56 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



ATACCIA CRISTATA. 



Amongst the hardy species are several well 

 known, indigenous to Britain, as, for in- 

 stance, A. marinum and the pretty little 

 A. viride. 



For propagation and cultivation, see 

 Ferns, general details of culture. 



STOVE SPECIES. 



A. Belangerii. Java. 



A. eheneum. North America. 



A. flabellatum. Mexico. 



A . fragrans. Jamaica. 



A. obtusilobum. New Hebrides. 



A . imlchellum. 



GREENHOUSE SPECIES. 



A. bulbiferum. New Zealand. 



A. elegantulum. China. 



A. lucidum. West Indies. 



A. Novce Caledonm. New Caledonia. 



A. rhizophorum. Jamaica. 



A. viviparum. Mauritius. 



ASTRAP^A WALLICHII. 



An evergreen stove tree that bears hand- 

 some flowers. It is an effective plant 

 where it can have room to extend. 



It strikes readily from shoot cuttings in 

 spring, taken off with a heel, and inserted 

 in sand, kept moist, close, and shaded in a 

 temperature of 70°. When well rooted, 

 pot singly in turfy loam, and encourage 

 growth by keejiing them in a temperature 

 similar to that in which they were struck, 

 with shade when sunny, and a moderate 

 amount of air in the day. The air given 

 should not be enough to dry the atmos- 

 phere unduly, as the plant likes to be 

 moist while growing. Give larger pots 

 about the end of June, putting a stick to 

 each for support. Cease shading towards 

 the end of August, admitting all the light 

 possible, with more air. Winter in a night 

 temperature of 65°. In spring larger pots 

 will be needed, and soil such as before 

 should be used ; treat through the summer 

 as previously, and also during the ensuing 

 winter. After this, all that is necessary is 

 to give the requisite root-room, large pots 

 being needed, except where it is intended 

 to plant out. 



There are several kinds of Astrapaea in 

 cultivation, but the above-named species 

 will be most likely to give satisfaction. It 

 comes from Madagascar ; the flowers are 

 pink, opening in summer or autumn. 



Insects. — This Astrapsea is subject to 

 the attacks of mealy bug, scale, and thrips ; 

 for the last fumigate. If mealy bug is 

 found troublesome, syringe freely with 

 water in summer, and, when at rest, wash 



with insecticide ; for scale, sponging will 

 be best. 



ASTROCARYUM ARGENTEUM. 



A distinct-looking stove Palm, with 

 drooping leaves, deep green on the upper 

 surface, silvery beneath. From Colombia. 



The method of propagation and after 

 cultivation will be found under Palms, 

 general details of culture. 



ATACCIA CRISTATA. 



The first impression produced by an in- 

 spection of this most singular warm stove 

 plant is one of wonder as to the uses of the 

 difl'erent strange appendages that are at- 

 tached to the flowers. One might be par- 

 doned for coming to the conclusion that it 

 was the result of an eff'ort on the part of 

 nature to produce something in the vege- 

 table world totally different from every- 

 thing else. In form, as also in texture, we 

 find nothing like it ; there are a few others 

 nearly allied to this Ataccia, but it may be 

 taken as the best representative. The root- 

 fibres are thick and coarse, jiroceeding from 

 a stout, short root-stock, from which issue 

 the leaves, some five or six in number. 

 The petioles are smooth, a few inches long ; 

 the blade of the leaf is oblong acuminate, 

 of a dark-green colour, nerves prominent ; ^ 

 in a strong plant the leaves attain a height 

 of 18 inches. As many have not seen the 

 flower, a description may be of use. The 

 scape rises well above the leaves ; it is 

 erect, smooth, and terminated by a large 

 four-leaved membranaceous involucre ; the 

 two outer leaflets are opposite, the two inner 

 are placed side by side, erect, very large, 

 almost transparent, and, like the rest of the 

 flower, of a deep chocolate colour. The 

 numerous peduncles are each terminated 

 by a single flower, forming a drooising 

 umbel. Besides these floral peduncles there 

 are a number of others, sterile, long, droop- 

 ing, and tendril-like in shape ; these still 

 further increase the singularity of the 

 flower, than which nothing in the whole 

 vegetable kingdom is more calculated to 

 interest even the most casual observei. The 

 plant is easily grown, provided a few thinge 

 essential for its existence are kept in sight. 

 It is found indigenous in Malacca, occu- 

 pying moist, damp situations ; this shows 

 that it should always be kept in a com- 

 paratively high temjaerature, and that the 

 soil should never be allowed to get dry. 

 The fact of this and many other plants 

 luxuriating naturally in swampy ground 

 often leads to their being suljjected nndei 

 cultivation to a course of treatment tliat is 



