PHGINOCOMA. 
red, produced in summer. It is a native 
of Chili. 
Insects.—-The plant is little troubled 
with insects, but sometimes aphides affect 
the young shoots; for these fumigate, or 
syringe with tobacco-water. 
PHILODENDRON. 
A singular genus of evergreen stove 
plants, with thick fleshy stems and large, 
handsome leaves, quite distinct in their 
appearance. One of the best known of the 
family is often met with under the name 
of Monstera deliciosa, the massive foliage 
of which has such a distinct appearance. 
In their native countries they scramble on 
the ground, or over the shrubs and low 
trees that happen to be near them. In a 
cultivated state they are seen to the best 
advantage when grown on the back wall 
of a house. 
They are easily increased by division of 
the stems, which if cut into lengths of two 
or three joints, inserted in pots, and treated 
in the ordinary way of cuttings, in a brisk 
heat, soon get established, and make top 
growth. They are not particular as to soil, 
providing it 1s moderately loose and open 
—turfy loam, with one-fifth of leaf-mould 
and some sand added, answers well for 
them. All that is required further is to 
give larger pots as the plants increase in 
size, if to be grown in this way, but in a 
large house where room can be found and 
there is a suitable wall for them to cover, 
they may be planted out. They do best in 
a moderately high temperature in summer 
with as much heat during winter as 
answers for most stove plants; give 
plenty of water in the growing season with 
enough light to keep the leaves from 
getting drawn, and make free use of the 
syringe daily in summer. No more shade 
should be used than needful to prevent the 
leaves being scorched. 
The following are fine kinds :— 
P. erubescens. A handsome species with 
cordate leaves ; the leaf-stalks are shorter 
in this kind than in some of the others. It 
comes from the Caraccas. 
P. Lindenti. A stout-growing species 
from Ecuador. 
P. pertusum (Monstera deliciosa). This 
has very large foliage, singular in its for- 
mation, looking as if portions of the leaf- 
blade had been cut out. Itis avery strong 
grower. West Indies. 
P. pinnatifidum. A handsome species, 
similar in character to the last-named. It 
also is a West Indian kind. 
Insects.—Few insects can find harbour 
on the smooth leathery leaves of these 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
277 
plants, and if at all affected their texture 
is such as to permit of the syringe being 
used with force enough to clear away the 
parasites. , 
PH@NICOPHORIUM SECHEL- 
LARUM. 
(Syn. : Stevensonia grandifolia.) 
This is a hot stove species, and one of 
the grandest of all cultivated Palms. The 
stem is well-proportioned, sufficiently thick, 
but not so as to detract from the elegant 
appearance of the plant ; the leaves are of 
immense size, plaited, and entire, deep 
green in colour, with often a number of 
small reddish spots over the surface ; the 
leaf-stalks are heavily spined. From the 
Seychelle Islands. 
For propagation and cultivation, see 
Palms, general details of culture. 
PHENIX. 
A very handsome genus of Palms, several 
of which have the merit of being cultivable 
in a temperature little above that of a 
greenhouse. They are also interesting 
from the fact that one of their number, P. 
dactylifera, yields the dates of commerce. 
Propagation and cultivation will be 
found under Palms, general details of 
culture. 
P. dactylifera. This is a stately plant, 
with an upright habit of growth, and large 
pinnate leaves. It is very pretty in a small 
state. From the Levant. 
P. reclinata. This species has a hand- 
some appearance in all its various stages of 
growth, but especially while young, in 
which state its spreading pinnate leaves, 
prettily arranged on the plant, make it an 
attractive object. Africa. 
P. rupicola. A very handsome stove 
species, with unusually short leaf-stalks ; 
the leaves are pinnate, and beautifully 
arched, giving the plant while in a young 
state an elegant vase-like appearance. It 
comes from India. 
PHCGNOCOMA PROLIFERA. 
This very beautiful and remarkably 
distinct evergreen greenhouse plant is a 
native of the Cape of Good Hope. The 
flowers are of the character designated 
“everlasting” ; they are bright crimson, 
produced freely on well-managed plants, 
and as large as a five-shilling piece. They 
remain in good condition for several weeks, 
and even for much longer they are present- 
able, but it is not good practice to allow 
them to remain on for an unlimited time, 
