520 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Maranta—continued. 
M. angustifolia. The correct name is Stromanthe Tonckat. 
M. argentea (silvery). J. large, oblong, acute, silvery-grey, 
marked with narrow, curving lines of a deep green. Brazil, 
1884, 
M. arundinacea variegata (variegated).* 7. Sin. to Tin. long, 
lsin. to 3in. broad, oblong, sub-acuminate at apex, rounded- 
obtuse at base, beautifully and irregularly variegated in dark 
and light greens and greenish-yellow ; petioles 6in. to 7in. long, 
striped with green and white. Singapore, 1886. See Fig. 559, 
for which we are indebted to Messrs. James Veitch and Sons. 
Syn. Phrynium variegatum (I. H. 1886, 601). 
M. asymmetrica (unsymmetrical). J. having the blade much 
wider on one side of the midrib than on the other. 1882. 
M. Chantrieri (Chantrier’s).* J. ovate-cordate, acute, lft. to 
14ft. long, wavy, greyish-green, traversed by oval-oblong, acute 
bands of deep green and thread-like lines of the same colour; 
petioles 4in. to 8in. long. Brazil, 1897. A handsome species. 
M. chimboracensis. The correct name is Calathea chim- 
boracensis. 
M. concinna is synonymous with Calathea leopardina. 
M. conspicua (conspicuous). 7. oblong-ovate, dark green 
above, pinnately marked with broken, distant bands of pale 
yellow-green, purplish beneath. Brazil, 1885. A small 
Species. 
M. fascinator (bewitching).* /. distichous, truncate at base, 
slightly acuminate at apex; ground-colour of the upper surface 
dark green, silvery towards the centre, pale green towards the 
edges, the nerves of a fine red; under-surface purple. Brazil, 
1894. A dwarf species. (I. H. 1894, p. 105, t. 7.) 
Fic. 560. 
MARANTA MAJOR. 
M. gratiosa (favoured).* 7. broadly oblong, sub-cordate, silvery- 
grey, the midrib and five or six tapering, curved bands on each 
side of it of a bright green. Brazil, 1884. 
M. iconifera (picture-bearing). 7. about 6in. long, obliquely 
ovate, yellowish-green, marked with oblong, deep green blotches. 
Brazil, 1887. y 
Maranta—continued. 
M. Kerchoveana (Kerchove’s) A synonym of M. leuconeura. 
M. Koérnickiana (Kotrnick’s). jl. whitish; bracts coloured, 
broader than long, obtuse; spike ovate-cylindrical. JU. green, 
4in. to 8in. long, elliptic, acute or shortly acuminate, highly 
glabrous, shining above, the margins undulated ; petioles long, 
sheathing at base. Brazil, 1874. (R. G. 1874, t. 784.) 
M. Leonz (Mme. Leon’s). /. ovate, 6in. long, borne on petioles 
of about the same length; both covered with soft, silky 
hair and variegated with green and grey. 1893. Plant dwarf. 
M. leptostachya (slender-spiked). J. obliquely elliptic-oblong, 
acute, bright green, pinnately banded with greenish-white. 
Brazil, 1884. Syn. M. speciosa. 
M. leuconeura (white-nerved). J. cordate-oblong, obtuse or 
very shortly acuminate, green on the upper surface, purplish 
beneath, the midrib light green. Ah. 6in. to 8in. Brazil, 1875. 
(PF. d. 8. 2364-5.) Syns. M. Kerchoveana, M. Kerchovei (of 
gardens), and Calathea Kerchoveana. 
M. major (greater).* 7. green, ovate, borne on long, erect 
petioles. h. 3ft. A splendid plant for dwelling-house or 
conservatory adornment, so long as it is never placed where 
the sun’s rays fall directly upon it, has a nice loamy soil, and 
plenty of water during the growing season. See Fig. 560. 
Syn. Ischnosiphon leucopheus. 
M. ee (Massange’s). Of this plant, which is already 
very fully described in Vol. L as Calathea Massangeana (B. H. 
1875, p. 178, t. 10; F. M. n. s., t. 234), there are several colour- 
varieties. ~ 
M. minor (lesser). J. shortly elliptic, sub-cordate at base, 
shortly and obliquely mucronate at apex, emerald-green, with 
six distant blotches of deep reddish-brown. Brazil, 1897. A 
smnall-growing species. 
M. musaica (mosaic). 7. obliquely cordate, 7in. long, 3sin. 
broad, bright, glossy green, marked with numerous close-set, 
transverse veins. Brazil, 1884. 
M. nitida (shining). /. oblong, acute, 6in. long, din. broad, pale, 
bright, shining green, with four or five oblong, green patches on 
each side of the midrib. Brazil, 1884. 
M. picta (painted). A synonym of Calathea picta. 
M. polita (neat). /. din. to Sin. long, 2in. broad, glossy green, 
elegantly marked with stipitate, oblong, dark green blotches. 
Brazil, 1384. 
M. Porteana is synonymous with Stromanthe Porteana. 
M. Sanderiana (Sander’s). This is described as an 
ornamental foliage plant in the way of Calathea ornata roseo- 
lineata, but with much larger leaves. 1892. 
M. smaragdina. ‘he correct name is Calathea smaragdina, 
M. speciosa (showy). A synonym of MW. leptostachya. 
M. splendida (splendid). By some authorities this is regarded 
as a Calathea, and it is described as such in Vol. I. 
M. undulata (of gardens), frequently thus catalogued, is a 
synonym of Calathea undulata. 
MARANTHES. A 
(which see). 
MARATTIA. Including Stibasia. Marattias are 
highly ornamental, robust-growing Ferns, and although 
they do not form trunks, generally attain very large 
dimensions. Their stately fronds are produced from 
very thick, fleshy crowns. A peculiarity of this genus 
is that it produces most of the edible Ferns known 
in cultivation. In New Zealand, the West Indies, Brazil, 
and Mexico, the succulent crowns of the yarious indigenous 
species are used by the natives as articles of food, either 
boiled, roasted, or baked. Though Marattias thrive 
luxuriantly if given a good amount of heat, M. frawinea 
elegans will stand in a cold Fernery for several consecutive 
years, and indeed make very good progress during the 
summer months, although resting in the winter ;"but it is, 
we believe, the only Marattia which will sneceed under 
cold treatment. 
Marattias possess an immense advantage over most, if 
not all, other gigantic-growing Ferns, inasmuch as, if they 
are accidentally allowed to get dry at the roots, the 
fronds and their divisions, being jointed and of a fleshy 
nature, hang down and become quite flabby—a state in 
which they have the faculty of remaining a comparatively 
long time without sustaining any serious damage. It is, 
however, advisable, when plants in that condition are 
detected, to give water at the roots at once, when the 
fronds will speedily regain their former stiffness without 
showing a trace of having suffered from the mishap. 
The Marattiacee are seldom propagated by means 
of spores, although these are abundantly produced, for 
they are said to germinate with difficulty; our own 
experience points that way, as we have only once 
succeeded in getting some to germinate, notwithstanding 
synonym of Parinarium 
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