GEONOMA. 



Greenhouse and Stove PlanU 



183 



G. citriodora. A dwarf-groAving plant, 

 with much smaller flowers than any of the 

 others ; a desirable sort for either large or 

 small collections. A native of Natal. 



G. florida. A pretty kind with medium- 

 sized white flowers, very sweet scented. 

 Japan. 



G. Fortunei. A strong-growing kind 

 from China, the flowers of which are pro- 

 portionately larger than those of the 

 above. 



G. intermedia. For ordinary purposes 

 this may be considered the best of all 

 Gardenias. The flowers when first opened 

 are milk-white, turning yellow as they get 

 older. It is good in foliage and a free 

 grower and flowerer. 



G. intermedia variegata. A variegated 

 form of the preceding in which the leaves 

 are prettily marked ; flowers the same as 

 those of the green sort. 



G. radicans. A low-growing compact 

 kind, with small leaves, bearing very 

 pretty highly - perfumed flowers, white 

 when first open, but turning pale yellow 

 as they get older ; a native of China. 



G. radicans major. A larger and stronger- 

 growing variety than the preceding. 



G. Sianleyana. A remarkable plant, 

 very distinct from all others. It attains a 

 considerable size, and the branches assume 

 a flat horizontal position. Its singular- 

 shaped, white, purple-spotted flowers are 

 produced on the upper sides of the shoots, 

 and stand above the leaves. Anyone 

 requiring a very distinct flowering plant, 

 ditt'ering from anything else in general 

 cultivation, will not be disappointed with 

 this. From Sierra Leone. 



Insects. — As regards insects. Gardenias 

 as already said are particularly subject to 

 the attacks of scale and mealy bug, which 

 must be diligently sought for during 

 the growing season and destroyed by 

 sponge and brush, and also by washing 

 with insecticide, which, however, it is not 

 safe to use after the flower-buds are formed. 

 If thrips or aphides make their apj^earance 

 they are best destroyed by fumigation. 

 Red spider is rarely troublesome, the 

 continued syringing needed during the 

 growing season generally keeping it in 

 check. 



GARDOQUIA. 



This is a small genus of greenhouse 

 plants, indigenous to the cool parts of 

 South America. They are now seldom 

 met with in cultivation, being of com- 

 paratively little decorative value. Except 

 that they are more tender, they succeed 

 under conditions such as advised for 

 Myrtles, which see. 



The undermentioned are the besi 

 kinds : — 



G. Gilliesii. An evergreen species with 

 lilac flowers. From Chili. 



G. Hookeri. Also an evergreen, bearing 

 scailet flowers. A native of Carolina. 



G. viulti flora. Flowers purple, evergreen. 

 From Chili. 



All the above are summer bloomers. 



GASTROLOBIUM. 



Most of the species of Gastrolobium are 

 found in the Swan River district. They 

 are slender low-growing evergreen green- 

 house shrubs, with pretty yellow or yellow 

 and red flowers, but are not effective 

 enough to admit of their being classed as 

 more than second-rate. Their method of 

 propagation and general treatment is 

 similar to that which answers for Choro- 

 zemas, which see. 



The undermentioned are held in most 

 estimation : — 



G. Drummondii. 



G. Heiulersonii. 



G. Leakeanum. 



G. trilobum. 



GASTRONEMA. 



These are evergreen greenhouse bulbous 

 plants that have pretty flowers. Their 

 mode of propagation is by offsets like 

 Amaryllis, and their general treatment is 

 similar to that advised for Vallota pur- 

 purea, which see. 



The species in cultivation are few. 



G. clavatum. Flowers white. A native 

 of the Cape of Good Hope. 



G. sanguineum. Has red flowers. It 

 comes from Caffraria. 



GEONOMA. 



A genus of handsome Palms, some of 

 which are so distinct and beautiful as to 

 deserve being included in the most select 

 company in the stove, as unfortunately 

 they require a brisk heat to keep them 

 in good condition. 



For propagation and cultivation, see 

 Palms, general details of culture. 



G. elegans. A slender-growing species, 

 the leaf-blade is bifid and entire, except 

 near the base, where it is divided into 

 several pinnae. From Brazil. 



G. gracilis. A small-growing species, 

 with pinnate leaves, which droop much, 

 giving the plant a graceful appearance. 

 Costa Rica. 



G. Seemanni. This handsome plant 

 seems to be a fine variety of G. Martiana ; 



