May.'] HOT-HOUSE — of repotting, etc. 149 



sivelj in the "West Indies, and the tender part of the top 

 is eaten by the natives. A. tnontand is most frequent in 

 collections. There is no particular beauty in the flowers. 

 They are all easily grown, if plenty of heat be given. (Soil 

 No. 12.) 



AristoUcliias^ Birth-wort. There are several of these be- 

 longing to the hot-house, but none of them deserving 

 particular observation, except A. lahibsa and A. hraslUensls. 

 - The leaves are reniform, roundish, cordate, and amplexicaule ; 

 the flower or corolla is of a curious construction, being in- 

 curved, and at the base swelled or saccate, with a large lip, 

 and all beautifully spotted; color greenish brown. They 

 are climbing plants, and require a strong heat. (Soil No. 9.) 



Astraj)aeas, three species. A. Wallicliii is a celebrated 

 plant in Europe, and is frequently met with in our collec- 

 tions. It has a profusion of scarlet umbellated flowers, with 

 an involucre ; has twenty -five stamens united into a tube, 

 bearing the corolla with five petals; leaves roundish, cordate, 

 acuminate, very large, with persistent, ovate wavy stipules. 

 The plant is of easy culture, and grows freely, wood very 

 strong. (Soil No. 12.) 



Bamhusas, Bamboo-cano, two species. Plants of very 

 strong growth, and are used in the East Indies, where they 

 are indigenous, for every purpose in the construction of huts, 

 for furniture both domestic and rural, for fences, boats, boxes, 

 paper, &c. It is frequcntl}^ used as pipes to convey water. 

 The species thus useful is B. anindindcea, which grows to 

 a great height. We do not mention it as interesting in 

 beauty, but as a valuable plant for the many useful purposes 

 to which it is applied. It requires to be kept wet. (Soil 

 No. 15.) 



Banisterias, a genus of about fourteen climbing evergreen 

 plants. Three of them are esteemed, B. fiU(/ens, yellow 

 flowers in racemose spikes, leaves subovate and downy be- 

 neath. B. chrisojjhi/lla has beautiful foliage, as if covered 

 with a shining gold-colored dust; leaves large, oblong, acute. 

 B. splhidens, flowers in spikes of a yellow color ; foliage 

 large and silvery-like; the pots should be well drained. (Soil 

 No. 9.) 



BarringtbniaSy two species. B. specibsa has produced a 

 great excitement among cultivators, and is one of the hand- 

 somest plants produced within the tropics. The leaves are 

 13* 



