CHAP. V. ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 523 



ceous plant ; blossoms in June, with lavender-coloured flowers, 

 curious for their long-projecting white stamens. Raised easily 

 from seed. 



Plectranthus. 



P. aromaticus BREAD-AND-BUTTER PLANT. A low-growing, 

 wide-spreading herb ; bears small, pink, insignificant flowers ; 

 interesting only for its solid succulent leaves, .which possess a 

 pleasant aromatic fragrance. ' Every slip will readily strike. 



Coleus. 



1. C. Blumei. An herbaceous plant, about two feet high, 

 common in the Calcutta gardens ; remarkably ornamental when 

 in a^ healthy and thriving condition ; the heart-shaped, saw- 

 edged leaves being then of a clear yellowish -green, curiously 

 blotched over with marks of dull purple ; bears pretty spikes of 

 small pale-blue flowers; must be renewed frequently from 

 cuttings, as it becomes unsightly from age. 



2. C. scutellarioides. When well-grown a most delightful pot- 

 plant ; the stem, leaf-stalks, and leaf- veins of deep blood-red 

 colour, which, mingled with the green of the leaves, gives it a 

 very beautiful appearance, more especially so when in blossom 

 with its spike of small pure azure-blue flowers. To be effective 

 several plants should be grown in broad shallow flower-pots. 

 Propagated easily by division. 



3. C. Verschaffelti. A very lovely plant, with saw-edged, thick 

 leaves, which, together with the stems, when in a healthy condi- 

 tion and exposed to the sun, rival in glow and colour the richest 

 crimson velvet. Most easily propagated by cuttings in sand. 

 Of this there now exist perhaps some thirty varieties, distin- 

 guished with fancy names, according to the markings of their 

 piebald leaves of red and yellow ; now common in Calcutta. 



Anisochilus. 



A. carnosus. A rather pretty herbaceous pot-plant ; bears in 

 September small lavender flowers on club-like heads. 



Lavandula. 

 L. Spica LAVENDER. This delightful shrub is easily raised 



