322 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
DICTYOPSIS. A synonym of Behnia (which see). 
DICTYOPTERYX CONTAMINANA. See Pear- 
Insects. 
DICTYOSPERMA. Abont five species, natives of 
Madagascar and Mauritius, are included in this genus. To 
those described on p. 470, Vol. I., the following should be 
added : 
D. fibrosum (fibrous). fr. sub-globose, Zin. in diameter. 
7. pinnate, 5ft. long; leaflets 14ft. long, lin. wide; petioles 2ft. 
long. Trunk slender, about 3ft. high. Madagascar, 1894. This 
species yields the Piassava fibre of commerce. 
DICTYOXEPHIUM. A compost of two parts peat 
or leaf-mould, one of rich fibrous loam, and one of sand 
is that which best suits D. panamense. It must, at all 
times of the year, be liberally watered at the roots. 
Though averse to bright sunlight, the plant requires very 
little shading. Propagated by division of the crowns. 
DIDIERA (commemorative name). Orp. (?). An 
anomalous genus. D. mirabilis, in a young state, and when 
at rest, has much the appearance of a small species of 
Melocactus. It has been Teneribed as ‘‘a weird, uncanny 
thing, having spreading, serpentine branches, thickly covered 
with spines,”’ growing to a height of several métres, on dry, 
rocky soil. Several seedling plants have been raised in 
Paris, but as at present known they are decidedly more 
curious than beautiful. (G@. C. 1898, i., p. 110, f. 42.) 
DIDYMOCARPUS. Including Henckelia. According 
to C. B. Clarke, in Hooker’s ‘‘ Flora of British India,” this 
genus now embraces 
“7 seventy species, found 
inIndia, Malaya, South 
China, and (one) Mada- 
gascar. To those de- 
scribed on p. 471, Vol.I., 
the following should be 
added : 
D. lacunosa (excavated). 
ii: violet-blue, tubular, 
sin. long, nodding; corolla 
lobes short, rounded, re- 
curved, entire; inflorescence 
resembling a Streptocarpus. 
July. JU. crowded, petiolate, 
oblong or ovate-cordate, cren- 
ulate, with deep excavations. 
Penang, 1892. A lovely little 
plant, almost stemless, “and 
tomentose. (B. M. 7236.) 
D. malayana (Malayan). 7. 
nodding or drooping, about 2in. 
long; corolla tube pale straw- 
coloured and pubescent outside, 
slender, terete; limb golden-yellow, 
lin. across; scape 24in. to 3in. high. 
June. J. spreading from the root, 
crowded in unequal pairs, 2in. to 3in. 
long, broadly ovate. Penang (?), 1896. 
Plant densely tufted, softly pubescent. 
Ae a 7526; G. C. 1896, xx., p. 123, 
D. primulefolia is a variety of D. 
Humboldtiana. 
D. Rexii (Rex's). 
tocarpus Rexii. 
DIDYMOCHLZANA. These 
Ferns are of easy cultivation, 
although it is nothing unusual to 
see their pinnules fall off, leaying 
the stalks naked; that generally 
happens when the plants have 
suffered from want of water at the 
roots; but, although unsightly for 
a time when in such condition, they 
soon recover under liberal treatment. 
The plants should be potted in a 
mixture of two parts good fibrous 
peat and one of loam, with a good 
dash of silver-sand, and be thoroughly 
drained. Propagated readily from spores, which are freely 
produced. D. lwnulata (Fig. 344) is very distinct. 
D. sinuosa (wavy). A synonym of D. lunulata. 
D. truncatula (slightly truncate). A synonym of D. lunulata. 
A synonym of Strep- 
Fic. 344. DIDYMOCHL&ENA 
LUNULATA. 
DIDYMOGLOSSUM. See Hymenophyllum. 
