FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



ALTERNANTHERAS 



Natural Order Amarantace^. Genus Telanthera 



Telanthera (Greek, teleios, complete, and anthera, anthers). A genus 

 of perennial herbs, with small opposite leaves of various colours, and 

 inconspicuous flowers in axillary heads. The flowers are similar in 

 general structure to those of the last genus. The perianth is five-parted, 

 the five stamens are imited at their base, and alternate with five barren 

 filaments. The globose ovary is one-celled, and contains but one ovule. 

 The fruit also is one-seeded, and does not split open when ripe. The 

 species are natives of Tropical countries. 



Alternantheras are recent introductions to our gardens. 

 ^' Plants with this name were introduced in the early part of 

 the eighteenth century, and at intervals since; but these have passed 

 out of cultivation, and their place has been taken by other plants of the 

 genus Telanthera. To these later arrivals gardeners persist in attaching 

 the name of those they have succeeded; but though we have taken 

 Alternanthera as the popular or garden name, we are compelled to 

 retain them under the genus Telanthera. Most of those now grown are 

 Brazilian plants, and of these T. bettzichiana was introduced in 1862, 

 T. atnoena and T. versicolor in 1865, and T. amabilis in 1868. They 

 are grown solely on account of their coloured foliage. 

 Principaispecies. Telanthera AMABILIS (lovely). Stems branched. 

 Leaves elliptic, greenish, stained with red and yellow ; under 

 good treatment rose and orange tints prevailing over the green. The 

 var. tricolor is more brightly coloured. The leaves are broadly oval with 

 bright rosy centre, between which and the dark green margin there is a 

 band of orange-yellow ; the veins are purple. 



T. AMCENA (charming). A neat little plant about 6 or 8 

 inches high, with spreading branches forming dense tufts, and small, 

 spoon-shaped leaves tinted with orange, red, purple, ^reen and bronze 

 Plate 231a. 



T. BETTZICHIANA (Bettzich's). Leaves spoon -shaped, olive -green 

 streaked with pink and coppery red. The var. spathulata has longer 

 leaves of reddish pink and light brown, shaded with bronze and green. 



T. FicoiDEA (Fig-like). Leaves lobed, variegated with green, rose, 

 and red. 



T. PARONYCHioiDES (Paronychia-like). Stems branched and tufted, 

 about 4 inches high. Leaves narrow -spoon -shaped, deep orange-red 



