162 VINES 
Under favourable conditions, it will grow to a 
height of twelve feet. For gorgeous scarlet 
flowers, grow C. splendens, var. speciosissima, 
the best of all stove climbers in its colour. C. 
Thompsone, var. delectum is a larger-flowered 
form of the species, and C. speciosum has deep, 
rose-coloured flowers suffused with red. All 
require the same general treatment. 
A tropical vine rarely seen, but of easy culture, 
is Cryptostegia grandiflora. It is grown only as 
a curiosity, because its juice, when exposed to 
the sunshine, produces caoutchouc. The plant 
is a twiner and likes an abundance of both heat 
and moisture, but there are so many vines of 
merit that it would be useless to grow this plant 
unless for the sake of its unique feature. 
If you want to grow a plant as a curiosity for 
its peculiar and interesting form of growth, the 
ceriman (Monstera deliciosa) will surely suit you. 
As the name suggests, it reminds one irresistibly 
of some gigantic, crawling monster about to 
clutch something with its long, fleshy, finger-like, 
aerial roots. This can be grown in the stove 
house, but will do well in any house where the 
temperature does not fall below 55°. The leaves 
are thick and fleshy, about one to two feet long, 
dark green, and irregularly perforated. It is 
