i8o Notes and Gleanings. 



A Trio of first-class Marantas. — There are few family groups of planls 

 with ornamental foliage that would go farther in affording materials combining 

 rare beauty and picturesque variety for the decoration of a plant-stove than that 

 of the Marantas, in which are popularly included certain species that more 

 strictly belong to CalatJiea and Pliryniinn; though, for all gardening-purposes, 

 they may be regarded as one. The Caladiums may be more flaunting in their 

 coloring, and may create a more favorable tirst impression ; but we doubt if 

 even the}', with their soft-textured flabby leaves, could stand a close comparison 

 with the polished party-colored and more permanent-leaved Marantas. AVhat- 

 ever his special predilection, whether in favor of arads, ferns, palms, or other 

 popular groups, no one could deny that the Marantas come into the first rank of 

 fine-foliaged plants of moderate size. 



The Marantas, taking the name in the broad sense above indicated, form not 

 only a well-favored, but, as we have intimated, a numerous family ; no fewer 

 than twenty-five new members whereof were shown in one group by Mr. Linden 

 at the International Horticultural Exhibition of 1866. Our present object is 

 not, however, to exhaust the catalogue of beauty which the genus affords, but 

 to invite especial attention to a few of the choicer gems which our gardens have 

 recently acquired from it. These are Maranta Vcitcheana, M. ilhistris, and 

 M. roseo-picta. 



Maranta VeitcJieana, referred by Dr. Hooker to CalatJiea, was the first 

 known of the foregoing. It was a stout, free-growing herb, attaining the height 

 of two feet or upwards ; its stalked leaves being more than a foot in length. 

 These are ovate-elliptic, with a dark, glossy green ground : in strong contrast 

 with which occurs a series of large obcuneate patches of pale- yellowish or gray- 

 ish-green close to the midrib ; and these, being closely placed, form an irregu- 

 larly-defined pale centre. Exterior to these, and about midway to the margin, 

 occurs another series of bold, connected markings of a lunate or scalloped out- 

 line, and of a transparent yellowish-gray, giving the leaf a remarkably pictorial 

 effect, either when seen from above or beneath ; for the paler portions, as seen 

 against the light, show themselves to be quite transparent. The under side is 

 of a rich vinous purple, paler where the spotting occurs. The effect of this col- 

 oring is very rich ; so that the plant is remarkably attractive, especially when it 

 acquires mature size, and has thrown out a spreading head of beautiful leaves. 



Maranta illustris is of a somewhat different type, being of dwarfer habit, and 

 having comparatively broader leaves, with shorter petioles. The leaves are 

 roundish-oblong, deep reddish-purple beneath, and with a red footstalk ; the 

 base of the costa being also red. Along the centre, on each side the costa, is a 

 band of yellowish-green ; and thence, directed outwards, occur alternate zebra-like 

 bands of pale and deep green ; next occurs a scalloped belt of pale, grayish-green, 

 almost white ; and finally a shaded dark-green margin. The contrasts pre- 

 sented by these tints, which here and there, except in the case of the white belt, 

 blend softly into each other, is very charming ; and the plant is one of the most 

 beautiful of its race. 



Maranta roseo-picta is of the same character as the last, but is apparently of 

 smaller growth. It has roundish-oblong leaves of a shaded dark-green color 



