356 GAEDEN PLANTS. PART IT. 



genus, all natives of Nepal and the Khassya Hills, not more 

 than some three or four of which appear to be known in the 

 Calcutta gardens now. They all have ginger-like roots. Their 

 stems, with their sheathing lanceolate leaves, die down partially 

 in the Cold weather, which is the proper time for separating 

 the roots and planting them out in a well-manured soil. They 

 are too large to be grown satisfactorily in pots. 



1. H. coronarium. G-AKLAND-FLOWEK. This is a very com- 

 mon plant, accounted the finest of all the species, and certainly 

 one of the loveliest ornaments of the garden. The numerous 

 stems, about three feet high, rise in succession during the Kains, 

 bearing on their summit dense bracteal heads of large pure 

 white flowers, which emit a delightful fragrance, particularly of 

 an evening, for a long distance around. Bears seed abundantly 

 in the Cold season. 



There is a variety with yellow flowers. 



2. H. chrysoleucum. Bears flowers nearly of the same size as 

 those of the last, described by Curtis as " very handsome, deli- 

 ciously scented, of a pure white, bright orange in the disk, and 

 the anthers and filaments a very deep orange." 



3. H. flavum. Dr. Koxburgh calls this a charming species, 

 and says : 



" It differs from H. coronarium in regard to its flowers, which 

 are about one-third smaller, and partake not only of the yellow 

 colour of those of Michelia Champaca, but possess even their 

 peculiar fragrance, only in a less powerful, and therefore more 

 grateful, degree. In stature and leaves both species are alike. A 

 native of Sylhet, and blossoms in the Rains." 



4. H. angustifolium. Has very narrow leaves, and stems about 

 three feet high ; bears during the Rains spikes of small, narrow- 

 petalled, pale dirty-red, scentless flowers of little beauty. 



Alpinia. 



A genus of plants with large lanceolate leaves, some bearing 

 very beautiful flowers. They soon overspread a large extent of 

 ground, and, on that account, are apt to be rather troublesome 

 in a garden. They can be multiplied to any extent by division 

 of their rhizomatous or ginger-like roots. 



1. A. nutans. Bears drooping compound racemes, about a 

 foot long, of very beautiful flowers, somewhat of the size and 



