CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



Alpinia.— This family of plants is nearly re- 

 lated to the Gingerworts {Zingiboraeea) ; it contains 

 -many handsome species, but it is long since they 

 ■were fashionahle. The name commemorates the 

 celebrated Italian physician and botanist, Prosper 

 Alpini, who resided in Egypt upwards of three 

 tundred years 

 ago. 



A.nutans, some 

 years back, was a 

 .general favourite. 

 •The whole plant 

 is very aromatic, 

 and its drooping 

 «pike of white 

 flowers have a 

 very pearl - like 

 appearance. A. 

 Galanga produces 

 the aromatic root 

 K)f commerce 

 Jjnown as " Ga- 

 langa," which is 

 used in cases 

 •of indigestion ; 

 whilst the fruits 

 of A. alba are 

 known as " China 

 'Cardamoms." 

 These plants en- 

 joy rich loamy 

 soil, and an ab- 

 sence of heat and 

 !moisture. 



A.viUata. — This 

 species is about 

 "the only member 

 ■of the genus now 

 to be found in 

 ■our hot-houses, 

 ssaving in strictly 

 botanic gardens, 

 :and this has found 

 favour on account 

 •of its variegated 

 foliage ; it has 

 •stout under- 

 ground creeping rhizomes, which produce reed-like 

 fstems bearing numerous narrow yellowish - green 

 leaves, which are variously striped with deep green 

 and creamy-white. South Sea Islands. 



Amasonia. — This contains but a few species, 

 .all of which, however, are more or less beautiful ; 

 they belong to the Verbenaceous order, and are easily 

 ■cultivated in the stove if treated in the same 



AlOCASIA THIBHrriAHA. 



manner as recommended for Eranthemums and other 

 Acanthads. 



A. punicea.— Tim is a plant of recent introduction, 

 and the most beautiful of aU the species hitherto 

 discovered. Leaves somewhat oblong-lanceolate, 

 coarsely serrated at the margins, nine to twelve 



inches long, and 

 pale green ; pe- 

 duncle erect, rich 

 crimson, bearing 

 long narrow bril- 

 liant crimson- 

 scarlet bracts, 

 which last many 

 weeks in full 

 beauty. Flowers 

 long and tubular; 

 pale yellow, but 

 they do not last 

 in perfection so 

 long as the bracts. 

 Amasonias are 

 all natives of 

 tropical America, 

 the majority be- 

 ing found in 

 Brairil; this spe- 

 cies is widely dis- 

 tributed. Autumn 

 and winter. Tro- 

 pical America. 

 Correct name, A. 

 cah/cina. 



Amherstia. 



— A genus of 

 Zeguminosee, 

 named in honour 

 of the Countess 

 Amherst. It con- 

 tains but one spe- 

 cies, and "when 

 in flower it is said 

 to be one of the 

 most superb ob- 

 jects imaginable, 

 unrivalled in 

 India or any other part of the world." There is some- 

 thing of mystery attached to this plant, inasmuch as 

 it has never been found in a perfectly VUd state, but 

 was discovered in the gardens of a monastery near 

 Martaban, and these were evidently under cultivation. 

 The flowers of this plant, which the Burmese call 

 " Thoka," are strewn in profusion as votive ofEerings 

 before the images of Buddha. This plant requires 

 very strong heat, shade, and a very moist atmosphere ; 



