GERRARDAXTHUS 



THE BULB BOOK 



GESXERA 



knotted, forked stems, and leaves 

 divided into several linear lobes each 

 again deeply cut into serrated lobes. 

 The large purple flowers with deeper 

 coloured veins appear in summer, the 

 petals being deeply notched. The 

 variety Charlesi, from Afghanistan, 

 has several roundish superimposed 

 tubers, and leaves less deeply lobed 

 and divided than those of the type. 



This species is hardy in the most 

 favoured parts of the Kingdom, but 

 requires protection in cold localities. 

 It likes rich gritty soil, and warm 

 sunny positions, and may be increased 

 by division of the tuberous roots, or 

 from seeds sown in gentle heat in 

 spring. 



GERRARDANTHUS (after W. T. 

 Gerrard, a botanical collector of 

 Natal). Nat. Ord. Cucurbitaceae. A 

 small genus of climbing plants, the 

 best known being 



G. tomentosus. A remarkable but 

 not particularly pretty climbing plant 

 from Natal. It has enormous root- 

 stocks, often 6 ft. in circumference 

 and 2 ft. in diameter. The stems, 

 which are about f in. thick, are 

 covered with small round tubercles 

 near the base, and in a wild state 

 ascend without a leaf to the top of 

 trees 50 ft. high. The Cucumber-like 

 leaves are 3 to 4 ins. across, roundish, 

 five to seven-lobed, strongly nerved 

 and hairy. The small yellow flowers 

 appear about August, the males being 

 in clusters, the females in pairs. 

 (Bot. Mag. t. G694.) 



This plant might be grown as a 

 curiosity in a warm greenhouse, and 

 may be raised from seeds. As it 

 grows naturally in poor rocky soil, 

 and has very few roots, it is not 

 fastidious. 



GESNERA (after Conrad Gesner (b. 

 1516, d. 1565), a celebrated botanist 



of Zurich). Nat. Ord. Gesneracese. 

 This genus contains about sixty 

 species of pretty, softly hairy, herb- 

 aceous plants, mostly having tuberous 

 root-stocks, simple opposite leaves, 

 and flowers in terminal cymes or 

 trusses. The irregular two-lipped 

 corolla tube is often elongated, some- 

 times distinctly inflated or ventricose, 

 and often arched and gibbous at the 

 base. 



Most of the Gesneras are natives 

 of Brazil, but some species are also 

 found in Guiana, Colombia, and Peru, 

 and one species is also found as far 

 north as Mexico. Coming from these 

 parts of America, the plants naturally 

 require the protection of a stove or 

 warm greenhouse in our climate. 

 They are best grown in well-drained 

 pots of various sizes, and a compost 

 of turfy loam, peat, leaf-mould, and 

 silver sand, which should be pressed 

 firmly round the tubers. The best 

 time for potting is in spring when the 

 new growths begin to appear, and one 

 or more tubers may be placed in 

 a pot or pan according to individual 

 taste and circumstances. The tops of 

 the tubers should be about level or 

 just above the surface of the soil, 

 and the pots should be placed on 

 shelves near the glass, so that the 

 extra light will keep the developing 

 growths short and sturdy. Care, 

 however, must be taken to shade 

 from strong sunshine. Watering 

 must be attended to regularly, 

 regulating the supply according to 

 the rapidity of growth and the actual 

 condition of the soil. Until the 

 leaves are fully developed the syringe 

 may be used daily to keep the young 

 growths fresh-looking and clean, and 

 afterwards late in the afternoon when 

 the ventilators have been closed. As 

 soon as the flower-spikes appear, 

 however, syringing should be prac- 

 tised carefully, and care must be 



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