Coix 



( 220 ) 



Coleonema 



COIX (syn. LITHAGROSTIS). (JOB'S TEARS.) 

 Rat iier curious Grasses (nrd. Graminea;), which in 

 cultivation need heat. They are best treated as 

 annuals raised from seeds sown in heat in early 

 spring, and planted out as soon as all danger from 

 frost is past. The seeds are hard, pearly grey, and 

 in request for ornaments. Any ordinary "garden soil 

 will suit. Four species in all are referred to the 

 genus. 



Principal Species : 



Lachryma-Jobi, 2' to 4' (sijn. lachryma). 



COKE. 



The staple fuel for garden furnaces. It should 

 be broken fairly small, and be stored in a dry 

 place. It is generally purchased by the chaldron 

 of 12 cwts., and should, where possible, be obtained 

 and stored in summer for two reasons; firstly, 

 because it is then much cheaper than in winte'r, 

 and, secondly, because being purchased by weight 

 it brings a greater bulk to the buyer by reason of 

 its then being dry and light, whereas in winter it 

 is wet and heavy. (Xee also HEATIXG.) 



COLA (syns. LUNANEA and SIPHONIOPSIS). 



Stove evergreen trees (ord. Sterculiaceas), whose 



hard, dark brown seeds the Cola or Goora nut 



possess antitoxic qualities. The "nuts" when 

 ground are employed by the natives to purit'v 

 unwholesome water. There are half a dozen 

 species. Increase is by cuttings of the ripened 

 shoots, in sand, in brisk bottom heat, and by 

 seeds. Soil, rich light loam, with a little rough 

 grit. 



Principal Species : 



acuminata, Jan., yel. Its value is wholly 

 economic. 



COLCHICUM. (MEADOW SAFFRON.) 

 Ornamental bulbous plants (nrd. Liliacea?), mostlv 

 hardy, and resembling the Crocus in appearance, 

 hence erroneously called " Autumn Crocuses." The 

 greater number flower in autumn, and are valuable 

 for beds, borders, and rock gardens. They make 

 large conns, and the larger number produce broad, 

 massive leaves in spring. The corms, or " bulbs." 

 are very poisonous. Propagation is by offsets, 

 removed when the plants are at rest, usually as 

 soon as the leaves turn yellow ; also by seeds sown 

 as soon as ripe, or in spring. A good, strong soil 

 is favourable for the development of the large- 

 floweret 1 forms, but they can be grown in almost 

 any soil. Colchicums should be planted as early 

 as possible, and ought to be in the ground before 

 the other autumn bulbs can be delivered. They 

 may, however, be planted later. 



Principal Species : 



autuinnale, !)", Sep., pur. Boniiiiiilleri,r,Sep.,pur., 

 There are a number of wh. ; very handsome, 



forms which are better and one of the best, 



than tlio type. The liest by/.antinum, 0", Sep.. m. 

 of these are jillmiii pur. ; very pretty. Var. 



plenum, purpurcum eilieieum is fine, 



plenum, roseum Sihthorpii. !)", Sep., wh., 

 plenum, and striatum chequered pur. Tin 1 



plenum. Others area 1- best of the tessellated 



bum, atropiirptireuui. ones (KI/H. latifolium). 



striatum, and foliis- speciosum, 1', Sop.. Ml., 

 vnriegatis (*//. croci- pur. A noble Meadow 



riorum). Safl'nm. Rubrum und 



Colax (see Lycaste and Sifrenaria). 



pur. A pretty chequered 

 species (syn. chion- 

 ense.) Var. Parkinsom 

 is good. 



luteum, 6", spr., yel.,hlf- 

 luly. 



montauuni, 4", Aug., pur. 

 Vars. hololophum, Kit- 

 chii, etc. 



neapolitauuni, (>", Sep., 

 pur. 



procurrens, Oct., lil. (cor- 

 rectly Mereiulera sobo- 

 lifera). 



Trocnlii, Sep., wh. 



umbrosum, 3", Sep.,pk. 



maximum are choice 

 vars. There is a rare 

 wh. var. 

 variegatum, 6",Sep.,wh., 



Other Species : 



agrippinum,3",Aug., pur. 

 alpinum, 3", Aug., pur. 

 areuarium, 3", Sep., pur. 

 Bivonte, 6", Sep., pur., 



chequered, 

 crociflorum (sec autum- 



uale). 



Decaisnei, 9", Nov., pur. 

 fasciculare, 6", Oct., wh., 



pur. 

 hydrophyllum, C", spr., 



lil. 

 Irctum, 6", Sep., wh., lil. 



(jn. candiduro). 



COLDENIA. 



This genus (nrd. Boraginea?) embraces about 

 ten species of branching, procumbent herbs, dis- 

 tributed in both hemispheres. The plants are not 

 showy, and procumbens is probably the only one 

 cultivated. Propagation is by seeds sown in heat 

 in March. A light, rich soil, such as loam and leaf 

 mould in equal parts, with sand, is necessary. 



Principal Species : 

 procumbens, Jy., wh. 



COLEA. 



Nine or ten species of stove evergreen shrubs 

 (ord. Bignoniaceae). Cuttings of the matured 

 shoots root readily if inserted in sandy soil in spring 

 and plunged in brisk bottom heat. Afterwards 

 the soil may consist of fibrous peat and loam in 

 equal proportions, with sand and a few nodules of 

 charcoal. 



Principal Species : 



rloribunda, 10', Aug., maiu-itiana, dark ro. 

 yel., wh. undulatn, yel., lil. 



COLEBROOKIA. 



A genus (ord. Labiatic) of evergreen greenhouse 

 shrubs, clothed with thick, felt-like wobl. The 

 flowers are small and white, and the plants un- 

 important. Cuttings of the half-ripened shoots 

 may be rooted in April under a bell-glass. Soil, 

 two parts loam and one part leaf mould, with sand. 

 Oppositifolia, 3' to 4', and ternifolia have been 

 described as distinct species now they are looked 

 upon as being forms of one. 



COLEONEMA. 



liather pretty greenhouse shrubs (ord. Kutacea?), 

 with small flowers, white for the most part. All 

 the four species are natives of South-west Africa. 

 They may be propagated by cuttings of tips of the 

 side shoots put in sandy soil under a bell-glass, 

 without heat. Soil, fibrous loam and peat in equal 

 parts, with sand. A little pinching will be neces- 

 sary to correct the rather straggling habit. 



Principal Species : 



album, 1' to '2', ant., win., junipcrifoliiiin, 1' to 2', 

 wh., small. aut., wh. (*//". jnni- 



axpnlnthoidcs, 6" to 3', perinum). 



aut., \vh. piilehruin, 2' to 4', ant., 



red. 



( 'nlhertia (see DUIrnia). 