DIDYMOPANAX (from didymos, double, and Panaz ; 
the genus is closely allied to Panaa, but has sub- 
didymous fruit). Orp. Araliacexw. A genus embracing 
about ten species of stove trees or shrubs, natives of 
tropical America. Flowers hermaphrodite; calyx margin 
repandly five-toothed; petals five, valvate; stamens five, 
the filaments very short; pedicels continuous with the 
flowers; umbellules paniculate. Leaves often digitate, 
rarely simple. D. Houlletii, the only species known in 
gardens, is a fine tree, requiring similar culture to that 
recommended for the stove and greenhouse species of 
Panax (which see). 
DIDYMOSPERMA. Syn. Blancoa (of Blume). The 
half-dozen species of this genus are all natives of India and 
the Malayan Archipelago. Leaves terminal, mene 
pinnatisect ; leaflets few, trapezoid, erose, one-ribbed, wit 
flabellate nerves. 
DIEFFENBACHIA. According to Bentham and 
Hooker, there are only about half-a-dozen distinct species 
of this genus, all natives of tropical America. Flowers 
moncecious, on an inappendiculate spadix, the males and 
females remote; spathe narrow, the cymbiform lamina 
rather shorter than the elongated, conyolute tube. 
Suckers thrown up from the base may be taken off and 
potted in small pots, or the old stems, which, after the 
leayes have been removed, haye a resemblance to cane 
(hence the name Dumb Cane, from its appearance and painful 
effects on the organs of speech), may be cut in pieces lin. 
or 2in. Jong, slightly dried, and planted in the propagating- 
box with bottom-heat to excite the buds into growth. 
Equal parts good fibrous loam, peat, and leaf-mould, with a 
liberal sprinkling of sharp silver-sand or clean river-sand, is 
best. For good-sized plants in large pots the loam and peat 
should not be broken up too finely, but used somewhat 
lumpy, with sufficient drainage to allow the liberal waterings 
required when the plants are in active growth to pass freely 
through the compost without fear of stagnation. Syringe 
frequently, and maintain a brisk moist heat, except during 
the resting period in the winter season, when less root and 
atmospheric moisture is needed ; but the soil about the roots 
must never be allowed to get quite dry, as the plants are 
evergreen, retaining their Jeayes at all seasons. 
To the species and garden forms described on pp. 472-5, 
Vol. I., the following should be added: 
D. illustris (remarkable). A variety of D. latimaculata. 
D. Jenmani (Jenman’s). 7. long and narrow, oblong-lanceo- 
late, pea-green, with oblique, elongated blotches parallel with 
the primary veins, extending from the centre nearly to the 
margin, and mingled with smaller blotches over the surface. 
British Guiana, 1884. (R. G. 1884, 365.) 
D. macrophylla (large-leaved). A synonym of D. costata. 
DIELLIA. See Lindsaya. 
DIERAMA (from dierama, a funnel ; in allusion to the 
shape of the perianth). Orv. Iridew. A small genus (two 
poeees) of greenhouse, corm-rooted plants, natives of 
tropical and South Africa. Flowers in panicled spikes ; 
perianth with a short, cylindrical tube dilated at the 
throat, and oblong, sub-equal segments; stamens inserted 
at the throat; filaments short; spathe-valves lanceolate, 
membranous, not lacerated. Leaves long-linear, rigid. 
The species D. pendula and D. pulcherrima were formerly 
classed under Sparaxis, and under that genus they 
Sree found described on p. 464, Vol. III. For culture, 
see Ixia. 
DIERVILLA. Bush Honeysuckle. 
stigma, Calysphyrum, Weigela, Weigelia. This genus 
embraces about seven species, natives of North-east 
America, China, and Japan. Diervillas may be readily 
accommodated, as they are dwarf as to stature, and 
whether grown in the shrubbery border or in beds they 
are equally effective when clad with their delightfal 
flowers. They should be grown in a rich soil, and be 
top-dressed each season. Pruning consists in the removal 
of the thin, flowerless shoots. 
To those described on p. 475, Vol. I., the following should 
be added : 
D. arborea (tree-like). A synonym of D. grandiflora. 
D. hortensis nivea (snow-white). /. pure white, produced in 
eat profusion. 1891. A beautiul shrub, thriving best on a 
oamy soil, and requiring a warm position. 
Syns. Calyptro- 
