PLEROMA. 
rooted plant it succeeds the best in good 
fibrous peat, to which add one-sixth or one- 
seventh of sand, according to the nature of 
the peat. 
Insects.—As to insects, it will be under- 
stood by what has been said that the whole 
of the species are more than most things 
subject to the attacks of red spider, and 
unless they are kept free from it their 
cultivation will not be satisfactory. The 
continued use of the syringe as advised 
will keep them clear from this pest. 
Greenfly sometimes affects them ; for this 
fumigate. Brown scale will live upon 
them, but does not increase fast, and can 
be removed with a sponge and brush. If 
affected with the white species of this 
insect it is better to destroy them, as the 
plants will not bear any dressing that will 
kill it. 
PLATYCERIUM. 
The few species of which this genus of 
stove and greenhouse Ferns is composed 
are among the most singular of all vegetable 
forms. They offer a marked contrast not 
only to other Ferns but to all cultivated 
plants. P. alcicorne, the Elk’s Horn Fern 
ue named from the likeness the fertile 
ronds have to the horns of that animal) is 
the best known kind, but by no means the 
finest; for size and general appearance the 
palm is borne by P. grande and P. Walli- 
chii, both of which are majestic plants. 
For propagation and cultivation, see 
Ferns, general details of culture. 
STOVE SPECIES. 
P. biforme. East Indies. 
P. grande. Malay Archipelago, 
P. Stemmaria. Africa. 
P. Wallichi. Malacca. 
GREENHOUSE SPECIES. 
New South Wales. 
P. alcicorne. 
P. Willinkiz. 
PLATYLOBIUM. 
Evergreen greenhouse shrubs that bloom 
freely, but oniy hold a place second to many 
in cultivation. 
Their method of propagation and subse- 
quent treatment is similar to that which 
answers for Chorozemas (which see) except 
that they do not require the shoots to be 
stopped in their early stages so often as is 
needful in the case of the taller-growing 
Chorozemas. 
The following are the best kinds :— 
P. formosum. Flowers orange, pro- 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
283 
duced in summer. A native of New 
Holland. 
P. Murrayanum. as yellow and red 
flowers ; a spring bloomer. From Van 
Dieman’s Land. 
P.triangulare. Orange-coloured flowers; 
blooms in summer. From Van Dieman’s 
Land. 
‘PLATYLOMA. 
The species included in this genus of 
stove and greenhouse Ferns are few in 
number, and not so important from the 
gardening stand-point as many others. 
Those requiring cooler treatment will 
generally be found the most desirable. 
For propagation and cultivation, see 
Ferns, general details of culture. 
GREENHOUSE SPECIES. 
P. brachyptera. California. 
P. Brown. Australia. 
P. flecuosa. Peru. 
P. intermedia. 
PLEROMA ELEGANS. 
This is an evergreen greenhouse species, 
and when first flowered in this country, 
many years ago, it made quite a sensation, 
its unrivalled rich purple blossoms were 
the admiration of all who saw it—and no. 
wonder, for, when seen either by itself, or 
in company with other flowering subjects, 
it has few rivals. It is, however, when 
the plant, well flowered, stands beside 
something complementary in colour—say 
a good example of Allamanda, or a nicely 
bloomed Cassia corymbosa—that it is seen 
to advantage. Yet so distinct is it in 
colour and habit, that there is not a plant 
with which we are acquainted, of any 
colour, either in the conservatory or on the 
exhibition stage, that it does not harmonise 
with, and that is not improved by its 
presence. The individual blossoms do not 
last very long on the plant—-some three or 
four days from the time they open—yet 
this is compensated for by their being pro- 
duced in succession in clusters of three to 
half-a-dozen on the points of the shoots. 
When cut their duration is somewhat 
similar, but if taken from the plant when 
half open, there is no flower in existence 
that is more telling in a bouquet to be 
seen by daylight. Under the influence of 
artificial light the flowers lose much of 
their lustre, consequently they are not to 
be recommended for use under such con- 
ditions. It is found indigenous in the 
Organ Mountains, so will bear a little more 
warmth than some greenhouse plants ; in 
fact its cultivation has been attempted in 
