GLOXINIA. 119 



producing its flowers from July to September. Native of 

 Fernando Po. 



G. superha. — In general habit this resembles the pre- 

 ceding, and is equally free in its growth, and flower. The 

 petals are narrow, deeply undulate and crispate, and some- 

 what bent back, in colour deep rich orange and red. It is 

 widely distributed throughout the East Indies. 



G. virescens. — This has the same habit and appearance as 

 the others while growing, but the petals are spathulate, the 

 margins not crispate, and but slightly undulated, whUe in 

 colour they are of a deep orange and yellow. It is a native 

 of Mozambique and of Natal, and is frequently found in 

 gardens under the name of G. Plantii. 



Gloxinia. 



The Gloxinia has now become a very numerous and 

 popular flower. We have hybrid varieties with pendu- 

 lous flowers, with erect flowers, and with semi-double 

 flowers, and of almost every shade of colour. In a treatise 

 like the present, it is quite impossible to enumerate the 

 whole of the named varieties of this family which are known 

 to possess merit, but we have given some of those which in 

 our opinion are the best. Any one may, however, obtain 

 handsome fresh varieties by purchasing a packet of seed 

 from some good strain, and sowing it in some fine soil, and 

 placing it in stove heat. The culture of the Gloxinia is very 

 simple, and like the Achimenes, it especially recommends 

 itself to those who have but limited space, as the roots can 

 be stored away on cool shelves in autumn, so as to make 

 room for the winter-flowering plants. The soil best suited 

 for these plants is a mixture of fibrous peat, leaf mould, and 

 well-decomposed sheep manure, with a very liberal addition 



