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the cherimoyer (Anona Cherimolia), and the sour sop (Anona 
muricata). ‘The mammee-apple is another tropical fruit, 
belonging to the gamboge family. The spurge family is 
represented in several curious forms, many of them much re- 
sembling members of the cactus family; while others bear 
large leaves, as is the case in the chenille plant, or Philippine 
medusa (Acalypha hispida); belonging to this family also is 
the plant bearing physic or Barbados nuts (/atropha Curcas). 
The showy genus Cod7aeum, commonly known as crotons, also 
belongs to the spurge family. Members of the cactus family, 
represented by several genera, especially of kinds growing 
naturally on trees in tropical forests, will be found near the 
spurge family. Decorative members of the ginseng family 
are also in this house. 
ffouse Vo. 8. As in house No. 7, the plants assembled 
here are of miscellaneous interest. The madder family is 
present in showy forms of ixoras, hoffmannias and rondeletias. 
There are striking forms of the potato family ; also attractive 
representatives of the gesnerias, in the African or Usambara 
violet, and several forms of the genus Zrichosporum, excel- 
lent basket plants. On the north side bench will be found a 
collection of begonias in many forms, ranging from the large- 
leaved Begonza nelumbifolia, of the West Indies, to the small- 
leaved B. foliosa, from Colombia, and the dainty little B. 
rotundifolia, known only from the island of Haiti, and for 
many years lost to science. The showy foliage forms of 
Begonia Rex are present in great variety. Among the more 
noteworthy economic plants are the ramie plant (Bochmeria 
ntvea), a native of China, from the fiber of which the so-called 
grass-cloth is woven; and the bread-fruit tree (Artocarpus 
encisa), originally from the islands of the Pacific and intro- 
duced into the West Indies in the latter part of the eighteenth 
century. 
House No. 9. This is the aquatic house, and plants which 
find their homes in the water or require much moisture are 
brought together here. From the bridge spanning the pool 
the various features may be readily observed. Fringing the 
