No. 137. 
MANTISIA SALTATORIA. 
Class. Order. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
This beautiful plant isa native of the East 
Indies; it was introduced some few years 
since by Sir Abraham Hume, Bart. The 
blossoms are extremely curious in their form, 
very much resembling some of the Orchidea. 
The flower-stem is produced in the spring, 
just as the leaves are beginning to appear ; 
it continues a long time, as several flowers 
are produced in succession from each of the 
joints. After they are over, the leaf-stem 
grows up in general to one or two feet in 
height, furnished with several narrow, longish, 
reed-like leaves. These die off in winter, and 
the root, which is thick and fleshy, remains 
dormant; during which time it should not 
have too much water. It must be kept con- 
stantly in the stove, and is propagated by 
dividing the roots. Sandy loam, with a por- 
tion of peat, is a very suitable soil for it. 
