99 



CHAPTER XXX. 



THE GENUS RENANTHERA. 



The flowers of this genus are singular in form 

 and beautiful in colour ; it is free of growth, and 

 is found in the woods of China and Java, clinging 

 to the trees like the ivy of this country, but not 

 deriving nourishment from them, only a support 

 to its own tortuous stems. 



It should be grown upon a thick branch of a 

 tree, which, before being used, should be spread 

 over with clay, made of the consistence of thick 

 paint, then covered with fresh sphagnum, and 

 allowed to dry a little before using ; the plant 

 should be bound on with lead wire, and placed 

 in a convenient part of the house, where it either 

 can cling to the wall or be trained to the roof, 

 and from the latter end of March to the latter 

 end of October, it should be syringed two or 

 three times a day; but in the winter months, 

 twice a vveek will be sufficient, if there be any 

 means of steaming the house once a week, syringing 

 may be dispensed with until they begin to grow 

 again. 



