490 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Dracaena continued. 



eye of the firm wood that has been cut in pieces and 

 inserted. 



Cultivation. Although the class of plants under notice 

 belong essentially to the stove, they will keep in good 

 condition in a greenhouse in summer. Many are also well 

 adapted for room or table decoration, particularly those 

 with recurved narrow leaves. Useful sizes for such pur- 

 poses may soon be obtained, if stove treatment, with 

 plenty of light, be given. A compost of loam and lumpy 

 peat, in equal proportions, with the addition of a little 

 charcoal, will suit them admirably. Dracaenas or Cor- 

 dylines require but a moderate amount of pot room, 



Dracaena continued. 



D. arborea (tree-like), fl. greenish, Jin. long, 

 sessile, lorate, lift, to 3ft. long, 2i 



May. I. dense, 

 to 3irT. wide in middle. 



, 40ft. Northern Guinea, 1800. 



D. ccrnua (drooping). A synonym of D. reflexa. 



D. conclnna (neat).* I. narrow, of a sombre green, with purplish- 

 red margins ; the contracted stalk-like base is also green, with a 

 slight purplish tinge, h. 6ft. Mauritius, 1870. A very useful 

 neat-growing species, with a dwarf, compact habit. See Fig. 680. 

 (R. G. 1864, 441.) 



D. cylindrica (cylindrical), fl. white, small ; spike cylindrical, 

 sessile, terminating the stem. I. linear-lanceolate, or oboyate- 

 lanceolate, bright green, spreading. Stem erect, undivided. 

 h. 5ft. West tropical Africa. (B. M. 5846.) 



D. Draco (Dragon).* Dragon-tree, fl. greenish - white, very 

 small, forming into a large panicle. I. lanceolate-linear, entire, 



FIG. 681. DRACAENA GOLDIEANA. 



in comparison to the size of plant that may be obtained. 

 Pots Sin. or 6in. in diameter are large enough for useful 

 decorative subjects 1ft. or l^ft. high ; and such plants 

 may be potted on into proportionately larger sizes if re- 

 quired for exhibition or for large specimens. Plenty 

 of heat and moisture are requisite when the plants are 

 young, to encourage a vigorous, quick growth. It is not 

 advisable, however, to syringe too much in winter, as 

 the water, lodging in the axils of the leaves, is, at 

 that season, liable to prove injurious. Exposure of the 

 plants to plenty of light is requisite for obtaining the 

 highest development of colour in their leaves. See also 

 Cordyline. 



glaucous disposed in a crowded head. Stem arboreous, simple, or 

 divided at the top, and, when old, becoming much branched, 

 each branch being terminated by a head of leaves. A. 40ft. 

 Canary Islands, 1640. This very fine species is much more 

 graceful and elegant when in a young state than when it becomes 

 old. It can be used very effectively in sub-tropical gardening, 

 and may remain in the open from May to September, inclusive. 

 There are few better ornaments for a conservatory than well- 

 grown specimens of this plant. The famous Dragon-tree of 

 Orotava measured 60ft. in height, and the stem was 15ft. m 

 diameter. (B. M. 457L) 



D. elliptica (elliptic). 

 in pedicellate fascicles 



/I. greenish-yellow, rarely solitary, mostly 

 threes. March. I. generally spreading, 



in pedicel . . 



petiolate, coriaceo-membranaceous, elliptical-lanceolate, glossy, 

 acute and mucronate, closely marked with parallel longitudinal 

 lines or stria?, full green ; petiole grooved, dilated, and amplexi- 



