Sterculia 



V 363 ) 



Stevensonia 



beautiful, white, fragrant flowers it so freely pro- 

 duces, is exceedingly popular. 



Propagation. By cuttings of the firm side 

 growths of a previous season, placed singly in 2" 

 pots. Spring is the best time to propagate ; loam, 

 peat, and sand make a suitable compost, and till 

 to 75 is a suitable temperature. Cover with a bell- 

 glass to ensure a close, moist atmosphere. 



Soil. Turfy loam, if not very retentive, should 

 form at least half the compost, making up the 

 other half with peat, sand, and a little dried cow 

 manure. Free drainnge is essential. Where a 

 large roof area is available for the extension of 

 growth it is advisable to plant the Stephanotis 

 in a bed of soil, increasing the root area as the 

 growths extend. 



Other Cultural Points. From early spring to 

 late autumn abundance of moisture in the soil and 

 atmosphere is essential, and during the same period 

 syringing twice a day is desirable, provided all 

 expanded flowers are first removed if they are 

 needed for floral designs. From October to March 

 a considerably reduced water supply will suffice, 

 and the lower temperature (55 to (iu) of a stove 

 during that period will ensure some amount of 

 rest. Thin out weak growths at all seasons, and 

 regularly attend to tying and training. Crowded 

 growths flower sparingly and are difficult to keep 

 clean. An annual pruning to keep the plant within 

 bounds, and also to promote new growths from the 

 main stem, is generally desirable, and should take 

 place in January and February. 



Insect Enemies. Green fly is seldom a serious 

 pest, but it frequently attacks the slender, growing 

 points. Fumigation, and syringing with tobacco 

 solution, will remove it. Mealy bug is the greatest 

 enemy of the Stephanotis, and it is only by constant 

 attention to tying, thinning, syringing, and spong- 

 ing that it can be kept down. This pest so soon 

 renders the exquisite flowers unsightly that no 

 efforts should be spared to keep it at bay. B'or- 

 tunately, when resting, the Stephanotis will stand 

 strong insecticides without injury, so that during 

 the winter season dilute paraffin emulsion can be 

 effectively used to dislodge the pests from plant, 

 trellis, and woodwork. 



Principal Species and Variety : 

 floribunda, 30', spr. to wh. , flowers freely 



win. , waxy wh. , frag- when quite small. 



rant. Thouarsii, 10', My., wh. 



Elvaston var. , 1.5', 



STERCULIA. 



A widely distributed genus of evergreen stove or 

 greenhouse trees and shrubs (ord. Sterculiaceae). 

 The flowers are showy, in panicles, and remarkable 

 for the absence of petals. Rupestris is, in a young 

 state, much like Aralia Veitchii. Propagation, by 

 cuttings of well-ripened growth, in sand or very 

 sandy soil, in a close case. Soil, equal parts of 

 loam and peat with plenty of sand. 



Principal Species : 

 Balaughas, 30', sum. , aut. , rupestris, 10' to 2.V,sum., 



pur. br. (fyiin. Delabeehea 



Bidwillii, 20', aut., red rupestris, Oleobaehia 



(t/ Brachychiton Bid- macrophylla, and O. 



willii). rupestris), Bottle 



discolor, 20' to 40', sum., Tree. 



rosy red. 



Other Species : 

 acerifolia, 20' to 120', colorata, :!0', sum., sc. 



sum., red (xyu. Brachy- diversifolia, 20' to 60', 



chiton acerifolium). sum., yel. (syns. hetero- 



platauifolia, 10' to 30% 



sum., grn. (nyii. pyri- 



formis). 

 Tragacanthse, 20' to 40', 



My. , reddish br. Traga- 



cauth Gum Tree. 

 villosa, 20', Je., pk., yel. 



phylla and Brachy- 

 chitou diversifolium). 



Ivira, 20' to 60', Jy., yel. 



liuiceolata, 20', sum., red- 

 dish br. 



mucTophylla, 20', Jy., 

 yel. 



iirorali'doiiica, 10' to 20', 

 sum., red, gold. 



STEREOSPERMUM. 



A small genus of greenhouse trees, shrubs, 01 

 shrubby climbers (ord. Bignoniacese), which bear 

 fragrant white flowers in summer. They are not 

 in general cultivation. Similar treatment to that 

 recommended for Bignonias is suitable. 



STEREUM. 



A genus of lungi the members of which are 

 often found growing on the dead trunks of trees. 

 Piirpureum is very partial to the Poplar, hirsutum 

 to the Oak, and sanguineolentum to Conifers. The 

 genus is characterised by its extreme toughness 

 Some of the species are very ornamental. 



STERIPHOMA. 



Stove shrubs (ord. Capparidea-) with ornamental, 

 orange coloured flowers. Propagation, by cuttings 

 of short shoots in sandy soil in a close case. Soil, 

 two parts fibrous peat, two parts fibrous loam, and 

 one part sand. 



Principal Species : 

 elliptica, ''>', sum., or. paradoxa, 6', sum., or. 



yel. 



STERNBERGIA. 



Beautiful, dwarf, hardy bulbous plants (ord. 

 Amaryllidcie), bearing large, Crocus-like flowers in 

 spring and autumn. Propagation, by offsets. Soil, 

 moderately light and well-drained loam with 

 which limestone or lime rubbish is incorporated. 

 The position should be a sunny one. Summer is 

 the best planting time. Cover the bulbs with 

 about 2" of soil. Grown in deep pans, most of 

 the species are suitable for conservatory decoration, 

 but when so treated they should have the shelter of 

 a cold frame directly the flower buds appear. 



Principal Species : 

 fischeriana, 6", spr., light macrantha, 8", aut., 



yel. golden yel. (syn. clusi- 



lutea, 8", Oct., yel. (SI/HX. ana of Boiss., not 



Amaryllis lutea and Ker.). 



Oporanthus lutea). 



Other Species : 

 colchiciflora, 6", aut., Ker., not Boiss., Ama- 



yel. (*yns. clusiana of rylh's citrina and col- 

 chiciflora). 



STEUDNERA. 



Perennial stove herbs (ord. Aroidea?). Their 

 chief merit lies in their ornamental leaves. The 

 several species are, however, not in general culti- 

 vation. Treat as recommended for Alocasias. 



Principal Species : 

 ci>loci(0in;folia, 2', sum., discolor, H', sum., yel- 



yellowish br. lowish br. 



STEVENSONIA. 



A monotypic genus of stove Palms (ord. Palmse). 

 Grandi folia, a native of the Seychelles, forms 

 a noble specimen with a rather slender trunk 

 40' high, armed, especially when young, with 

 stout spines, and crowned with a large head of 

 ornament d bifid leaves 5' to (!' long by 4' wide. 

 The leaves are often covered with yellow blotches, 



