DIOSCOKEA 



1 in: luiLB ]J00K 



Black Bryony (7\n7} us co7)wivnis). It America, about 8 ft. liigli, with oval 



is balf-haicly and climbing in char- 

 acter, has large flattish roots, and 

 narrow heart-shaped leaves. (Jiev. 

 Ilovt. 1882, p. 379.) 



D illustrata. — A Brazilian species 

 with satiny green leaves about 6 ins. 

 long, and having two bluntish lobes 

 at the base. The under-surface is 

 purple, while the upper is trans- 

 versely marked by distinct Avhite 

 parallel lines between the nerves, 

 and an irregular band of silvery-grey 

 runs down the midrib, irregular 

 patches of silver-grey being also near 

 the main veins. (Gard. Chron. 1873, 

 p. 1730.) 



D. multicolor. — A native of the 

 Rio Negro, in Brazil, with heart- 

 shaped leaves 3 to 5 ins. long. The 

 under-surface is pale lurid purple, 

 the upper surface being rich green, 

 beautifully spotted and blotched with 

 grey, especially near the principal 

 veins. (///. I/ort. 1871, 53.) There 

 are several varieties of this species, 

 the most noteworthy being— chryso- 

 phylla, with olive - bro^vn leaves 

 variegated with yellow ; Eldorado, 

 leaves satiny-green, with silver-grey 

 band and irregular blotches ; melano- 

 leuca, leaves ornamental, deep 

 green, with a central silver band, 

 and silver blotches along the veins ; 

 metaUira, leaves bronzy, with a 

 coppery central band. 



D. nobills. — A Brazilian species, 

 with velvety bronzy leaves variegated 

 with yellow. 



D. pyrenaica.— A smooth herbace- 

 ous plant from the Pyrenees, growing 

 only 3 or 4 ins. high, and having 

 tuberous roots about as large as a 

 nut. The leaves oval, heart-shaped, 

 deeply lobed at the base, and with 

 sharp - pointed tips, are borne on 

 slender, llexuose, branching stems. 

 Tins plant is i)rol)aljly quite hardy. 



D. racemosa. A natives of Central 



heart-shaped leaves. 



D. retusa. — A native of 8. Africa, 

 with alternate digitate leaves divided 

 into five- to seven-stalked leaflets. 



D. vittata is an ornamental plant 

 with large heart-shaped leaves flushed 

 with claret-purple beneath, or varie- 

 gated with red and white on both 

 sides {Bot. Mag. t. 6409). 



Most of the species mentioned 

 above, except D. jn/reiiaira, flourish 

 in a rich loamy soil, with i)lenty of 

 well-decayed manure. The American 

 species recjuire warmth and moisture, 

 especially during active growth in 

 the spring and summer months. In 

 autumn and winter the plants require 

 a cooler atmosphere, and practically 

 no water when dormant. Propaga- 

 tion is usually effected by dividing 

 the tuberous roots after growth has 

 ceased in autumn, or before it com- 

 mences in spring. 



DIPCADI. Nat Ord. Liliaceai.— A 

 genus containing about twenty species 

 of bulbous plants, closely related to 

 Galtonia, having tunicated bulbs, 

 radical, more or less linear thickish 

 leaves, and loose racemes of 

 cylindrical, shortly - stalked flowers. 

 There are only a few species in 

 cultivation, confined for the most 

 part to botanical collections. They 

 are not hardy, except perhaps in the 

 very mildest parts of the Kingdom, 

 consequently they require the pro- 

 tection of a greenhouse or frame in 

 winter in most places. The blossoms 

 appear during the summer months 

 from July to August and September, 

 and are mostly greenish in colour. A 

 rich sandy and well-drained soil suits 

 them best, and propagation is effected 

 by iletaching the offsets from the 

 older bulbs in spring. 



The following si)ecies may be 

 noted :— D. Balfouri, from Socotra, 



198 



