MAY.] HOT-HOUSE OF REPOTTING, &c. 235 



on the earth. There are about two hundred species, and 

 from all of them, when probed, a thick milky fluid ex- 

 udes. Those of the tropics are the most curious, and 

 very similar in appearance to Cactus, but easily detect- 

 ed by the above perforation. There is a magnificent 

 species in our collections, which was lately introduced 

 from Mexico.* It goes under the name of E. hetero- 

 phylla. The flowers of the whole genus are apetalous, 

 and the beauty is in the bractese; of the species alluded 

 to the bracteae is bright crimson, very persistent, and 

 above six inches in diameter, when well grown. The 

 plant requires a strong heat, or the foliage will become 

 yellow and fall off. We question whether this species is 

 nondescript or as above. It is a brilliant ornament to the 

 Hot-house three fourths of the year, and always during 

 winter, and should have a situation in every tropical 

 collection. 



Erythnnas (Coral tree), a genus containing about 

 thirty species of leguminose, scarlet-flowering plants. 

 Several species are greatly esteemed for their beauty 

 and profusion of flowers, which in well established 

 plants are produced in long spikes at the end of the 

 stems and branches. E. Corallodendrum blooms magni- 

 ficently in the West Indies, but in our collections has 

 never flowered. Perhaps if it was kept dry during its 

 dormant season, which is from November to January, 

 and when growing greatly encouraged, it might pro- 

 duce flowers. E. specibsa is a splendid flowerer, leaves 

 large, ternated, and prickly beneath ; stem prickly. E. 

 pubescens is valued for its large peculiar brown pubes- 

 cent leaves. 



* By Poinsett the American Consul for Mexico in 1828. 



