South Sea Islands, is frequently seen in cultivation and is often 

 used for bedding purposes in summer. The sandbox tree, Hnra 

 crepitans, is found throughout tropical America. It grows to a 

 considerable height in its native home and forms a dense shade. 

 The juice is said to have caused fatal injuries to the eyes. The 

 fruit is of peculiar construction, looking something like a wheel 

 two to three inches in diameter. It is frequently kept as a curi- 

 osity, but on becoming very dry the component parts burst 

 asunder with a loud report, scattering the parts and seeds to a 



those who may be in the vicinity. The large group of the genus 

 Codiaeum, a native of the Malayan region, commonly known in 

 cultivation as variegated crotons, contains many peculiar variable 



three species. They are much used for decoration where rich and 

 varied color-effects are desirable ; or in small plants for jardinieres. 



The members of the cactus family in this house are those which 

 require warmer treatment than can be given them in houses 5 

 and 6. The genera mainly represented are the following: 

 Rhipsalis, of which a striking example is the mistletoe cactus, 

 R. Cassytha, widely distributed in the West Indies, where it 

 gracefully adorns the trunks of trees or hangs down in masses 

 upon the face of cliffs ; Epiphyllum, in the well-known Christ- 

 mas or crab cactus, E. truncatum, from Brazil ; Phyllocactus, in 

 many forms, including P. anguliger, from Mexico, with its stems 

 toothed like a coarse saw, P. crenatus, from Honduras, P. 

 Hookeri, from northern South America, and the commonly culti- 

 vated P. latifrons, one of the best night-blooming sorts, also from 

 Mexico ; and the genus Pereskia, already referred to as one of 

 the cacti bearing large leaves. 



The marcgravia family, Marcgraviaceae, seldom seen in culti- 

 vation, is present in two species, Marcgravia umbellata from trop- 

 ical America generally, and M. Sintenisii from Porto Rico. These 

 plants adhere closely to the bark of trees, in much the same 

 manner as does the ordinary English ivy, the flowering branches 

 hanging down from the main stem in a pendulous manner. They 

 frequently ornament rocks and the sides of damp gorges or 

 ravines in the tropics with their closely appressed foliage. 



