THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 183 



planted in a retentive soil, in a cistern where there is constant heat ; 

 while its foliage being dark green, and sensitive to the touch, forms 

 a happy contrast with the flowers. It belongs to the natural order 

 Leguminosa?, introduced from China in 1800. 



Papyrus antiquorum, derived from the Syrian babeer, whence the 

 Egyptian word papyrus, paper. It belongs to the natural order 

 Cyperact j a3. It succeeds well if planted in a loamy soil, in a cistern 

 of good depth, and produces its apetalous flowers in great luxuriance. 

 It is from this plant the Egyptians made their paper, which was 

 obtained from the pellicle between the flesh and bark of the thickest 

 part of the stem, pressed and dried. Introduced from Egypt in 1803. 

 [This will probably suit for planting out in the garden during the 

 summer.] 



JNtmph.ea CiERULEA, a very ornamental plant, decking the aqua- 

 riums of our stoves with its bright azure blue flowers, which it 

 produces in abundance, if planted in a loamy soil with a gentle heat, 

 and kept constantly immersed in water. It succeeds also nearly as 

 well in a pond in a warm situation ; but if the season be cold during 

 the time of the expansion of its flowers, they seldom or never expand 

 so well as in a warm close atmosphere. This beautiful plant derives 

 its name from Nymphe, a water-nymph habitation, and belongs to 

 the natural order Nymphseacea?. Native of Egypt, introduced in 

 1792. 



Vallisneria spiralis, named in honour of Antonio Vallisneri, an 

 Italian botanist. This curious and remarkable water plant grows 

 with great luxuriance, if potted in light turfy loam, and placed in 

 deep water in a warm atmosphere ; but succeeds nearly as well in a 

 conservatory or greenhouse. It requires to be kept cool and dry 

 during winter, and removed to the stove in February, which causes 

 it to produce its richly-tinted brown flowers in greater luxuriance 

 than if kept in heat during the winter. It belongs to the natural 

 order Hydrocharacese, and is indigenous to the South of Europe. 



Pontederia crassipes. — This is an elegant plant, from its singu- 

 larly formed, thick petioles, bright green, smooth, cordate foliage, 

 and spikes of lovely blue flowers. It seems almost to despise the 

 material in which most other varieties of aquatic plants rejoice, and 

 floats about, regardless of any fixed station in the element to which 

 it is naturally consigned, but succeeds well if potted in rich loamy 

 soil, and placed in shallow water in a stove. It is named in honour 

 of Julius Poutedera, a professor of botany at Padua, and belongs to 

 the natural order of Pontederacese. Introduced from Guiana in 

 [$25. 



Blodba Guianensis, from Elodes, a marsh, which is its natural 

 situation. It produces its white and conspicuous flowers about the 

 beginning of August, in a light loamy soil, where heat is kept up. 

 Introduced from Guiana in 1820. It belongs to the natural order 

 Fluvialcs. 



Pakkeria pteroides, named in honour of C. S. Parker, who first 

 discovered this fern-like plant in Essequibo. Its flowers are dark 

 brown, in a short whorl ; and although they are minute, yet its 

 serrated pinnate leaves render it somewhat interesting. It succeeds 



June. 



