LANTANA CAMMAKA. 



121 



New World, and the number of species is considerable, though only a part of them 

 are in cultivation. They are common in Mexico, the West India Islands, Brazil, 

 and other parts of South America, one species, the L. Selloviana, being found as far 



south as Buenos Ayres. _ 



The L. Cammara we have figured is one of the most desirable species, as well 

 for the large size of its corymbs and their bright colour, as for its compact habit of 

 growth. The stems, although very rough, are unarmed with spines, and the leaves 

 of a darker, glossier green, and less flat than in many species of a similar colour. 

 The flowers 'are in hemispherical heads, of about one and-a-half inch in diameter, the 

 blossoms, when first expanded, being of a clear, bright, but pale orange, which 

 subsequently deepens to dark orange-red. Our figure was taken from a specimen 

 growing out of doors, where its numerous corymbs, produced within a small compass, 

 have a very showy effect. This species, like most of the others, is of as easy cultiva- 

 tion as the Puschia, growing freely in sandy loam with a little peat or leaf-mould, 

 but any good, friable soil will do. It requires protection in winter, and should be 

 potted from the ground in autumn, and preserved in aplace to which frost has no 

 access; an ordinary window is sufficient where there is no better accommodation. 

 It wiU need little water while dormant, just enough to keep the soil and fibres of 

 the roots from becoming quite dry. It is readily increased by cuttings of the young 

 shoots, which may be taken off any time from June to August, and struck under a 

 glass, in a pot of sandy soil. A little bottom-heat will aid the rooting process, but 

 is not indispensable. If taken later in the season, they do not become sufficiently 

 rooted before the arrival of winter. When the plants begin to push in spring they 

 must be freely watered, and where they are wanted in flower early, it may be 

 advisable to place them in a close frame for a few weeks. In May, or the beginning 

 of June, they may be turned into the open borders, after a few days' partial 

 exposure to harden them. This species makes an admirable pot-plant for the 

 window; its foliage, so far from being unpleasantly scented, as in crocea super ba and 

 mutabilis, is to us rather agreeable. 



There are several other species almost equally desirable. That just referred to, 

 the crocea superba, is a fine plant, and produces flowers of a similar colour, but we 

 think less clear and rich ; and its shoots are often long-jointed. Mutabilis is another 

 species very commonly grown, with soft Balm-like leaves, of an unpleasant odour; 

 the heads of flowers are like those of our figure, but smaUer, and contain fewer 

 blossoms. The L. grandi/hra is a fine species with flowers changing from yellow to 

 pinkish lilac ; its stems are armed with strong curved prickles. Perhaps, after the 

 L. Cammara, the most interesting species for open-air cultivation is the L. Sello- 

 viana. The stems of this plant are round and slender, often long-jointed when 

 grown under glass, but more compact out of doors. The leaves are rather small, 

 of an oval form, and from their axils are produced, on long foot-stalks, numerous 



