mulberry family, Moraceae ; the grape family, Vitaceae ; and the 

 pepper family, Piperaceae. 



The acanthus family, Acanthaceae, is located on the south side 

 bench, and contains many showy plants, ranging in color of 

 flowers from white through pinks, blues, purples and reds. Many 

 of them are exceedingly decorative. 



The madder family, Rubiaceae, is well represented in several 

 species of Ixora ; two or three of Hoffmannia, among them the 

 stately foliage plant from Mexico, H. Ghiesbreghtii ; several plants 

 of Coffea arabica, from which our coffee is obtained ; and species 

 of the genus Rondeletia. 



The torch-wood family, Burseraceae, occurs in Canarium com- 

 mune, a native of the East Indies, where it is known as the Java 

 almond tree and the Chinese olive. It bears a fleshy fruit which 

 yields an oil used for a condiment when fresh, or for burning in 

 lamps. A gum exudes from the trunk which is known as 



In the gesneria family, the Gesneriaceae, the dainty little Saint- 

 paulia ionantha, from eastern tropical Africa, with its bright star- 

 like blossoms of a clear blue known as African or Usambara 

 violets, is one of the prettiest of winter-flowering plants. The 

 genus Trichosporum, usually known as Aeschynanthus, is present 

 in several species, among them T. Lobbianum, from Java, T. pul- 



— all excellent basket plants. 



The vervain family, Verbenaceae, in several species of Lantana, 

 and the showy Clerodendron fallax, from Java, occupy a place 

 near the end of the central bench. Across the walk from these 

 is the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, in a number of species. 

 Next to this is the milkweed family, Asclepiadaceae, represented 

 by several plants. Belonging to this family, but placed near the 

 partition between this house and no. 7, that it may have a support, 

 is a large plant of Hoy a carnosa, from Asia. This is well known 

 as the wax-plant, on account of the waxy texture of its pink 

 flowers. 



