CHAP. V. ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 357 



form of the Foxglove, with bracts and calyces of a pure pearly 

 white, the edges of the flower tinged with pink, and the interior 

 orange. In blossom most of the year. Thrives best in swampy 

 ground. Grows to six feet high or more, and so soon extends 

 over a large portion of ground, that it is unadapted for a small 

 garden. 



2. A. punicea. Native of Sumatra: a stately species; bears 

 large flowers, of colour of the finest carmine, in the hot months. 



3. A. Malaccensis. Native of Chittagong. Dr. Roxburgh's 

 description of this species is, 



" That the leaves are lanceolate, about two or three feet long : 

 flowers very large, pure smooth shining white, except the inner 

 border or labium, which is a beautiful mixture of orange and 

 crimson. The most beautiful of the whole genus, even surpassing 

 A. nutans." 



4. A. Allughas. A common plant, Dr. Koxburgh says, near 

 Calcutta, in low moist places among brushwood. Leaves lanceo- 

 late, polished. Flowers, beginning of the Eain season, large, 

 numerous in succession, of a beautiful rose colour, inodorous. 



5. A. mutica. Dr. Eoxburgh describes this as bearing 



"Large numerous drooping flowers at the beginning of the 

 Bains. Calyx longer than the corolla, pure white. Corolla-lip or 

 inner border large, elegantly variegated with crimson and yellow, 

 surrounded with an orange-coloured edging." 



6. A. calcarata. An interesting plant about three feet high, 

 bears in the Hot season rather large flowers, buff colour, striped 

 with purple. The whole plant, though aromatic, has a strong 

 smell of tallow. 



Costus. 



1. C. speciosus. Native of Bengal; a common plant, often 

 met with growing wild in swampy places. When in blossom 

 during the Bains a most beautiful object. The dark rich green 

 of the large lanceolate leaves, the deep crimson of the bracteal 

 heads, which are as large as a man's closed hand, and the pale 

 lavender-coloured flowers, full five inches across, form together 

 a most delightful combination of colour. 



2. C. argyrophyllus. Bears during the Bains large white 

 flowers, but is of little merit as a garden plant. 



