148 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



UIOSCOREA. 



wliich require a strong heat to strike in, 

 with the usual conditions of a moist con- 

 fined atmosphere. After roots are formed the 

 plants must be grown on in a warm stove, 

 and as they get large they will want plenty 

 of root-room either by being put in large 

 pots or planted out. It thrives in sandy 

 loam. Introduced from India. 



Insects. — This Dillenia is subject to 

 most of the insects that affect stove plants. 

 Syringe with water and fumigate for the 

 less objectionable kinds ; for mealy bug 

 and scale syringe and sponge with in- 

 secticide in the winter when the plant is 

 doi'mant. 



DILLWYNIA. 



This is a genus of hardwooded green- 

 house 2)lants, of a bushy habit, that bloom 

 freely in the sjDring and summer. Tlie 

 flowers are yellow, or reddish-brown, pretty, 

 but not nearly so attractive as many species 

 that come from the same countries — New 

 Holland, New South Wales, or the ad- 

 jacent parts. Dillwynias were at one time 

 much more grown than at present, having 

 given way to things more showy in appeai- 

 ance. The method of propagation and the 

 after treatment given for Eoronias — which 

 see — will answer for Dillwynias. The 

 undermentioned are the most deserving 

 kinds : — ■ 



D. Jloribunda. Yellow. 



D. juniperina. Yellow. 



D. pungens. Yellow. 



D. rudis sanguinea. Red. 



D. speciosa. Orange and yellow. 



DION EDULE. 



A very handsome evergreen plant. It 

 belongs to the Cycad family, and requires 

 the same treatment as the warm species of 

 Cycas. The pinnae of the leaves are as 

 regular as the back-bone of a fish ; the 

 leaves in a strong specimen will attain a 

 length of from 5 to 6 feet. A native of 

 Mexico. 



DION^A MUSCIPULA. 



A most curious little warm greenhouse 

 plant, differing from all others in the re- 

 markable formation of its leaves, which 

 terminate in a singular trap-like appen- 

 dage, furnished with internal hairs, which, 

 so long as the leaves aie healthy and 

 vigorous, are extremely sensitive, and 

 when touched cause the jaws of the trap to 

 close instantly. This is one of the most 

 remarkable of the insectivorous plants, so 

 called from the provisions which Nature 

 has given them to attract and confine in- 



sects, which latter are with good reason 

 supposed to aft'ord them nutriment. 



It is increased by division ; when the 

 plant pi'oduces a fiower-stem this causes 

 the bulb-like base to divide as in the case 

 of Lilies and many other plants. The oft'- 

 sets should be separated in the spring 

 before growth begins, and put singly in 

 very small pots filled with a mixture of 

 filjrous peat and chopped sphagnum, with 

 a little sand and small crocks added. The 

 plant requires plenty of water through the 

 growing season, and must never be allowed 

 to get dry. It thrives best with a little 

 more warmth than that of an ordinary 

 greenhouse, but does not like a stove heat. 

 It should have plenty of light, but ought 

 not to be stood too near the glass, or be 

 exposed to the sun. The little pots in 

 which the plants are grown must always 

 be kept plunged up to their rims in 

 sphagnum, in a pot or pan large enough to 

 hold a moderate body of the material ; 

 this is needful to keep the roots in a uni- 

 formly moist condition ; ten or twelve 

 plants plunged in this way in a pan 12 

 inches in diameter, make a nice specimen. 

 The J)] ants are better not grown under a 

 l)ell-glass as sometimes advised, as even if 

 kept tilted the glass tends to weaken the 

 growth. It is a habitant of the swamps of 

 North Carolina and Florida. 



Insects. — Aphides are particularly par- 

 tial to Dionoea, and must never be allowed 

 to remain on it. or they will quickly 

 destroy the leaves ; fumigation with to- 

 bacco is the best remedy. 



DIOSCOREA. 



Strong-growing stove climbers, suitable 

 for training round a pillai', or more so for 

 clothing a wall, where such plants as are 

 grown for the production of flowers might 

 not get enough light. They are rapid 

 growers, soon covering a considerable 

 space ; the leaves of the kinds heieafter 

 named are handsomely variegated, al- 

 though not so bright in appearance as 

 some things used for a like purpose. 



They are increased by division of their 

 tuberous roots in the spring bef<jre they 

 begin to grow ; pot, and grow them on undei' 

 ordinary stove treatment ; and give as they 

 increase in size enoiigh root-room either by 

 laige pots, or by planting them out in a 

 bed. They will thrive in either loam or peat. 



D. Ancedochilus. A bold-leaved species, 

 and a free grower that will cover a large 

 space if given enough root-room to enable 

 it to attain its full strength. The ground 

 colour of the leaves is green, mottled with 

 golden yellow. From South America. 



