148 
Greenhouse and Stove Plauits. 
DIOSCOREA, 
which require a strong heat to strike in, 
with the usual conditions of a moist con- 
fined atmosphere. After roots are formed the 
plants must be grown on in a warm stove, 
and as they get large they will want plenty 
of root-room either by being put in large 
v0ts or planted out. It thrives in sandy 
fea ntroduced from India. 
Insects.—This Dillenia is subject to 
most of the insects that affect stove plants. 
Syringe with water and fumigate for the 
less objectionable kinds ; for mealy bug 
and scale syringe and sponge with in- 
secticide in the winter when the plant is 
dormant. 
DILLWYNIA. 
This is a genus of hardwooded green- 
house plants, of a bushy habit, that bloom 
freely in the spring and summer. The 
flowers are yellow, or reddish-brown, pretty, 
but not nearly so attractive as many species 
that come from the same countries—New 
Holland, New South Wales, or the ad- 
jacent parts. Dillwynias were at one time 
much more grown than at present, having 
given way to things more showy in appear- 
ance. The method of propagation and the 
after treatment given for Boronias—which 
see—will answer for Dillwynias. The 
undermentioned are the most deserving 
kinds :— . 
D. floribunda. Yellow. 
D. juniperina. Yellow. 
D. pungens. Yellow. 
D. rudis sanguinea. Red. 
D. speciosa. Orange and yellow. 
DION EDULE. 
A very handsome evergreen plant. — It 
belongs to the Cycad family, and requires 
the same treatment as the warm species of 
Cycas. The pinne of the leaves are as 
regular as the back-bone of a fish; the 
leaves in a strong specimen will attain a 
length of from 5 to6 feet. A native of 
Mexico. 
DIONZA MUSCIPULA. 
A most curious little warm greenhouse 
plan, differing from all others in the re- 
markable formation of its leaves, which 
terminate in a singular trap-like appen- 
dage, furnished with internal hairs, which, 
so long as the leaves are healthy and 
vigorous, are extremely sensitive, and 
when touched cause the jaws of the trap to 
close instantly. This is one of the most 
remarkable of the insectivorous plants, so 
called from the provisions which Nature 
has given them to attract and confine in- 
sects, Which latter are with good reason 
supposed to afford them nutriment. 
It is increased by division ; when the 
plant produces a flower-stem this causes 
the bulb-like base to divide as in the case 
of Lilies and many other plants. The off- 
sets should be separated in the spring 
before growth begins, and put singly in 
very small pots filled with a mixture of 
fibrous peat and chopped sphagnum, with 
a little sand and small crocks added. The 
plant requires plenty of water through the 
growing season, and must never be allowed 
to get dry. It thrives best with a little 
more warmth than that of an ordinary 
greenhouse, but does not like a stove heat. 
It should have plenty of light, but ought 
not to be stood too near the glass, or be 
exposed to the sun. The little pots in 
which the plants are grown must always 
be kept plunged up to their rims in 
sphagnum, in a pot or pan large enough to 
hold a moderate body of the material ; 
this is needful to keep the roots in a uni- 
formly moist condition; ten or twelve 
plants plunged in this way in a pan 12 
inches in diameter, make a nice specimen. 
The plants are better not grown under a 
bell-glass as sometimes advised, as even if 
kept tilted the glass tends to weaken the 
growth. Itis a habitant of the swamps of 
North Carolina and Florida. 
Iysgors.—Aphides are particularly par- 
tial to Dioncea, and must never be allowed 
to remain on it, or they will quickly 
destroy the leaves; fumigation with to- 
bacco is the best remedy. 
DIOSCOREA. 
Strong-growing stove climbers, suitable 
for training round a pillar, or more so for 
clothing a wall, where such plants as are 
grown for the production of flowers might 
not get enough light. They are rapid 
erowers, soon ‘covering a_ considerable 
space ; the leaves of the kinds hereafter 
named are handsomely variegated, al- 
though not so bright in appearance as _ 
some things used for a like purpose. 
They are increased by division of their 
tuberous roots in the spring before they 
begin to grow ; pot, and grow them on under 
ordinary stove treatment ; and give as they 
increase in size enough root-room either by 
large pots, or by planting them out ina 
bed. They will thrive in either loam or peat. 
D. Anectochilus. A bold-leaved species, 
and a free grower that will cover a large 
space if given enough root-room to enable 
it to attain its full strength. The ground 
colour of the leaves is green, mottled with 
golden yellow. From South America. 
