74 IAPAGERIA B0SEA. 



completely endogenous in their structure. By some Botanists these two Orders 

 are arranged as a sub-class of monocotyledonous plants, under the appellation of 

 Dictyogens {diction, a net), in allusion to the character of the venation. 



The Lapageria is of climbing habit, the stems reaching to the height of six feet 

 or more ; they are smooth, branched, naked near the ground, and here and there 

 scaly. The leaves are somewhat leathery in their texture, shining, pointed, with 

 five nerves, between which are smaller reticulations. The magnificent bell-like 

 flowers are produced singly in the axils of the upper leaves, on long stalks, which 

 are clothed with numerous small scales or bracts of a yellowish tint. The divisions 

 of the perianth are arranged in two series, three being outermost, and three inner- 

 most, and alternate with them, as in the Lily ; the outer divisions are somewhat 

 gibbous, or swollen at the base, and marked with a deep blue spot ; the rich 

 crimson colour of the flower is elegantly relieved by numerous white spots about 

 the mouth and throat. In its six stamens, single style and superior ovary, it 

 agrees with the Liliacece, but the ovary is composed of but a single cell, and ripens 

 into a large, pulpy, many-seeded berry, which in Chili is much esteemed as a fruit ; 

 it has not, however, been yet produced in this country. 



Messrs. Veitch's plants are cultivated in a mixture of turfy loam, peat, and 

 decayed leaves, which appears to suit them exceedingly well. Although less 

 prolific of flowers when treated as a pot plant, than if allowed more space for its 

 roots, it is satisfactory to know that it will in any degree submit to pot-culture, as 

 this circumstance cannot fail to enlarge the circle of its admirers. Unless seeds 

 should be ripened in this country, the only mode of increase will be by division of 

 the roots when in a dormant state. 



"We learn from Dr. J. Hooker that the roots of this plant are employed by the 

 Chilenos as a substitute for the Sarsaparilla, which leads us to infer that it occurs 

 wild in some abundance; the use of its berry as a fruit also tends to the same 

 conclusion. Our figure of the flower is about one-third the natural size. There 

 is a species or variety with white flowers, the L. alba of Decaisne, but -we are 

 unaware whether it is yet introduced. 



"We advert for a moment to the genus Smilax, or Sarsaparilla, which gives its 

 name to the Order to which the Lapageria belongs, less for the purpose of 

 reminding our readers of the medicinal uses to which the long slender roots of 

 many of the species are applied, than to point out that several of them are 

 Bufiiciently hardy for cultivation in this country, and their evergreen climbing habit 

 gives them some value for covering walls. The flowers of all are insignificant, 

 and rarely produced. They are not often kept by the Nurserymen, but Messrs. 

 Loddiges of Hackney, and Messrs. Standish and Noble of Bagshot, are in 

 possession of some of the species. 8. rulens from North America is an interesting 

 plant, from the reddish colour of its tendrils. 



