548 r GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



flowers, somewhat like those of the blue Iris; may be seen 

 growing wild in wet ditches about Howrah. 



Crossandra. 



C. infundibuliformis. A small shrub' two or three feet high, 

 with lanceolate, taper-pointed leaves, three or four inches long ; 

 bears largish orange-yellow flowers, upon wheat-ear-like heads, 

 in uninterrupted succession from March to November. 



There is a variety with: orange-scarlet coloured flowers. 



Aphelandra. 



1. A. cristata. A noble-looking shrub, three feet high, with 

 lanceolate taper-pointed leaves, seven or eight inches long; 

 bears in March, on the summits of the stems, crowds of quadran- 

 gular spikes of brilliant -scarlet flowers. 



2. A. fulgens. In general character not very dissimilar to the 

 last, but has smaller leaves ; blossoms in the Cold season, and 

 produces much larger flowers. 



3. A. tetragona. A plant of extraordinary beauty when in full 

 blossom ; bears densely-set vermilion-coloured flowers along the 

 edges of the long cube-formed ears. Of dwarf habit, with rich 

 foliage of lanceolate, taper-pointed, wavy leaves. 



Phlogacanthus. 



P. thyrsiflorus. A large shrub, from six to ten feet high, with 

 handsome, laurel-like, very verdant leaves ; bears in January 

 and February, in great profusion, long crowded spikes of large 

 tawny-brown flowers ; much commended for its beauty by Eox- 

 burgh. 



Graptophyllum. 



1. G. hortense. A shrub of moderate size, with large, oval, 

 pointed leaves six inches long, of a dull deep-green above and 

 of a dark-red on the under-surface ; useful placed as a screen to 

 keep out of view anything unsightly, as well as a fine foil to 

 flowering plants in front of it. Var. G. pictum. CARICATURE 

 PLANT. A large shrub with remarkably beautiful foliage, the 

 leaves being large, heart-shaped, of a fine pure green mottled 



