108 HOT-HOUSE OF REPOTTING, ETC. 



large terminal spikes of scarlet flowers, blooming from De- 

 cember to March, and is a very desirable plant, of easy cul- 

 ture, and should be in every collection ; it is apt to grow 

 spindly, if not kept near the glass. I. picta, with its varieties, 

 L liLcida, and I. calyctricha, are fine shrubby species. 1. 

 speciosa is a beautiful profuse purple flowering plant. (Soil 

 No. 11.) 



Ldntdna, a genus of twenty species, all free-flowering 

 shrubs ; the flowers are small, in round heads blooming from 

 the axils, in yellow, orange, pink, white and changeable colomrs; 

 principally of a rough, straggling growth, and are not esteemed. 

 However, L. selltfi, light purple; L. mutdbilis, yellow, 

 orange, and pink ; L. bicolor, white and pink, and L. fucdta 

 (or Dougldsii of some), lilac and white; L. rosea, white, 

 changing to rose ; L. Mexicana, very rich orange, one of the 

 finest. These are very handsome growing plants, and will 

 even keep in a good green-house ; but in such case will only 

 bloom in summer. They will not bear a strong fumigation ; 

 therefore, when the hot-house is under that operation, they 

 must be set down in the pathway, or other low part in the 

 house. (Soil No. 9.) 



Lasiandra, a genus related to melastoma, of which there 

 are several very handsome species. L. splendens, with 

 hirsute rich crimson foliage and brilliant purple flowers, 

 blooming from January to May. L. Benihamiana, with very 

 elegant foliage and rich bluish purple flowers, grows freely in 

 Soil No. 1. 



Latdnias. This genus contains three species of handsome 

 palms. L. barbonica is one of the finest of the Palmce, not 

 growing to great magnitude ; the leaves or fronds are plaited 

 flabelliform, leaflets smooth at the edge, footstalk spiny, and 

 the plant spreading. L. rubra, fronds same as the former, 

 but leaflets more divided and surrulate ; footstalk unarmed : 

 foliage reddish. L. glaucophylla same as L. rubra, only the 

 foliage glaucous. They are all valuable plants, and are ob- 

 tained by seed from the East Indies. They require plenty of 

 pot-room. (Soil No. 12.) 



Laurus. This genus, though of no beauty in flower, is 

 generally admired in collections for its fine evergreen foli- 

 age, and aromatic or spicy flavour, and several trees are 

 important in medicine. The most esteemed are given to a 

 geuus named Ginnamomum^ as has been observed in tho 



