PHCENOCOMA. 



Greenhouse and IStove FianU. 



277 



red, produced in summer. It is a native 

 of Chili. 



Insects. — The plant is little troubled 

 with insects, but sometimes aphides aifect 

 the young shoots ; for these fumigate, or 

 syringe Avith tobacco-water. 



PHILODENDRON. 



A singular genus of evergreen stove 

 plants, with thick fleshy stems and large, 

 handsome leaves, quite distinct in their 

 appearance. One of the best known of the 

 family is often met with under the name 

 of Monstera deliciosa, the massive foliage 

 of which has such a distinct api^earance. 

 In their native countries they scramble on 

 the ground, or over the shrubs and low 

 trees that happen to be near them. In a 

 cultivated state they are seen to the best 

 advantage when grown on the back wall 

 of a house. 



They are easily increased by division of 

 the stems, which if cut into lengths of two 

 or three joints, inserted in pots, and treated 

 in the ordinary way of cuttings, in a brisk 

 heat, soon get established, and make top 

 growth. They are not particular as to soil, 

 providing it is moderately loose and open 

 — turfy loam, with one-tifth of leaf-mould 

 and some sand added, answers well for 

 them. All that is required further is to 

 give larger pots as the plants increase in 

 size, if to be grown in this way, but in a 

 large house where room can be found and 

 thei-e is a suitable wall for them to cover, 

 they may be planted out. They do best in 

 a moderately high temperature in summer 

 with as much heat during winter as 

 answers for most stove plants ; give 

 plenty of water in the growing season with 

 enough light to keep the leaves from 

 getting drawn, and make free use of the 

 syringe daily in summer. No more shade 

 should be used than needful to prevent the 

 leaves being scorched. 



The following are tine kinds : — 



P. eriibescens. A handsome species with 

 cordate leaves ; the leaf-stalks are shorter 

 in this kind than in some of the others. It 

 comes from the Caraccas. 



P. Lindcnii. A stout-growing species 

 from Ecuador. 



P. jxrtiuHiim (Monstera ddiciosaj. This 

 has very large foliage, singular in its for- 

 mation, looking as if portions of the leaf- 

 blade had been cut out. It is a very strong 

 grower. West Indies. 



P. pinnatifidura. A handsome species, 

 similar in character to the last-named. It 

 also is a West Indian kind. 



Insects. — Few insects can find harbour 

 on the smooth leatherv leaves of these 



plants, and if at all atfected their texture 

 is such as to permit of the syringe being 

 used with force enough to clear away the 

 parasites. 



PH(ENICOPHORIUM SECHEL- 

 LARUM. 



(Syn. : Stevensonia graiidifolia.) 

 This is a hot stove species, and one of 

 the grandest of all cultivated Palms. The 

 stem is well-proportioned, sutficiently thick, 

 but not so as to detract from the elegant 

 appearance of the plant ; the leaves ai'e of 

 immense size, plaited, and entire, deep 

 green in colour, with often a number of 

 small reddish spots over the surface ; the 

 leaf-stalks are heavily spined. From the 

 Seychelle Islands. 



For propagation and cultivation, see 

 Palms, general details of culture. 



PHCENIX. 



A very handsome genus of Palms, several 

 of which have the merit of being cultivable 

 in a temperature little above that of a 

 greenhouse. They are also interesting 

 from the fact that one of their number, P. 

 dactylifera, yields the dates of commerce. 



Propagation and cultivation will be 

 found under Palms, general details of 

 culture. 



P. dactylifera. This is a stately plant, 

 with an upright habit of growth, and large 

 pinnate leaves. It is very pretty in a smaU. 

 state. From the Levant. 



P. reclinata. This species has a hand- 

 some appeaiance in all its various stages of 

 growth, but especially while young, in 

 which state its spreading pinnate leaves, 

 prettily arranged on the plant, make it an 

 attractive object. Africa. 



P. rupicoia. A very handsome stove 

 species, with unusually short leaf-stalks ; 

 the leaves are pinnate, and beautifully 

 arched, gi^ing the plant while in a young 

 state an elegant vase-like appearance. It 

 comes from India. 



PH(ENOCOMA PROLIFERA. 



This very beautiful and remarkably 

 distinct evergreen greenhouse plant is a 

 native of the Cape of Good Hope. The 

 flowers are of the character designated 

 " everlasting " ; they are bright crimson, 

 produced freely on well-managed plants, 

 and as large as a five-shilling piece. They 

 remain in good condition for several weeks, 

 and even for much longer they are present- 

 able, but it is not good practice to aUow 

 them to remain on for an unlimited time, 



