LASIANDBA. 145 



L. Reginw. — This lovely species attains the height of fifteen 

 feet and upwards in its native woods. The leaves are ohlong, 

 dark green ; the panicles are terminal, hearing very numerous 

 flowers, which are large, nearly three inches in diameter, and 

 of a bright rose colour, which gradually changes to a lovely 

 purple towards evening. This, as well as the other kinds 

 above mentioned, should be generally cultivated. Native of 

 the East Indies. 



Lasiandka. 



The plants belonging to this genus are elegant stove 

 shrubs, of the order MelastOmacece, and they all bear large 

 purple flowers, though the young shoots require frequent 

 pinching to cause them to form handsome and bushy speci- 

 mens. These fine Melastomaceous plants ought to be more 

 extensively grown, for they comprise many splendid species 

 which are cast on one side merely because they are not exhi- 

 bition plants ; but, though many of them are not suited for 

 that purpose, they are highly decorative when blooming in the 

 stove and conservatory. The soil best suited for them is a 

 mixture of loam, peat, and sand. 



L. Fontanesiana. — This in its native country is a shrub 

 some six or eight feet high, but under cultivation it can 

 conveniently be kept to any size required. The leaves are 

 oblong, acute, five-nerved, and pubescent on the margins and 

 under side ; and the flowers are large, of a rosy purple colour. 

 Native of Rio Janeiro. 



L. macrantha. — A magnificent species, and one which bids 

 fair to surpass all the other known members of the genus. 

 It is very free- flowering, producing its immense blossoms 

 upon plants of only a few inches high. The leaves are 

 bright rich green, and of moderate size, while the flowers 



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