BKOWNEA. 81 



bearing usually three or four pairs of leaflets, but in some 

 species more. The young growths, being somewhat weak, 

 are pendulous, and have the edges of the leaves rolled 

 back. All the known species are magnificent when in 

 bloom, and are well deserving more general cultivation. 

 They succeed well if potted in a mixture of loam, peat, and 

 S'and, and placed in a summer temperature ranging from 

 65° to 85°. In winter a somewhat lower temperature will 

 be better for them, and they then require very careful 

 applications of water, for though the plants will not endure 

 complete dryness at the roots, yet a too liberal supply of 

 water in winter is nearly certain to kill them. These plants 

 may be increased by cuttings, the ripe wood being selected ; 

 they require strong heat to induce them to root, and they are 

 not free at any time. When seeds can be obtained they may 

 be placed in good heat, but water must be applied very 

 sparingly, or the seeds will rot. 



B. Ariza. — This very fine plant, which is nearly allied to 

 B. grdndiceps, grows from twenty to forty feet high in 

 Bogota, where it is found at an elevation of 14,000 feet. 

 The leaves are dark green, pinnate, usually with six or 

 eight pairs of pinnae, -which are oblong- lanceolate, and 

 sharply tapered to a point. The flowers are of the richest 

 scarlet, and produced in a dense globular head of immense 

 size. This plant requires a large house to display its beauty, 

 but where such accommodation can be provided, it is 

 well deserving every care. It blooms during the summer 

 months. 



B. BirscheUii. — At present this fine species is exceedingly 

 rare. In its native habitat it attains a height of twenty feet, 

 forming a noble tree, but it flowers under cultivation at a 

 very much smaller size. The leaves are pinnate, each bear- 

 ing three or four pairs of leaflets. The racemes are terminal 



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