56 Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
ATACCIA CRISTATA, 
Amongst the hardy species are several well 
known, indigenous to Britain, as, for in- 
stance, A. marinum and the pretty little 
A. viride. 
For propagation and cultivation, see 
Ferns, general details of culture. 
STOVE SPECIES. 
. Belangerti. Java. 
. ebenewm. North America. 
. flabellatum. Mexico. 
. fragrans. Jamaica. 
. obtusilobum. New Hebrides. 
. pulchellum. 
Bh & hh & 
GREENHOUSE SPECIES. 
. bulbiferwum. New Zealand. 
. elegantulum. China. 
. lucidum. West Indies. 
. Nove Caledone. New Caledonia. 
. rhizophorum. Jamaica. 
. viparum. Mauritius. 
bps ps by bs by 
ASTRAPZA WALLICHII. 
An evergreen stove tree that bears hand- 
some flowers. It is an effective plant 
where it can have room to extend. 
It strikes readily from shoot cuttings in 
spring, taken off with a heel, and inserted 
in sand, kept moist, close, and shaded in a 
temperature of 70°. When well rooted, 
pot singly in turfy loam, and encourage 
growth by keeping them in a temperature 
similar to that in which they were struck, 
with shade when sunny, and a moderate 
amount of air in the day. The air given 
should not be enough to dry the atmos- 
phere unduly, as the plant likes to be 
moist while growing. Give larger pots 
about the end of June, putting a stick to 
each for support. Cease shading towards 
the end of August, admitting all the light 
possible, with more air. Winter in a night 
temperature of 65°. In spring larger pots 
will be needed, and soil such as before 
should be used ; treat through the summer 
as previously, and also during the ensuing 
winter. After this, all that is necessary is 
to give the requisite root-room, large pots 
being needed, except where it is intended 
to plant out. 
There are several kinds of Astrapgea in 
cultivation, but the above-named species 
will be most likely to give satisfaction. It 
comes from Madagascar; the flowers are 
pink, opening in summer or autumn. 
Insects.—This Astrapza is subject to 
the attacks of mealy bug, scale, and thrips ; 
for the last fumigate. If mealy bug is 
found troublesome, syringe freely with 
water in summer, and, when at rest, wash 
with insecticide; for scale, sponging will 
be best. 
ASTROCARYUM ‘ARGENTEUM. 
A distinct-looking stove Palm, with 
drooping leaves, deep green on the upper 
surface, silvery beneath. From Colombia. 
The method of propagation and after 
cultivation will be found under Palms, 
general details of culture. 
ATACCIA CRISTATA. 
The first impression produced by an in- 
spection of this most singular warm stove 
plant is one of wonder as to the uses of the 
different strange appendages that are at- 
tached to the flowers. One might be par- 
doned for coming to the conclusion that it 
was the result of an effort on the part of 
nature to produce something in the vege- 
table world totally different from every- 
thing else. In form, as also in texture, we 
find nothing like it ; there are a few others 
nearly allied to this Ataccia, but it may be 
taken as the best representative. The root- - 
fibres are thick and coarse, proceeding from 
a stout, short root-stock, from which issue 
the leaves, some five or six in number. 
The petioles are smooth, a few inches long ; 
the blade of the leaf is oblong acuminate, 
of a dark-green colour, nerves prominent ; 
in a strong plant the leaves attain a height 
of 18 inches. | As many have not seen the 
flower, a description may be of use. The 
scape rises well above the leaves; it is 
erect, smooth, and terminated by a large 
four-leaved membranaceous involucre ; the 
two outer leaflets are opposite, the two inner 
are placed side by side, erect, very large, 
almost transparent, and, like the rest of the 
flower, of a deep chocolate colour. The 
numerous peduncles are each terminated 
by a single flower, forming a drooping 
umbel. Besides these floral peduncles there 
are a number of others, sterile, long, droop- 
ing, and tendril-like in shape ; these still 
further increase the singularity of the 
flower, than which nothing in the whole 
vegetable kingdom is more calculated to 
interest even the most casual observer. The 
plant is easily grown, provided a few things 
essential for its existence are kept in sight. 
It is found indigenous in Malacca, occu- 
pying moist, damp situations ; this shows 
that it should always be kept in a com- 
paratively high temperature, and that the 
soil should never be allowed to get dry. 
The fact of this and many other plants 
luxuriating naturally in swampy ground 
often leads to their being subjected under 
cultivation to a course of treatment that is 
—s rrr 
