CHAP. V. ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 527 



The Verbena loves a soil well enriched with vegetable mould, 

 but is impatient of wet. The beds in which it is planted should 

 be slightly raised, so as to form low mounds. The tendency of 

 the stems to throw out roots, wherever they rest upon the earth, 

 sufficiently indicates that it requires frequent renewal of soil. 

 The finer kinds never, that I have been able to discover, produce 

 seed here. 



1. V. venosa. Keadily known by its long, spear-formed leaves ; 

 bears dull-lavender flowers ; a very robust but not an attractive 

 plant. 



2. V. Bonariensis. A coarse-looking plant of upright growth, 

 about three feet high ; bears large clusters of very small unin- 

 teresting lavender flowers. 



Stachytarpheta. 

 The following are raised from seed : 



1. S. mutabilis. A large shrubby, herbaceous, rather coarse 

 plant, with rough woolly leaves ; flowers small, Verbena-like, 

 bright-red, upon spikes sometimes two or three feet long ; nearly 

 always in bloom. 



2. S. Jamaicencis. An herbaceous plant with smooth, pale- 

 green leaves ; produces long spikes of small blue flowers ; 

 common, and of little merit. 



3. S. Orubica. An herbaceous plant distinguished from the 

 last from its leaves being strongly veined and much crimped, and 

 its flowers of a violet colour. 



Lantana, 



A genus of very beautiful flowering plants, remarkable for the 

 strong sage- like scent of their leaves ; nearly always in blossom 

 during the warmer months ; very rapid in their growth, and 

 requiring repeatedly to be cut in, to keep them within bounds ; 

 easily propagated by cuttings or by seed, which they all bear 

 freely. 



1. L. trifolia. A small common, somewhat coarse-looking 

 plant, but, notwithstanding, rather pretty ; blossoms with heads 

 of lavender-coloured flowers, succeeded by berries of the same 

 colour, bright like enamel, and as ornamental as the flowers. 



2. L. Selloviana. A small trailing plant, having altogether the 

 habit and appearance of a Verbena, except for the bright little 



