386 GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



species of Dracaena are now much in request in England for 

 the ornamental character of their foliage ; some of a crimson 

 hue, and others partaking of a bronze-like metallic lustre. 

 Most of these would probably succeed in this country ; in fact 

 the following are now found here : albicans ; Chelsonii ; Cooperii ; 

 gracilis ; Guilfoylei ; Haageana ; pulcherrima ; nigricans. 



Tupistra. 



T. maculata. Dr. Eoxburgh describes this as a "shrubby 

 caulescent species, native of Sumatra, three or four feet high." 

 I have seen only small plants of it in pots in the Calcutta 

 Botanical Gardens thriving very indifferently. Leaves broadly 

 lanceolate, prettily marked all over with round white spots. 



Ophiopogon. 



0. Japonicum. A small herbaceous plant with grass-like leaves, 

 seemingly well suited for an edging to the border in the way 

 Thrift is sometimes used in England ; bears very numerous 

 small flowers of a delicate lavender colour, upon footstalks of 

 the same colour. 



GYMNOGENS. 

 CYCADEACE^E. 



Cycas. 



A genus of trees of exceeding beauty when young, with large 

 fern-like leaves radiating from the stem, and forming a complete 

 circle. A single plant, situated on a lawn, has a remarkably 

 ornamental appearance. When they attain to a large size, so 

 that the stem becomes a conspicuous object, much of their beauty 

 is lost. But they have, for them, the merit of being very slow 

 growers. They are apt to throw up suckers, by the removal of 

 which they are easily propagated. Common in gardens about 

 Calcutta are: 1. C. revoluta; and 2. C. circinalis. Of late 

 introduction are C. Rumphi, and C. sphaerica. 



Zamia. 



In a decorative point of view there is no very discernible 

 difference between the Zamia and the Cycas. One or two species 



