128 FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF MADEIRA 



impossible to recognize the streptosolen of the green- 

 house, with its dull orange and yellow blossoms, as 

 the same plant when grown in the sunshine of 

 Madeira. The soil is no doubt partly responsible 

 for the difference in colour a fact I have noticed 

 with many other plants, but certainly in the case 

 of streptosolen the change is most remarkable and 

 the intense brilliancy of its large heads of blossom 

 attract the attention of all new-comers to the 

 island. The shrub is sometimes known as JSrowallia 

 Jamesonii ; and a blue variety which has lately 

 been introduced from the Cape seemed to closely 

 resemble the family of browallias. Should it prove 

 to have as vigorous a constitution as the orange 

 variety, it will be another great acquisition to the 

 island, as its blossoms are of a deep clear blue. 



Astrapcea pendiftora, or tassel-tree, as it is often 

 called, from the resemblance of its great balls 

 of pink blossoms hanging on a long slender 

 stalk, has handsome foliage, and assumes the 

 proportions of a large shrub or small tree in a short 

 time, as it appears to be of very rapid growth. 1 find 

 it difficult to share the almost universal admiration 

 that it awakens when in flower, as its beauty is 

 much marred by the tenacious habit of its dead 

 blossoms, which cling to life to the bitter end, and 



