HOTTONIA 



submerged and alternate, pinnately dissected Ivs., the 

 divisions numerous and linear, i'rom the center of the 

 whorl of branches a single leafless flower-stem rises 

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

 eral whorls of 3-5 or 6 handsome, pale purple fls., ap- 



□r forcing-house) heated by hot water. 



parently with 5 petals, but actually with a short corolla 

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

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

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

 capsule subglobose, with 5 lateral valves : seeds nu- 

 merous. The American plant, H. inJlata, Ell., has 

 spongy stems and clustered peduncles, which are partly 

 above water, inflated, jointed, the lowest jomt 2— i in 

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

 ber and successively shorter : fls. small, in whorls of 

 2-10 at the .ioints. B.B. 2:586. Neither species is id 

 vertised. Like all aquarium plants, they are interesting 

 but they have no horticultural value otherwise Both 

 plants are called Peatherfoil and Water-violet , tin 

 American also Water-feather and Water-yarrow 



HOULLfiTIA (after HouUet, French gardener) O) 

 cliidAcece. About 8 species of epiphytic, pseudobulbous 

 orchids from South America, allied to Stanhopea an 1 

 blooming in summer. Pseudobulbs conical 1 lei\ ( 1 

 Ivs. lanceolate, plicate : sepals and petals usually ne n 1 \ 

 equal: labellum continuous with the clavate, artu ii 

 column: poUinia 2, on a long caudicle. 



odoratissima, Linden. Sepals and petals redli 1 

 brown : labellum white, with two crimson append i 

 midway of its length. Colombia. G.C. II. 24 777 \ 

 AntioquiSnsis, Andr^ (H. Antioquensis, Hort ) 1 

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



Brocklehurstiina, 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. PM 9 4J 

 K.H. 1885:492. 



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

 brownish, unspotted above, tessellated with yellow be 

 low; 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. 



WAUisii, Linden & Reichb. f. (H. cltrijsdntha, Liiid 

 & Andrfi). Fls. about 2 in. across; sepals and petals 

 yellow, blotched inside with brown-purple lahelliini 

 yellow, dotted with crimson. Colombia. G.C II 18 4J7 

 I.H. 18:71. Oakes Vmes 



HOUND'S TONGUE. See Cunoglossttm. 



HOUSE PLANTS 775 



HOUSE LEEK. Sempervivum tectoriim. 



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 purpos,' will be considered here. 



In the living rooms ,.| li,, , i, ,ii well-built house, 



plants must contend ;. ■ . ilii.-s which did not 



exist in the less car. i I dwellings of fifty 



years ago or earlier, i n. |.,, -, ,,i nirthods of heating 

 and lighting, by gas or ki-r..s,ri.- 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 corking helping them materialh it 

 IS by no meius a bal hospital for unhealthy specimens 



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 



