532 GARDEN PLANTS. PART IT. 



large tree, and when in blossom in January, and seen from a 

 distance, has a very splendid effect, presenting a large uninter- 

 rupted expanse of pale dull-red blossoms, somewhat resembling 

 in form those of Petra3a. 



GESNERACE.E. 



Gesnera. 



A very numerous genus of choice, small herbaceous plants ; 

 of exquisite beauty when blossoming in a thriving condition ; for 

 the most part unsuited seemingly to the climate of the plains, 

 as not more than the two following, I believe, are to be met 

 with in the Calcutta gardens. 



1. G. Douglasii. A very handsome species, with erect stems 

 about ten inches high, upon the summit of which alone the 

 foliage is borne : leaves lanceolate, four inches long, woolly, of 

 a soft, agreeable yellowish-green ; bears, between January and 

 April, rather large tubular flowers of a vivid orange-red. It 

 requires at all times the shelter of a verandah or conservatory. 

 The soil in which it is grown should by no means be dense, or 

 at all impervious to water. In the pot in which it is to be 

 planted lay some large pieces of brick, and over them a layer of 

 cocoa-nut fibre, and then fill the upper half with a light soil 

 of leaf-mould, river-sand, and shreds of cocoa-nut fibre, through 

 which the water will drain down as soon as poured. Easily pro- 

 pagated by removal of the suckers it sends up. 



2. G. tubiflora. A native of Buenos Ayres, and a very com- 

 mon plant indeed about Calcutta. The stems lie prostrate upon 

 the ground, bearing at their extremities whorls of woolly 

 lanceolate leaves five inches long; produces, in April, clusters 

 of heavy but not disagreeably-scented, large, palish Primrose- 

 coloured flowers, of tubular form, the tube three inches long, 

 and then expanding so as somewhat to resemble a white Petunia. 

 The root is tuberous, and might easily be mistaken for a large 

 Potato ; should be grown in a pot, but will bear exposure to 

 the weather. Easily propagated by separation of the tubers in 

 the Cold season, but the plants, I believe, do not blossom for 

 some time if the roots are much disturbed. Dr. Lindley con- 



