162 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Fleospora continued. 



of erect filaments, each bearing on, or near, the tip one 

 or two conidia of a cylindrical or elliptical form, and 

 entire or two-celled. This Fungus, known as Clado- 

 sporium herbarum has long been regarded as an ill- 

 developed condition of Pleospora herbarum ; but recently 

 it has been denied that C. herbarum is a stage in the 

 development of P. herbarum. Other forms of conidia 

 also occur, intermingled with the Cladosporium, which 

 are admitted to be conditions of P. herbarum. These 



FIG. 205. PLEOSPORA HERBARUM, MACROSPORE STAGE (known as 

 Macrosporium sarsinula)a, Conidium on Stalk (st) ; 6, Coni- 

 dium after falling from Stalk ; c, Another Form of Conidium, 

 more typical of Sarcinula Stage : all x 400. 



latter forms (see Fig. 203) resemble, in their general ap- 

 pearance, the spores from the asci, e.g., in the forms 

 Macrosporium sarcinula, Sporidesmium, and Alternaria 

 Brassicce. Of these forms of conidia, Macrosporium and 

 Sporidesmium are oblong, with blunt ends, and are 

 divided, as shown in Fig. 203, both lengthwise and 

 crosswise, by partition walls, and each conidinm is pro- 

 duced on the end of a separate stalk. Alternaria has 

 conidia produced on stalks, which may be sparingly 

 branched ; on the tip of each branch is a row of pear- 

 shaped, many-celled conidia, attached by the broader end, 

 and these separate very readily. The two forms Macro- 

 tporium and Alternaria are regarded by Gibelli as 

 characteristic of the two species into which he divides 

 P. herbarum, as mentioned above. All the forms of 

 conidia now described germinate readily, and, in suitable 

 conditions of moisture and nourishment, produce myce- 

 lium, which produces the Fungus anew. On the relation- 

 ship of Cladosporium herbarum to the other forms 

 greatly depends the view that must be taken of the 

 disease-producing power of P. herbarum, and further 

 investigations are required on this point. 



Remedies. Unfortunately, these are hardly procurable, 

 because of the wide diffusion and abundance of the Fungi' 

 and the internal parasitism of the mycelium ; but all 

 diseased parts should be burned. The best method to 

 prevent damage is to promote, in every way, healthy 

 growth in the plants most liable to be attacked. 



FLEROMA (from pleroma, fulness; referring to the 

 cells of the capsule). STN. Lasiandra. Including Chce- 

 togastra, Melastoma, Micranthella, and Rhexia (in part). 

 OED. Melastomacece. A genus containing about 124 

 species of stove or greenhouse shrubs and sub-shrubs, 

 rarely perennial herbs, sometimes climbing, often strigoso- 

 pilose or hispid, natives of tropical South America, 

 being mostly Brazilian. Flowers violet or purple, usually 

 disposed in terminal, trichotomously-branched panicles, 

 large, sometimes with concave involucral bracts, very 

 rarely four -parted; calyx tube ovoid, campanulate, 

 urceolate, or elongated; lobes five, as long as, or longer 

 than, the tube; petals five, obovate, often unequilateral 

 and retuse. Leaves frequently large, coriaceous, petiolate, 

 ovate or oblong, entire, three to seven-nerved. The 

 species thrive either in turfy loam or peat, preferably 

 the former, and cuttings of half-ripened shoots root 



Pleroma continued. 



readily in a close frame at almost any time of year when 

 they can be obtained. P. elegans forms a fine exhibition 

 plant when well grown, and P. macranthum is one of the 

 most beautiful subjects for covering a pillar or rafter in 

 a greenhouse or cool stove. A season of rest should 

 be allowed Pleromas in winter ; but plenty of water 

 may be applied through the summer. Except where 

 otherwise stated, the under-mentioned species are shrubs, 

 and require stove treatment. 



P. Benthamianum (Bentham's).* ft. of a beautiful dark 

 purple, almost white in the centre, about 2in. across ; panicles 

 terminal, glanduloso-pilose. Autumn. I. oblong-lanceolate, 

 rounded or somewhat cordate at the base, acute, nine-nerved, 

 entire, the upper surface rough with small setae, the lower 

 covered with adpressed, silky hairs, h. 4ft. Organ Mountains, 

 1841. (B. M. 4007.) 



P. elegans (elegant).* ft. rich blue, large, produced in abundance 

 during May and June. I. opposite, ovate-acuminate, bright shining 

 green, h. 5ft. Organ Mountains, 1844. (B. M. 4262.) 



