Stove and Greenhouse Plants and Flowers 195 



recent introduction from New Guinea. They are dwarf and tufted in habit, 

 and the young leaves are of a rich brown purple. They require stove treat- 

 ment. Martinezia caryotcefolia is a distinct stove Palm, while the species 

 of Penanga are remarkable for their mottled leaves. Pritchardia aurea 

 is met with occasionally as a big specimen for furnishing or decorative 

 work, and is recognized by its large yellowish leaves. Ptychoraphis 

 augusta, P. Sander iana, and P. singaporensis are elegant Malayan Palms 

 with pinnate leaves resembling those of Cocos Weddelliana and Geonoma 

 gracilis. They are charming in the young state, and should prove an 

 excellent investment for the market grower. When hardened off they 

 will stand well in rooms, halls, &c. All the species of Thrinax are graceful 

 in a young state, especially T. Morrisi and T. Pumilio. Verschajfeltia 

 splendida is a striking Palm from Mauritius with large two-lobed leaves. 

 Wallichia densiflora and W. caryotoides are dwarf, tufted Tropical Palms; 

 and Washingtonia filifera (often called a Pritchardia) is a fine California!! 

 plant with bright-green palmate leaves. 



Pandanus (SCREW PINE). There are many species, but the one most 

 favoured by market growers is P. Veitchi, a lovely plant from the South 

 Sea Islands, with elegant glossy-green leaves striped with white. It 

 flourishes in a rich loamy soil, with a little peat or leaf mould and sand 

 added. Young growing plants enjoy plenty of warmth and moisture, and 

 the night temperature should not sink much below 70 F. The plants 

 should be syringed daily to keep them free from scale insects; and during 

 bright sunshine it is necessary to shade if the variegation is to be had 

 pure. When established, a lower temperature is advisable. Nice plants 

 in 5 -in. pots realize from 2s. 6d. each upwards. Market growers might 

 also consider P. Sanderi from a commercial standpoint. It is a fine plant, 

 with creamy-yellow stripes on the leaves. P. javanicus variegatus is 

 another silvery and green form, very pretty when young. 



Panicum variegatum (Oplismenus Burmanni). A charming Grass, 

 from Tropical Asia, with tufts of trailing stems and leaves striped with 

 pink and white. P. plicatum is much more compact in growth, and has 

 long lance-shaped leaves strongly veined and resembling some Palms in 

 appearance. There is a nice variegated form of it. These plants grow in 

 sandy loam and leaf soil, and are increased by division. 



Pelargonium. Under this title there are four distinct kinds of plants 

 grown for market, viz.: (1) ZONAL PELARGONIUMS (including green-leaved, 

 silver-leaved, bronze-leaved, and tricolor-leaved varieties) ; (2) IVY-LEAVED 

 PELARGONIUMS; (3) SHOW AND FANCY PELARGONIUMS; and (4) OAK-LEAVED 

 OR SWEET-SCENTED PELARGONIUMS. These are all popularly known under 

 the name of GERANIUM, a genus which has already been dealt with at 

 p. 47. 



ZONAL PELARGONIUMS. These constitute the most important group, 

 and millions of plants are raised and sold annually by market growers, to 

 say nothing of the hundreds of thousands that are also raised in private- 

 garden establishments. The different varieties have originated from Pelar- 



