THE LOBELIA FAMILY. 



379 



the severance of the main spike directs the vigour of the plant 

 mainly to the production of this growth." 



Ctntropogon and Syphocampylus are readily multiplied by 

 cuttings of the young growth in heat, or by seeds, which are 

 readily obtainable by artificial fertilisation. 



Rhynchopetalum montanum is a rare and distinct plant, with 

 a stem something like a Cycad or " Grass-tree " (Xanthorrhcza). 

 It is difficult to propagate, but offsets are produced from the 

 scaly stem, if it is kept moist by a thin layer of damp sphag- 

 num moss. 



Lobelia. A showy genus of herbaceous plants* principally 

 natives of America, and represented in our gardens by L. car- 



Lobelia erinus, var. speciosa Flower enlarged, a, Style ; b, Ovary, calyx, 

 stamens, and style. 



dinalis (see ' Bot. Mag.,' t. 320), L.fulgens, and Z. longiflora (see 

 ' Bot. Mag.,' t. 2563). Z. gigantea is a strong-growing species, 

 with large yellow flowers (see 'Bot. Mag.,' t. 1325), andZ.' 

 tupa (ibid., t. 2550), bears a large panicle of crimson flowers. 

 There are numerous other species of this large-growing section, 

 but some of the fine old kinds are lost. The modern varieties 

 of Lobelias have originated from Z. cardinalis and Z. fulgens, 

 and are very variable in colour, the various shades of rose, scar- 

 let, crimson, purple, and blue being most prominent. Of the 



