76 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Gloxinia contin ued. 



and peg them down flat on pans of light soil, or on cocoa 

 fibre, in a propagating frame. Numerous bulbils will 

 eventually be formed at all the firmer parts of the mid- 

 ribs where incisions have been made, and may be col- 

 lected from the soil or fibre when the other portions of 

 the leaf are decayed. 



Cultivation. Gloxinias are naturally summer-flowering 

 plants, and should be started into growth about February, 

 or earlier, if desired. A portion may be retained for a 

 succession, to be followed, in early autumn, by seedlings, 

 thus securing a long period for a display with even a 

 limited number of plants. The roots should be removed 

 from the dry soil in which they have been stored, or from 

 other sources, as the case may be, placed in small pots, 

 and stood in a temperature of about 65deg. The soil best 

 suited is leaf mould, not too much decayed, and lumpy 

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

 sand or charcoal. Loam is sometimes used, but it is not 

 required if watering is attended to. The pots should be 

 well drained, and nearly filled, the bulbs being pressed 

 in and covered with soil, which is best raised above them 

 in the middle of the pot. No water is required until 

 growth begins, except a little syringing round the pots, 

 to prevent the soil becoming too dry. When growing, 

 the plants require plenty of water, and are much bene- 

 fited by copious syringings with tepid water morning and 

 evening, in summer. Cold water must on no account 

 be applied, or much injury will ensue. Before the small 



Gloxinia continued. 



pots are filled with roots, and if the plants are calculated 

 to grow strongly, a shift into the flowering sizes, which 

 range from Sin. to Sin. in diameter, may be effected. A 

 light position, and shading from sunshine, will ensure a 

 sturdy growth, which eventually produces flowers of good 

 substance. Air should be carefully admitted, and the 

 leaves handled with caution, as they are exceedingly 

 brittle. Artificial manure, or manure water, is beneficial 

 when the flowers appear, but it should be kept from the 

 foliage. The flowers last longer if the plants are sub- 

 jected to a cooler temperature and more air at the flower- 

 ing season. As the leaves ripen, water should be withheld ; 

 and when they die away, the roots may be stored in a 

 dry place till the following spring, but they must not bo 

 exposed to cold. 



Insects. The leaves and flower-stalks are frequently 

 much injured by Thrips. If these are allowed a footing, 

 it is difficult to effect eradication ; but injury may be 

 largely prevented by maintaining a moist atmosphere 

 during the time the plants are growing. 

 G. dlversiflora (variable-flowered). A pretty, dwarf, free- 

 flowering hybrid, probably of garden origin. See Fig. 119. 

 G. gesneroides (Gesnera-like) is said to be a hybrid between 

 a Sinningia and Gesnera Donkelaariana. It has fiery -red flowers. 

 See Fig. 120, for which we are indebted to Messrs. Carter. The 

 absurdity of the name is apparent ; it is mentioned here solely 

 because it is known by no other name in gardens. 

 G. glabra (glabrous), fl. white; throat yellow, spotted with 

 purple ; corolla funnel-shaped ; lobes nearly equal, with wavy, 

 finely-fringed edges; calycine segments foliaceous; peduncles 

 axillary, solitary, one-flowered. August. I. ovate, acute, ser- 

 rated, glabrous. Stem erect, simple, sub-tetragonal, h. 9in. 

 1847. (B. M. 4430, under name of G. fimbriata.) 

 G. maculata (spotted). /. purplish-blue, downy ; peduncles axil- 

 lary, one-flowered, solitary. June to October. I., radical ones 

 cordate, obtuse, doubly toothed, shining above, reddish beneath. 

 Stems simple, spotted, h. 1ft. South America, 1739. (B. M. 1191.) 

 G. multiflora. See Nsegelia amabilis. 

 G. pallidifiora (pale-flowered), fl. pale blue ; lobes of corolla 

 concave; calycine segments linear, reflexed. August. I. broad, 

 sub-obliquely ovate, obscurely serrated, rather pilose above. Stem 

 erect, simple, spotless, h. 1ft. Santa Martha, 1844. (B. M. 4213.) 

 G. Passinghamii (Passingham's). A synonym of Sinningia 



speciosa. 

 G. speciosa (showy). A synonym of Sinningia speciosa. 



Varieties. As a much greater variety in colour may 

 be secured from mixed seeds than from a limited number 

 of named sorts, the general and most satisfactory method 

 of growing seedlings is here recommended. Seeds of erect 

 and drooping varieties are sold in separate mixtures. 

 GLUMES. The floral envelopes of grasses. 

 GLUTINOSE. Adhesive, gluey. 

 GTiYCINE (from glykys, sweet; the leaves and roots 

 of one or two of the species are sweet). OBD. Legumi- 

 nosce. A genus of about twelve species of stove or green- 

 house, twining or prostrate, slender or rarely sub-erect 

 herbs, distributed over Asia, Africa, and Australia. G. 

 hedysaroides (probably the only species introduced) 

 thrives in a compost of peaty loam and a little sand. 

 Propagated, in spring, by cuttings of young side shoots, 

 inserted in sand, under a bell glass ; or by seeds, sown 

 in a hotbed. 



G. Apios (Apios). A synonym of Apios tuberosa. 

 G. biloba (two-lobed). A synonym of Cologania biloba. 

 G. hedysaroides (Hedysarum-like). fl. purple, axillary, usually 

 five together. June. I., leaflets ovate, obtuse, : 



beneath. Branches twining a little. 

 Guinea, 1823. Stove. 



mucronate, pilose 

 rect, tomentose. 



FIG. 120. GLOXINIA GES.NEROIDES. 



GLYCOSMIS (from glykys, sweet, and osme, smell ; in 

 allusion to the scent of the leaves and flowers). OBD. 

 Rutacece. A genus comprising five species of unarmed 

 stove trees and shrubs, inhabiting tropical Asia and 

 Australia, and (one, doubtful) Africa. Flowers small, in 

 axillary, rarely terminal, panicles. Berries small. Leaves 

 unifoliolate or impari-pinnate ; leaflets alternate, entire or 

 serrate. The species thrive in a rich mould. Increased 

 by cuttings, inserted in sand, under a hand glass, in heat. 



