FOLIAGE PLANTS 389 



It is difficult to keep rubber plants symmetrical ; they 

 frequently lose their lower leaves and become unsightly. 

 It is possible to keep the growth low by removing the top 

 of the plant when it has reached the desired height. This, 

 however, often makes the top misshapen, and the best 

 looking plants are those which follow their natural habits 

 of growth, 



637. Araucarias or Norfolk Island pines, botanical 

 classification. Order, Pinacese ; genus, Araucaria (a 

 Chilean name) ; species : excelsa and imbricata. 



638. Araucarias, botanical characters. Araucarias are 

 very symmetrical, evergreen trees, with stiff, short, many- 

 pointed leaves. Most of the species become large forest 

 trees in their native habitat, but grown under glass, 

 they are low-growing and formal. 



Habitat. Norfolk Island and Chile. 



639. Culture. Araucaria excelsa is the most im- 

 portant member of the family, and is imported annually 

 in large numbers from Belgium. There it is propagated 

 and made a leading specialty of many nurseries. Compara- 

 tively few are propagated in this country. When used 

 as house plants, they should be placed near the light and 

 thrive best in cool rooms where the temperature is not over 

 60 at night. They do well in any good potting soil, 

 and should be re-potted frequently enough to prevent be- 

 coming badly pot-bound. If there is not sufficient soil and 

 nutriment in the pot, they lose their lower leaves and be- 

 come unsightly. They require an abundance of water 

 when flowering, but at other times should be kept only 

 moderately moist. 



640. Codiaeums or crotons, botanical classification. - 

 Order, Euphorbiacese ; genus, Codiaeum ; species, varie- 

 gatum; varieties, many. 



