164 STOVE PLANTS. 



creep, and thus form a very pretty object. It is of a branch- 

 ing scandent habit, and produces strong wiry roots from the 

 under side of the branches as they grow, thus adapting it for 

 the purposes we have recommended. The flowers, which are 

 freely produced, are somewhat like Mitraria coccinea in shape, 

 and dark scarlet in colour. The leaves are opposite, some- 

 what fleshy and hairy. It is a native of the cool regions of 

 Chih and Peru, and consequently will succeed in a cool stove 

 or warm greenhouse. 



SCUTELLAKIA. 



A genus of Labiata, containing many very pretty species, 

 which are extremely useful and showy, but being soft-wooded, 

 rapid growers, and rather apt to lose their lower leaves, they 

 require some little attention in order to grow them into good 

 specimens. They must be potted in a compost consisting of 

 loam, peat, and leaf mould in about equal parts, adding a 

 little sand. The intermediate house will be the most suitable 

 place for them ; and by a little pinching at various times they 

 may be had in bloom nearly the whole year. 



S. aurata. — This plant grows from one to two feet high, 

 and is covered in every part with fine hairs. The leaves are 

 oblong, cordate at the base, and of a bright shining green. 

 The flowers are produced on long terminal racemes, and are 

 about an inch and a half in length, the tube light yeUow, the 

 limb orange. A free-flowering kind. Native of Mexico. 



S. mirata sulphurea. — A variety of the preceding, with 

 ovate leaves, and long terminal racemes of very pale yellow 

 flowers. Native of Mexico. 



S. Costaricana. — A superb species, with flne ovate-lanceo- 

 late, smooth, dark green leaves, serrate at the edges, and long 

 dense terminal racemes of flowers about two inches and a half 

 long, the tube deep crimson, and the limb orange yellow. It 



