182 FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF MADEIRA 



overdose of Atropa belladonna. Still, there is 

 something perceptively oppressive in the evening, 

 in too long or close inhalement of the powerful 

 aromatic fragrance of the flower." 



The peculiar flowers of Strelitzia regina, intro- 

 duced to Europe from South Africa during the 

 reign of George III., and named, in honour of 

 Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, never 

 fail to attract admiration. The plant is also called 

 bird of paradise flower and bird's-tongue flower 

 both suitable names, as the gaudiness of its blue 

 and orange flowers must have been responsible for 

 the former, while the resemblance of the flower to 

 a bird's head with a bright blue beak shows its 

 likeness to the latter. The plant has long, narrow, 

 oblong leaves, of a dull greyish-green, of a pecu- 

 liarly tough texture, and a good clump some four 

 or five feet high is very ornamental. Strelitzia 

 august a, as its name implies, is of more majestic 

 growth. It has large foliage, not unlike a banana, 

 and clumps attain to twelve or fifteen feet in height. 

 The blossom is more curious than beautiful, being 

 of so dark a purple as to be almost black ; but, for 

 the sake of its foliage, it is always worth a place, 

 and may well be called a noble plant. 



