Cotyledon 



( 244 ) 



Cotyledon 



so extensively grown in the West Indies and 

 Southern United States. Commercially speaking, 

 cotton cultivation is limited to those countries 

 within oti of either side of the Equator. Cotton 

 was known and used in India at leiist 800 years 

 before the Christian era; it was also known at an 

 early period in the New Work), as cotton cloth 



COTONEASTEII MICROPII VLLA (let J>. 243). 



lias been found in the tombs of the Incas of Peru, 

 Varying somewhat in height according to the 

 climate, the cotton bush is generally about 3' 

 high, and a field at harvest time is a pretty sight. 

 A fine description of the cotton plant was given 

 by the ancient historian Herodotus, who refers to 

 a plant grown by the Indians, which bore wool 

 like that of sheep, instead of fruit, and from which 

 they made material for clothing. 



COTYLEDON. 



Description. With such a cosmopolitan genus 

 as Cotyledon (ord. Crassulaceie), it is difficult to 

 give a description that will fit all sections. Some 

 species are hardy, and some require warm green- 

 house treatment ; some are annual, though most 



are perennial ; some as in the Echeveria group 



are low-growing, flattisli, or saucer shaped ; while 

 others notably the true Cotyledons, are succulent 

 shrubs 3' or more high. That there is this 

 wide difference is not difficult to understand when 

 it is pointed out that under the title of Cotyledon 

 all species formerly included under Cotyledon, 

 Echeveria, Pachyphytum, Pistorinia, and Umbili- 

 cus are now grouped. All are succulent plants. 

 Red and yellow are the predominating floral 

 colours, while glaucous green is the general colour 

 of leaf and stem. 



Propagation. All the annual species must be 

 raised by sowing seed in light, sandy soil in the 

 spring. Those that produce offsets freely can be 

 easily increased by placing them in small pots. 

 Most of the Echeveria group, so popular for 

 carpet bedding, or as centre plants to other 

 designs, may be increased by pulling off a few 

 outer leaves in the autumn and laying them on 

 sand on a dry greenhouse shelf, where, without 

 any assistance whatever, they will form tiny plants 

 at the base, which may be potted as soon as tbey 

 can be conveniently handled. Cuttings should be 

 laid on a dry shelf for a few days, to dry some- 

 what, before insertion. 



Soil. Lumpy, fibrous loam, mixed with plenty 

 of coarse sand and crushed mortar rubbish. 



Other Cultural Points. All the Cotyledons re- 

 quire much the same treatment. A few are hardy, 

 and such are indicated below. All the rest find a 

 congenial home in a warm greenhouse, where the 

 atmosphere is kept fairly dry throughout the dull 

 winter months. No shading is necessary at any 

 time, but during bright weather in spring, summer, 

 and autumn an abundance of air is essential. 

 Large pots are not needed, because few roots are 

 formed, and these serve chiefly as anchors. Good 

 drainage is imperative. A large supply of water 

 may be given during the summer months, but 

 during the remainder of the year an occasional 

 watering will suffice. Drip or damp is the chief 

 cause of failure with the whole family. 



Principal Species : 



agavoides, 1', aut., dull 

 or.(.v//. Echeveria agav- 

 oides). 



atropurpurea, 1', aut., 

 red,wh. (xyn. Echeveria 

 atropurpurea). 



cocciuea, 'I', Oct., so. (syn. 

 Echeveria cocciiiea). 



coruscans, IV, Je., or. 



fascicularis, 1', Jy., red. 



fulgens, 1', Jy., red, yel. 

 (,s7/^.Eclieveriafulgens). 



gibb'jflora,2', Sep.,yel.,pk. 

 (see p. 24 r >) (nyn. Eche- 

 veria gibbiflora) . 



metallica (*.'/. Eche- 

 veria metallica. There 

 are several forms in cul- 

 tivation) . 



glauca, 1', Sep., ro., yel. 



lurida, 2', Jy., Oct., crim., 

 sc. (iijm. raeemosa and 

 Echeveria raeemosa). 



orbiculata, 2', Jy., Sep., 

 red. The plants grown 

 as elata, oblonga, oh- 

 ovata, ovata, raniosa, 



Other Species: - 



aduuca, 3', Jy., yel., pk. 



(.//. Paohyphytum ro- 



seiim). 

 cii'spitosa, 1', Jy., yel. 



(//. Echeveria cses- 



pitosa). 

 californica, 1', Jy., pale 



yel. (//. Echeveria 



califoruica). 

 canaliculata, 2', Ap., red 



(//. Echeveria cauali- 



culataV 

 chrysantha, 1', Aug., 



cream (KI/II. Umbilicus 



chrysauthus). 



and rotmidifolia arc 

 vars. of this species. 



ramosissima, 2', My., grh., 

 pk. 



retusa, IV, Jy., Nov., 

 crim., yel. A useful 

 plant, best represented 

 by its vars. glauca and 

 floribuiula spleudens 

 (KI/II. Echeveria retusa). 



secuiida, 1', Je., Aug., rod, 

 yel. A largely grown 

 species, the vars. glauca 

 and glauca major being 

 largely employed in 

 sum. bedding (fi/iix. 

 Echeveria secunda and 

 rosacea) . 



Sempervivutn, 6", Aug., 

 Sep., red. Sometimes 

 confused with Semper- 

 vivum tectorum, which 

 is grown on roofs, on 

 walls, or in rock gnnlons 

 (KI/II. Umbilicus tfein- 

 pervivum). 



clavifolia, R", Sep., pur. 

 Cooperi, 6", Jy., pk. 

 Corderoyi, H', Jy.. red, 



yel. (.'/. Echeveria 



Corderoyi). 

 crenata [see Kalanchoe 



creuata). 



ourvittora, 2', Oct., or. 

 desmetiuna, 1', Jy., bright 



red. 



elata (.w orbieulata). 

 gracilis, 1', Jy. 

 hemispha:rica, 1', Jy-> 



grn., wh., pur. 



