June 25, 1890.] 



Garden and Forest. 



3ii 



Callirrhoe involucrata, the Crimson Callirrhoe, a plant from 

 the sandy plains of Texas, is beginningto bloom. The flowers 

 are sometimes two inches wide and a dark crimson in color. It 

 is a prostrate, spreading perennial, with stems sometimes two 

 feet long. But these long stems, though creeping on the 

 ground, do not themselves take root. The flowers, which are 

 on upright naked stems from four to eight inches long, con- 

 tinue to come all summer. It is perfectly hardy, will do well in 

 light or heavy soil, and is certainly one of our most interesting 

 native plants. 



Sedurn Nevii is a native of the southern Alleghanies. Its 

 dense leafy stems are usually only two or three inches high, 



should be the most valuable on account of the fruit. It is oc- 

 casionally found in thickets from New England to the Missis- 

 sippi River, and is more common southward. It needs time 

 to become established, and plants two years old or more have 

 larger and handsomer leaves and fruit. 

 Southwick, Mass. ' F. H. Horsford. 



A Few Good Forms of Ficus. 



'"THIS extensive and varied genus contains many species that 



x are both useful and beautiful. It not only includes the 



common Fig (Ficus Carica) and the wonderful Banyan-tree 



(F. Indica), but also a number of our most serviceable stove 



The Oldest Locust-tree in Europe.— See page 305. 



very even, and form a solid mass of light green foliage, which 

 is very pretty. Its flowering-stem is not so leafy, and rises two 

 or three inches above the rest of the plant, bearing a small 

 three-spiked cyme of white flowers, which much resemble 

 those of S. ternatum, but it is fully two weeks later. It is a 

 prettier plant than S. ternatum, and can be grown without pro- 

 tection in sun or shade. We have never tried it in a heavy soil. 

 Dioscorea villosa, the Wild Yam-root, is a twiningand climb- 

 ing herbaceous perennial. Its large handsome leaves are 

 often five inches long by three and a half inches wide, promi- 

 nently several ribbed, and downy underneath. The flowers 

 are not showy, but the drooping racemes of three-angled pods 

 are very interesting. It is a striking plant, admired by all who 

 are interested in this class, and for shady or half shaded 

 situations is invaluable. It is dioecious, and the female plants 



and greenhouse plants. It is almost needless to call attention 

 to the best known species, Ficus elastica, its merits as a gen- 

 erally useful decorative plant being so well understood and 

 recognized, and the variegated form of this species has also 

 been commended by various correspondents of Garden and 

 Forest. Without doubt Ficus elastica variegata will take 

 rank among standard decorative plants as soon as the stock 

 becomes so abundant that well grown plants maybe procured 

 at a reasonable price. 



Another very handsome variegated species is F. Parcellii, 

 which has dark green leaves, beautifully marbled and blotched 

 with pure white. It is a plant of good habit and free growth, 

 and quite naturally attracted much attention when first intro- 

 duced from the South Sea Islands several years ago. This 

 species should have a warm house temperature and a moist 



