Dictymia 



( 297 ) 



Dieffenbachia 



DICTYMIA. 



A few species of greenhouse Ferns (urd. Filices) 

 which are now referred to Folypodium. Attenuata 

 is known as 1'olypodium attenuatmn, P. zipho- 

 phoron, and P. gladiatura. The fronds are (>" to 

 18" long, very leathery, and entire or slightly 

 scalloped. Propagation, by division of the long, 

 creeping rhizomes. Loam and peat in equal parts, 

 with a quantity of sph;ignum, Mmie broken crocks 

 and sand, will make a suitable compost. 



Principal Species : 



attenuata, (i" to 18". 



DICTYOCARYUM. 



A genus of about four species of stove Palms 

 (ord. Pahine) of tall habit, with ringed steins, and 

 the segments of the leaves wedge-shaped, with the 

 veins arranged like a fun. Propagation, by im- 

 ported seeds. Fibrous loam and peat, with a good 

 dash of sand, suit. 



Principal Species : 



glancescens Wallisii. 



DICTYOSPERMA. 



A tropical genus of Palms (ord. Palmse), with 

 slender stems often growing several together from 

 one rootstock. The leaves are graceful. The 

 cultivated species are from Madagascar and 

 Mauritius, where they are said to grow from 15' 

 to 30' high ; under cultivation, however, stems more 

 than a few feet in height are rare. They require 

 a moist stove and rich, loamy soil. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 

 album, l.V to 30', Ivs. aureum, 10', Ivs. 3' to 4'. 

 6' to 7'- h'brosum, o', Ivs. 4' to <">' 



furfuraceum. (yields Piassava fibre). 



rubruin. 



DICTYOXIPHIUM. 



Stove Ferns from Panama (ord. Filices). One 

 species only is known ; it is distinguished by 

 simple, sword-shaped, sterile and fertile fronds 

 2' to 3' long, the sterile ones being 2^" wide, the 

 others half that width. It thrives under the usual 

 conditions given to stove Ferns. Propagation, by 

 division of the crowns. 



Only Species : 

 panamense, fronds 2' to 3'. 



DICYRTA. 



Dwarf-growing herbaceous plants (ord. Gesner- 

 acese) from South America, with opposite, long- 

 stalked leaves and small, tubular flowers. They 

 may be increased by division in spring, and thrive 

 in a mixture of peat, loam, and leaf mould in equal 

 proportions, with a good dash of coarse sand. A 

 stove temperature is required. 



Principal Species : 

 Candida, 1' to 14', Jy., wh. warscewicziana. 



DIDISCUS (sec TRACHYMENE). 



DIDYMOCARPUS. 



Perennial herbaceous plants (ord. Gcsneraceaa), 

 in a few cases with short stems, but more often 



Dictyoylosmm (see Acrostlckum). 

 Dictyogramme (see (Sijmnoijramme). 

 Dictyopterix (see 1'vlypodium). 



without. They usually assume a Primrose-like 

 habit, with umbels of pretty blue, lilac, white, or 

 yellow Streptocarpus-like flowers. They are natives 

 of tropical Asia, and require the temperature of a 

 stove. Seeds, cuttings of young shoots, and division 

 in spring are suitable methods of propagation, 

 while a mixture of peat, loam, and sand meets their, 

 requirements. 



Principal Species : 



crinita, 6" to 8", Je., wh. primulaifolia (see hum- 



humboldtiana, 4" to 6", boldtiaua). 



Sep., Oct., lil. (syii. Rexii (see Streptocarpus 



primultcfolia). Rexii). 

 malayaim, 4" to 6", Jy., 



yel. 



DIDYMOCHLvENA. 



Stove Ferns (ord. Filices), one or two species 

 only being known. Lunulata is the only cultivated 

 species ; it is widely distributed throughout the 

 Tropics, and is very ornamental. It has large 

 fronds, and succeeds in a mixture of two parts of 

 fibrous peat to one part of loam, giving plenty of 

 sand. Like other Ferns, it should be reproduced 

 by means of spores. 



Principal Species : 



luuulata, fronds 3' to 4'. 



sinuosa (sm hmulata). 



truncatula (sec lunulata). 



DIDYMOPANAX. 



Ornamental foliage trees (ord. Araliacese) with 

 Aralia-like leaves and flowers. They are natives of 

 tropical South America, and require growing in a 

 stove or intermediate house, under the satne 

 cultivation as is usually given to Aralias. (See 

 page 67 of this work.) 



Principal Species : 

 Houllettii, 20', sum., grn. 



DIEFFENBACHIA. 



Description. Foliage plants (ord. Aroideje), with 

 succulent stems, and large green leaves spotted and 

 feathered with yellow, cream, or white. The 

 flowers are inconspicuous. A large number of 

 species are in cultivation, chiefly natives of tropical 

 South America. If allowed to attain to their full 

 size, they grow to a height of about 8', with the 

 greater portion of the stem destitute of leaves. 

 The stems contain a large quantity of juice, which 

 is very acrid. In cultivation, the object is to 

 get dwarf plants from 2' to 3' high, clothed with 

 good foliage from the base upwards, which are 

 very handsome. 



Propagation. By cuttings of leafy tops, young 

 shoots from cut-back plants in spring, or by cut- 

 ting the stems into lengths of two joints each and 

 laying the pieces in pans of sand in a stove tem- 

 perature until roots and shoots are made, then 

 potting singly. 



Soil. Good, fibrous loam two parts, leaf mould 

 one part, fibrous peat one part, and well-rotted 

 manure one part, adding a liberal amount of coarse 

 sand and charcoal. 



Other Cultural Points. A brisk, moist, stove 

 temperature must be given to induce good colour, 

 shading from very bright sun Repotting will be 

 required at frequent intervals until the final sim; is 

 reached; 7" or 8" pots will bo found largo enough 

 for good sized specimens, provided liquid manure 



