by Mr. D. Hanbury on May 20th, 1868, and sown near the 
sea and in the garden. 
Ficus. 
Comparatively few species of this chiefly tropical genus can be 
cultivated here. The most commonly planted is F’. macrophylla, 
which in foliage and habit much resembles the tenderer and 
consequently rarer F. elastica. The two species can be easily 
distinguished; the former has smaller leaves of a more ovate oblong 
outline with very numerous and fine reticulate nerves underneath, 
whilst the latter has oblong leaves with the nerves less visible 
and much less reticulate. Both species are quick growing and 
form large trees with many aerial roots. ’. “glumosa”’ of this 
garden, a near relative to F’. macrophylla, and most likely also a 
native of Australia and not of Abyssinia, has the under side of 
the leaves covered with a rusty tomentum. It is possibly 
identical with F’. magnolioides Borzi.t F. rubiginosa, a tree with 
smaller leaves than the above-mentioned species, is quite hardy. 
If its branches are allowed to touch the soil, they take root and 
grow into additional trees, soon forming a thicket. We also grow 
F. comosa Lowe, which is quite hardy and a fine tree. 
F. stipulata grows to perfection and fruits everywhere. In 
its young form it is a well-known greenhouse or stove creeper. 
Several other species do quite well, but some tropical species, for 
instance, F’. religiosa, are not making much progress. Some of 
the hardier kinds produce figs, but I have never seen ripe seeds, 
except of F’. Carica. 
* For further information see my handbook Sukkulente Euphorbien. 
t Bolletino Orto Botanico Palermo, i. p. 47. 
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