56 Subtropical Gardening. 



do best in light soil with plenty of leaf-mould and having 

 a warm aspect. It may be sown in hotbeds in April 

 and pricked out in May, or in the open air at the end of 

 April or beginning of May, and, like the others, should 

 never be allowed to get crowded. 



*Amarantus speciosus. A very large kind, well 

 adapted for associating with subtropical plants, as it 

 grows from 3 ft. to nearly 5 ft. high. The flowers are 

 very numerous, of a dark crimson purple, and arranged 

 in large erect spikes, forming a fine plumy panicle. The 

 leaves are suffused with a reddish tinge. Plants of this 

 species are occasionally met with having leaves with a 

 light green centre surrounded by wavy zones of a reddish 

 hue. This colouring disappears at the time of flowering. 

 It is an effective subject in the autumn months. Culture, 

 the same as for the preceding kind. Nepaul. 



*Amarantus tricolor. Distinguished by the very 

 handsome and remarkable colouring of its leaves, which 

 are of a fine transparent purplish-red, or dark carmine, 

 from the base to the middle. A large spot of lively 

 transparent yellow occupies the greater part of the upper 

 end of the leaf, and sometimes covers it altogether, with 

 the exception of the point, which is mostly green. The 

 leaf-stalk is either of a light green or yellow colour. 

 Sometimes leaves occur which have the lower half green 

 and the upper part red. Another variety (tricolor) has 

 leaves of a tender green variously streaked with light 

 yellow. It is rather delicate, and requires very good soil, 

 and a warm, open aspect. Another variety (bicolor ruber) 

 is hardier than the last-named, and has leaves which are 

 of a brilliant glistening scarlet when young, gradually 



