498 GAEDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



Dipladenia. 



Some of the species of this extremely choice and handsome 

 genus have been introduced into this country, but have died off, 

 seemingly unable to exist in the climate. 



Roupellia. 



R. grata CREAM-FRUIT-TREE. Probably so named from the 

 abundance of cream-like juice it yields when wounded ; native of 

 Sierra Leone ; a very extensively-rambling shrub, requiring 

 considerable space for its full growth, though easily kept small 

 by cutting in. The young stems are of a rich chocolate-brown 

 colour, and the leaves lanceolate, pointed, from three to five 

 inches long, smooth, of rich polished green, and rather thick. 

 Flowers large, leathery, bell-formed, with expanded limb, white 

 tinged with brownish-purple, with a crown of ten purple teeth 

 in the throat, attractive just as they are expanding, but not very 

 agreeable on near inspection when fully opened. From the high 

 representations given of this plant, before its introduction to 

 England, it appears to have caused some disappointment on its 

 arrival there. Sir J. Paxton says of it, " it is difficult to imagine 

 a flower with more uninviting appearance." But this is doing 

 it injustice : for though possibly not very ornamental in a stove, 

 it undoubtedly has a handsome and imposing appearance in our 

 gardens, where it thrives well. In the Cold season large plants 

 will occasionally bear a seed-pod or two, but very rarely. Pro- 

 pagated easily by cuttings in the Rains. 



GENTIANACE^]. 



This order contains many beautiful and ornamental plants ; 

 but not one, I believe, which can endure the climate of the 

 plains of India. 



OLEACE.E. 



Olea. 



1. 0. fragrans. A small shrub four or five feet high, native of 

 China, of very slow growth, but when in a thriving condition 



