Medinilla 



(64) 



Meiracylium 



MEDINILLA. 



Description. Of the many species in this genus 

 of stove shrubs (ord. Melastomaceie) only two, 

 Teysmannii (amabilis) and vnagnifica, are much 

 grown. Medinillas are distinct from most other 

 stove plants by their curiously winged stems, large, 

 leathery leaves, and huge, pendent bunches of 

 bright flowers. They are of remarkably easy 

 culture, provided the soil is not allowed to become 

 sour and water-logged. 



Propagation. By cuttings, which are rather 

 difficult to root. They should be taken off in 

 spring, with a heel of the old wood, and inserted 

 in very sandy .soil in brisk bottom heat. 



Soil. Fibrous loam, peat, and leaf mould, with 

 sand, form a good compost. 



Other Cultural Points. In proportion to their 

 size rather small pots will do for Medinillas ; many 

 suffer from overpotting. Once in three years is 

 often enough to disturb established specimens, 

 although a top-dressing may be given annually. 

 The soil should be fairly firm. Plenty of light, a 

 high temperature, and a moist atmosphere are 

 requisite. Soot water is a capital stimulant. 

 Mealy bug is the worst insect pest, but occasionally 

 thrips are troublesome. 



Principal Species and Variety : 

 Curtisii, shr., wh., pur. ro. pk., in large pen- 



anthers and coral red dent racemes. 



flower-stems. rubra, darker flowers. 



magnifica, 3' to 4', My., Teysmaniiii, spr., ro. pk. 



Other Species : 



(.</. amabilis). 



javanensis, 4', win., shr., 

 flesh pk. 



sieboldiana, 4', win. , shr., 



wh., stamens pur. 

 speciosa, 2' to 3', Jy., 

 crim. 



MEDLAR. 



Mespilus germanica (ord. Rosacete) from which 

 the Medlars have arisen, is a hardy, dwarf tree or 

 shrub with flowers of some beauty. Its growth is, 

 however, usually gnarled and twisted, and this 

 peculiarity is shared by the cultivated varieties. 

 After reaching maturity, the trees flower and fruit 

 pretty regularly, but the fruit is not in great request. 

 When fit to gather it is hard, and is stored until 

 decay has become advanced. This softening of 

 the flesh (bletting) takes from two to four weeks, 

 and the frnits remain eatable for a few weeks 

 longer. Budding and grafting are the methods of 

 propagation chiefly practised. The Pear, Quince, 

 and Whitethorn, as well as the seedling Medlar, 

 are used for stocks. Cleft grafting in April, and 

 shield budding, with dormant buds, in July, are 

 the methods favoured. The stock will require 

 close attention to disbudding after the union is 

 complete. Any loamy soil will do, and little prun- 

 ing is required beyond cutting out dead wood. 

 The fruit should be gathered about the end of 

 October, when it may be consigned to a cool cellar 

 or fruit room. 



The flavour of a bletted Medlar is peculiar, and 

 the fruit is not likely ever to become popular. 

 Still, as a park and shrubbery tree the Medlar is 

 planted, and in most cases the fruit is really a 

 secondary object. 



There are several sorts, but three only are worthy 

 of mention : 



Dutch. Fruit large ; eye 

 yery wide open. The 

 most common var. 

 (sym. Broad-leaved 



Dutcli and Large 

 Dutch). 



Nottingham. Fruit much 

 smaller than in the 



poor in flavour, but 

 with long keeping 

 qualities. 



Dutch, but more acid. 

 The best flavoured var. 

 of all. 

 Stoneless. Fruit small, 



(For species, see MESPILUS.) 



MEDLAR CLUSTER CUPS. 



The red and orange pustules seen upon the leaves 

 of the Medlar and the Hawthorn are the work ot the 

 fungus Gymuosporangium confusum. The bust 

 method of dealing with the pest is to closely watch 

 the Junipers for infection, as one stage of the 

 fungus lives on these, and either excise the branches 

 attacked or uproot and burn the trees. Spraying 

 with potassium sulphide (see INSECTICIDES) 

 helpful. 



MEGACARP^EA. 



Coarse-growing herbs {ord. Cruciferse) with thick, 

 fleshy roots, white or violet flowers, and glaucous 

 leaves. They are of little value, but may be 

 increased by "seeds, and flourish in light, sandy 

 soil. 



Principal Species : 



laciniata, 0" to 12", Je., Jy., hdy. per., yel. 



MEGACARYON. 



A coarse-looking herb (ord. Boraginea;), either 

 biennial or perennial. Propagation, by seeds sown 

 in spring or when ripe. Ordinary garden soil. 



Only Species : 



orientale, 3' to 4', sum., hdy., ro. lil. (tyn. Echiuin 

 orientale). 



MEGACLINIUM. 



Stove epiphytal Orchids (ord. Orchidacese), 

 characterised by a curiously flattened flower scape. 

 They are closely related to the Bulbophyllums, and 

 answer to the same cultural treatment. The 

 majority are curiosities. The pseudo-bulbs and 

 leaves are only a few inches in height. 



Principal Species: 



Bufo, spr., st., br. , lip 



pur. 



Clarkei, spr., st., pur., br. 

 falcatum, spr., st., br., 



red, grn. 



miuutum,spr.,st. ,maroon, 



yel. 

 purpuratmn, spr., st. , 



yel. , spotted pur. 

 seaberulum, sum., warm 



grh., pur., grn. 



oxyodou, St., like falca- 

 tum (SI/K. Bulbophyl- 

 lumoxyodon). 



pusillum, st., grn., pur. 



triste, st., grn., spotted 

 blk. 



Other Species : 



imschooiianum, st. , yel., 



gru., spotted br. 

 leucorhachis, st. , vel. 

 maximum, Je. , Jy. , st. , 



yel. , spotted red. 

 nummularia, st. , close to 



minutum. 



MEIRACYLIUM. 



The principal species, Gemma; (syn. Sophronitis), 

 of this genus (ord. Orchidacere) has erect, fleshy 

 leaves and bright amethyst-lined flowers, pro- 

 duced in spring. It succeeds under the same 

 treatment as that accorded to Sophronitis, and may 

 be grown with it. 



Medlar, British (see Mespilus). 



Medlar, Japanese (see P/iotiniaja/xmiea}. 



Medusa's Head (see Euphorbia Caput-Meausce). 



Megacarplta (see Oxyanthus). 



Megasea (see Saxifraga). 



Meisteria (sec EnltiantJnis). 



