HOTTONIA 



HOUSE PLANTS 



775 



ubmerged and alternate, pinnately dissected Ivs., the 

 ilivisions numerous and linear. From the center of the 



yhorl of branches a single leafless flower-stem rises 

 .,ut of the water in summer, bearing a raceme with sev- 



ral whorls of 3-5 or handsome, pale purple fls., ap- 



en 



1101. Hotbed (or forcing-house) heated by hot water. 



>arently with 5 petals, but actually with a short corolla 

 ube below the lobes. The plants root in the mud or 

 ioat, and the fls. are about three-fourths of an inch in 

 liameter. Stamens 5, inserted on the tube of the corolla: 

 apsule subglobose, with 5 lateral valves : seeds nu- 

 uerous. The American plant, H. inflata, Ell., has 

 ;pongy stems and clustered peduncles, which are partly 

 ibove water, inflated, jointed, the lowest joint 2-4 in. 

 ong and sometimes 1 in. thick, the others 1-3 in num- 

 )er and successively shorter : fls. small, in whorls of 

 '.'-10 at the joints. B.B. 2:586. Neither species is ad- 

 vertised. Like all aquarium plants, they are interesting, 

 jut they have no horticultural value otherwise. Both 

 >lants are called Featherfoil and Water-violet ; the 

 '\merican also Water-feather and Water-yarrow. 



HOULLETIA (after Houllet, French gardener). Or- 



liidtlcece. About 8 species of epiphytic, pseudobulbous 



; >rchids from South America, allied to Stanhopea, and 



'looming in summer. Pseudobulbs conical, 1-leaved: 



vs. lanceolate, plicate : sepals and petals usually nearly 



^qual : labellum continuous with the clavate, arcuate 



'olumn: pollinia 2, on a long caudicle. 



odoratissima, Linden. Sepals and petals reddish 

 )rown : labellum white, with two crimson appendages 

 nidway of its length. Colombia. G.C. II. 24:777. Var. 

 Antioquiensis, Andre" (H. Antioquensis, Hort.), has 

 iabellum white, tinged yellow. I.H. 17:12. 



Brocklehurstiana, Lindl. Fls. 5-8, about 3 in. across, 

 Brownish red, dotted with brown-purple; sepals oblong, 

 obtuse, the lateral ones slightly united at base; petals 

 narrower, obovate; labellum yellow, thickly dotted with 

 brown-purple; from its lower half two linear appen- 

 dages have their origin. Braz. B.M. 4072. P.M. 9:49. 

 R.H. 1885:492. 



picta, Linden & Reichb. f. Fls. 6-10; sepals oblong, 

 brownish, unspotted above, tessellated with yellow be- 

 f>w; petals similarly colored; labellum yellow, spotted 

 or dotted with brown-purple or red-purple, the end has- 

 tate: apex recurved, pale yellow veined with crimson. 

 , Colombia. B.M. 6305. 



Wallisii, Linden & Eeichb. f. (H. chrysdntha, Lind. 



fcAndr6). Fls. about 2 in. across; sepals and petals 



yellow, blotched inside with brown-purple ; labellum 



yellow, dotted with crimson. Colombia. G.C. II. 18:437. 



OAKES AMES. 



HOUND'S TONGUE. See Cynoglossum. 



HOUSE LEEK. Sempervivum tectorum. 



HOUSE PLANTS (Figs. 1102-1104) are those plants 

 which can be grown in the ordinary rooms of dwelling 

 houses. They may be hardy or tender; but only such as 

 are suitable for this purpose will be considered here. 



In the living rooms of the modern well-built house, 

 plants must contend against difficulties which did not 

 exist in the less carefully equipped dwellings of fifty 

 years ago or earlier. The present methods of heating 

 and lighting, by gas or kerosene lamps, not electricity, 

 produce a dry atmosphere which is inimical to vegetable 

 growth. In houses lighted by electricity, and heated by 

 any system which introduces fresh air in abundance, 

 this matter is not so troublesome. Too much heat and 

 dry air are harder for plants to endure than insufficient 

 light, but it is also lack of light which makes it so 

 difficult to grow flowering plants in houses. Dust 

 and insects do harm, but these difficulties can be 

 overcome. 



For the above reasons it is important to select 

 House Plants which are adapted to resist a dry at- 

 mosphere, a high temperature and inadequate light. 

 Such examples can be found among certain tropical 

 plants with coriaceous leaves and small stomata, 

 what the florists call foliage plants, e. g., rubber 

 trees, palms, etc. These make the best foundation 

 upon which any successful system of growing plants 

 in houses can be built. Flowering plants can also be 

 used, but they should be introduced from time to 

 time, each in its proper season, when about to bloom 

 or in bloom, and not considered a part of the perma- 

 nent arrangement. After flowering they should be re- 

 moved: their function is not unlike the use of cut- 

 flowers, but they last longer and are not much more ex- 

 pensive, while they largely increase the attraction of 

 the window-garden. 



The best rooms for plants are those which get the 

 most sun, and the best positions are those nearest the 

 windows, where there is not only more light but more 

 fresh air. A large palm, fern or rubber will grow in an 

 entry or poorly lighted corner, but the best place is that 

 which is best lighted. Plants do well in a kitchen, the 

 moisture from the cooking helping them materially; it 

 is by no means a bad hospital for unhealthy specimens. 



1102. Pot-plants in the window. 



Sometimes a plant-room, not a conservatory, can be set 

 aside for this purpose exclusively. If this is done in 

 the basement, and it is possible to get good light, satis- 

 factory results are obtained. The floor can be made of 



