70 FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF MADEIRA 



such as pyramids and ninepins. In the beds grow 

 large masses of the pale yellow sparaxis, anemones 

 of every shade, single, semi-double, or double, and 

 the graceful little Cineraria stellata, in an infinite 

 range of soft colouring. Or a whole bed is devoted 

 to the deep purple Statice, the beautiful white 

 Alstroemeria peregrina, or some other chosen 

 flower which gives a definite note to the colour 

 scheme. In March two fine specimens of Magnolia 

 conspicua are covered with their cup-like white and 

 lilac blossoms, and stand out in sharp contrast to 

 the deep emerald-green of \heAraucaria braziliensis, 

 which forms an admirable background to them, and 

 is in itself one of the most beautiful of all trees. 

 Near the magnolias a large shrub of Cantua 

 buxifolia, with its bright red tube-like blossoms 

 hanging in graceful bunches, provides a brilliant 

 patch of colour. The lilac Iris fimbriata, with its 

 branches of delicately veined flowers, seems to 

 flourish in the shade, and though its individual 

 blossoms are short-lived, they are so freely produced 

 that for many weeks in the late winter and early 

 spring the plants remain in beauty. One could 

 linger for many a long hour in this peaceful spot, 

 resting in an arbour completely formed of the 

 clinging, twining Muhlenbeckia, which has grown 



