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tively few species are found, while in very cold countries they 
are entirely absent. Most of the tropical forms are epiphytes, 
that is, they grow upon trees and usually have bulb-like or 
thickened stems and fleshy leaves for the conservation of 
their water supply, as, from their habitat, this supply must 
be precarious. In temperate regions nearly all of the species 
are terrestrial, and have thin leaves, the soil about their roots 
serving to protect them from the cold and also giving them a 
more constant water supply: they do not, therefore, need 
pseudobulbs or thickened stems. Coming from all parts of 
the world as they do, their blooming time varies greatly, so 
that at almost any time of the year, be it winter or summer, 
some of these interesting plants will be found in bloom. 
Among the palms on the central bench the most interesting 
is the double cocoanut (Lodozcea maldzvica), a native of the 
Seychelles Islands, also known as the coco de mer, and coco 
des Maldives, and one of the rarest palms in cultivation; in 
the specimen here shown the upper portion of the seed may be 
seen projecting above the soil. The tree in its native wilds 
attains a height of ninety feet, bearing aloft a magnificent 
crown of green leaves which make it an important feature 
of the landscape. 
Tanks for water-plants. In the court formed by the con- 
servatories are two tanks in which are grown a large collec- 
tion of water-lilies. In the easterly tank are placed the hardy 
sorts, such as are able to withstand the severe cold of our win- 
ters, which remain permanently where they are, winter and 
summer. In the westerly pool are, in the main, the tender 
kinds, or such as require protection during the winter, and 
many of these are stored in a warm cellar during winter, and 
placed on view again in the spring. The most conspicuous 
of the tender sorts are the royal water-lilies ( Victorda regia 
and Victoria Cruziana), from South America; these are not 
hardy in this climate, and, as they are too large to protect 
from the cold, they are grown anew from seed each year ; 
the seeds are sown in the propagating houses late in winter, 
and the young plants placed on view late in the spring or in 
early summer. 
