COTYLEDONS 201 
rosette. Flowers reddish orange, tinged with purple, in panicles; 
October. Native of Mexico (1828). 
C. Peacockit (Peacock’s). Flower-stem lateral, slender, reddish 
brown; 1 foot. Leaves spoon-shaped, large, pale glaucous, edged with 
red, forming a close rosette. Flowers bright red; July. Introduced 
from Mexico (1874). 
C. RETUSA (blunt-leaved). Flowering stem 14 foot high. Leaves 
spoon-shaped, glaucous, the largest faintly toothed; stem-leaves narrow, 
quite entire. Flowers scarlet in panicles; petals keeled, humped at the 
base. In the greenhouse this flowers freely from November to April. 
Plate 95. 
C. sECUNDA (turned aside—in reference to flower-stem). Flowering 
stem 1 foot high. Leaves wedge-shaped, with a stiff point at tip, 
glaucous, forming a rosette. Flowers red externally, yellow within; 
petals keeled; June to August. There are several varieties, of which 
glauca, figured on Plate 96, is one of the best. 
C. UMBILICUS (navel). Wall Pennywort; Pennypies; Navelwort. 
Leaves roundish, hollowed in centre, stalk attached to centre of under- 
side (peltate). Flowers greenish white, drooping, in long erect racemes ; 
May and June. This is a hardy native of neat habit, suitable for growing 
in the crevices of old walls, where its singular flowers have a pretty 
effect. 
Cotyledons make handsome pot-plants for decorative 
purposes, and are invaluable where ornamental bedding is 
carried out. They require winter protection, but in most cases the 
shelter of a dry frame, covered with mats in severe weather, is sufficient. 
Some, however, like C. gibbiflora, must be kept almost dry in a dry, 
warm house during the winter. The great danger to be guarded against 
in plants of this character is damping-off from too much moisture at the 
roots, or from drip upon the leaves. A well-drained sandy loam is the 
best for successfully growing Cotyledons. Many of the species and 
varieties are suitable for window-gardening. Propagation is sometimes 
effected by seeds (necessarily so in the case of annual species), but usually 
by cuttings and divisions, or by detaching -leaves and striking them. 
Cuttings should be taken early in summer, and they should be allowed 
to dry at the severed part before putting them into a close, cool frame 
until rooted. Early in autumn these cuttings should be potted in sandy 
- loam and placed in the greenhouse. Some of the species produce few or 
no offshoots, and from these leaves must be carefully pulled off without 
injury in autumn. These are laid on dry sand in pans in a warm house. 
No water should be given until tiny plants have formed at the edge of 
IL.——iG 
Cultivation. 
