EPACRIS. 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



157 



E. VHerminierii. Trinidad. 

 V'A rigiduvi. 



E. sqimviosum. West Indies. 

 E. viscosum. West Indies. 



EMBOTHRIUM COCCINEUM. 



An evergreen slirub from New Holland, 

 that bears red flowers. It is not much 

 grown at the present day, being inferior 

 to the generality of plants requiring the 

 warmth and protection of a greenhouse. 

 It is the only species of the genus worth 

 cultivating. The flowers are produced in 

 spring, and it requires treatment similai' to 

 the Correas, which see. 



ENCEPHALARTOS. 



Stately, large-growing evergreen plants 

 of the "Cycadaceous Order. They form 

 stems similar to Cycas circinalis, but 

 thicker, but this development is slow, and 

 it takes years to get a trunk of much 

 length. The leaves are remarkably hard 

 in texture. They will bear keeping all the 

 year round in a cool greenhouse, but so 

 treated they usually stand for years with- 

 out making new leaves, the result being 

 that the older ones, dying oft', by degrees 

 much reduce the size of the head ; conse- 

 quently they should be kept in the stove 

 during the growing season, and until their 

 young leaves are fully matured. Their treat- 

 ment is similar to that advised for the 

 warm section of Cycas, which see. 



The undermentioned are fine and dis- 

 tinct kinds : — 



E. Caffra. A distinct species, with 

 handsome foliage. A native of the Cape 

 of Good Hope. 



E. Hildehrandtii. This is a fine kind ; 

 the leaves have moderately stout spines on 

 the edges. From Africa. 



E. horridus. A stout-leaved sort, the 

 leaves armed with formidable spines. Cape 

 of Good Hope. 



E. villosus. A noble species with veiy 

 long leaves. Africa. 



E. villosus ampliatus. A handsome kind, 

 with long, arched, pinnate leaves. Africa. 



E. Vroomii. One of the finest of the 

 family ; the leaves are moderately long 

 and arched, the whole plant assuming a 

 beautiful vase-like form. Afiica. 



ENCHOLIRION CORALLINUM. 



This is a stove plant, and is similar in 

 habit to many of the Bromeliads, to which 

 it is nearly allied. The leaves are recurved, 

 green above, purple beneath. The flowers 

 are yellow with red bracts. It requires 



similar treatment to Billbergias, which see. 

 It comes from Brazil. 



ENKYANTHUS. 



These are evergreen shrubs that grow to a 

 miideratesize ; they are eft'ective plants when 

 in flower, but are now seldom met with. 



They require similar treatment to Heda- 

 romas, which see. The cuttings should 

 consist of the mature shoots, such as ad- 

 vised for Hedaromas. 



The two undermentioned'are, we believe, 

 the only kinds in cultivation : — 



E. quinquejlorus. Bears pink flowers, 

 produced in summer. A native of China. 



E. reticulatus. A Chinese species, with 

 pink flowers, which open in winter. 



EPACRIS. 



These evergreen greenhouse plants, 

 natives of New South Wales and New 

 Holland, are profuse bloomers, lasting in 

 flower for a considerable time. Some 

 varieties are naturally disposed to bloom 

 in the winter, others in the spring, 

 which gives them a wider range of flower- 

 ing time than most plants. They are also 

 comparatively easy to grow, being stronger 

 rooting plants than many hardwoodcd 

 subjects. Their colours range from white 

 to dark crimson ; others, with a combina- 

 tion of red and white or pink and white, 

 are very attractive on the home or exhibi- 

 tion stage, either of which they are well 

 adapted for, being quite distinct in their 

 general habit, the flowers hanging in 

 graceful plumes from their slender shoots, 

 and giving a well-bloomed plant an ele- 

 gance of appearance surpassed by few 

 others. They also possess the advantage of 

 standing a moderate amount of fire-heat 

 when being brought into flower, and they 

 can be cut freely without doing further 

 injury than so far reducing their size, 

 which, for some purposes, is rather an ad- 

 vantage than otherwise. Their flowers, 

 when cut, esjaecially in the winter time, 

 remain a long while fresh in wet sand or 

 water. They are also plants that are much 

 less subject to insects than most others. 

 These qualities make them most desirable,, 

 either in a 1 vrge or most select collection. 



Epacrises strike readily from cuttings 

 made of the young half-ripened shoots 

 about 2 inches long, put in about August 

 several together in 6 or 7 inch pots in sand, 

 kept close, moist, and shaded ; so managed 

 they will root during the autumn. Keep 

 in the cutting pots through the winter in a 

 night temperature of 50° or near this, i^incli- 

 ing out the points of the shoots as soon as 