P. Gaudichaudianum (Gaudichaud's). ft. rosy-purple, in ter- 

 minal panicles. Summer. I. petiolate, ovate, acuminate, beset 

 with small, softish bristles. Branches tetragonal, rough from 

 small, adpressed bristles, h. 2ft. to 3ft. Brazil, 1836. SYNS. 

 Lasiandra petiolata (B. M. 3766), Pleionema Gaudichaudiana, 

 Rhexia petiolata, and R. petiolaris. 



P. Gayanum (Gay's).* ft. white, in terminal panicles. Late 

 autumn. I. ovate-oblong, acute, serrate, hairy, h. 1ft. to 2ft. 

 Peru, 1874. Herb. (B. M. 6345.) 



P. granulosum (granulose). ft. reddish-purple, very showy, 

 almost 3in. in diameter ; corolla concave, rotate ; petals obovate- 

 oblong, acuminate, shortly apiculate ; panicles terminal, with 

 decussate branchlets. I. coriaceous, decussately opposite, entire, 

 attenuated at both ends, five-nerved ; petioles much shorter than 

 the leaves, h. 10ft. Brazil. (B. R. 671.) SYN. Lasiandra Fon- 

 tanesiana (R. G. 1865, 466). 



P. heteromallum (one-woolly-sided), ft., petals purplish-violet 

 five or six, obcordate ; calyx pubescent, with deciduous teeth ; 

 filaments short, conniving. July to September. I. oval-cordate, 

 stalked, beset with flocky wool beneath, h. 4ft. to 6ft. Brazil, 

 1819. SYN. Melastoma heteromalla (B. M. 2337 ; B. R. 664). 



P. holosericeum (silky). /. purple; thyrse panicled, ter- 

 minal, with the rachis very villous and compressed ; calyx 

 tubular. July. I. sessile, ovate, five to seven-nerved, entire, 

 densely silky-villous on both surfaces. Branches tetragonal, 

 clothed with adpressed bristles, h. 6ft. to 10ft. Brazil, 1816. 

 A beautiful species. SYNS. Lasiandra argentea, Rhexia holosericea 

 (B. R. 323; L. B. C. 236). 



P. Kunthianum (Kunth's). A synonym of P. semidecandrum. 



P. macranthum (large-flowered).* ft. rich deep violet-purple, 

 about Sin. in diameter, solitary, freely produced at the ends of 

 the branchlets. Winter. I. ovate or oblong-ovate, acuminate, 

 rugose. Branches slender, terete. Brazil, 1864. A very beautiful 

 plant, flowering the more profusely when in a large state, and 

 forming one of the most effective subjects for greenhouse or 

 conservatory decoration. It is best suited for trellises or walls, 

 and, for this purpose, should be planted out, or placed in large 

 tubs or boxes, after the first year's growth. (B. M. 5721.) SYN. 

 Lasiandra macrantha. 



P. m. floribundum (floriferous). ft. of a rich and brilliant 

 violet-blue, produced almost throughout the year, and measuring 

 nearly lift, in circumference. St. Catherine's, Brazil, 1870. A 

 most beautiful variety, producing its gigantic flowers on young 

 plants when only about 3in. in height. It is better suited for 

 pot culture than the type. 



P. sarmentosum (twiggy).* ft. deep violet or violet-purple, 

 upwards of 2in. in diameter, and disposed in trichotomous 

 panicles. I. ovate or ovate-oblong, shortly stalked. Branches 

 sarmentose. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Cool valleys of Peru, 1867. A beau- 

 tiful, greenhouse, sub-shrubby plant. (B. M. 5629.) 



P. semidecandrum (five-stamened). ft. purple; petals very 

 obtuse ; calyx tube campanulate, rigidly setose ; pedicels hispid, 

 axillary, one-flowered, and terminal. July. I. petiolate, oblong, 

 acute, five-nerved, entire, setuloso - scabrous above, villous 

 beneath. Branches tetragonal, and, as well as the petioles, 

 villous. Brazil. SYN. P. Kunthianum (B. M. 4412). 



P. villosum (villous). /. rosy-pink, terminal, few, pedunculate; 

 petals obovate, retuse, mucronate. May and June. I. ovate, 

 acute, entire, villous, five-nerved. Branches terete, villous 

 beneath, h. 3ft. to 4ft. 1820. SYN. Melastoma villosum (B. M. 

 2630 ;L. B. C. 853). 



P. vimineum (twiggy), ft. purple ; calyx covered with glandular 

 hairs, the segments lanceolate and mucronate. July and August. 

 I. ovate-lanceolate, acute, petiolate, and, as well as the branches, 

 scabrous, but canescent beneath, h. 6ft. Brazil, 1821. SYN. 

 Rhexia viminea (B. R. 664). 



FLEURANDRA (of Labillardiere). Included under 

 Hibbertia (which see). 



