'*/-: PLANTS. 255 



conservatory. The flowers of some of the varieties are very fine, but 

 after all they are not comparable with the wild flowers of the garden. 



I have a very curious plant, the Cuscnta reflexa, given to me by 

 Mr. Terry. It is allied to the dodder, which destroys the clover. It 

 is commonly a parasite on the ivy, but it is by no means nice as to 

 the plant it patronizes, as it will grow on vines, peach-trees, geraniums, 

 and in fact on whatever it can reach. When its stem touches a plant, 

 it seems to form a union with the leaf or with the stem ; so no doubt, 

 leech-like, it sucks out its juices by dialysis. The flower is white, but 

 the whole plant is not so handsome as the common dodder. It has no 

 roots, but the stems simply twine round the plants from which it derives 

 its nourishment. I have tried to acclimatize it on my ivy, but without 

 success, as it perished with the earliest frost, and the parent plant 

 suffered greatly, and nearly died from being kept in the orchard-house 

 too long. 



Fin. 517. Tmpatieis Halsamina. 



FIG. 519. Belladonna Lily. 



We grow the Rondclctia spccinsa (fig. S 1 ^), from the Havanas, but 

 we do not look upon it as a very valuable acquisition. 



There are many bulbous plants of great merit, such as the Bella- 

 donna Lily (Amaryllis Belladonna, fig. 519). It is said to be called 

 Belladonna from the beautiful pale .pink colour of the blossom. Like 

 all the Cape bulbs, it must be grown in full light, and carefully ripened 

 afterwards. 



" Where, here and there, on sandy beaches, 

 A milky-bell'd amaryllis blew." TENNYSON. 



