IRESINE 



leaves of one the yellow-greens predominate, in those of the other 

 the copper-reds. In addition they display orange, red, purple, 

 green, bronze, pink, and brown in tjewildering confusion. The 

 colors blend in an exquisite harmony, subdued yet effective. If 

 one must have carpet-beds, these little Brazilian weeds can do 

 yeoman duty toward making them. 



IRESINE. ACHYRANTHES 



Iresme Herhstii. 



Iresine, the Greek name for a harvest garland wound in wool; in 

 allusion to the woolly appearance of the stems of some species. 



A foliage plant brought into England from southern Brazil in 1864, 

 by Mr. Herbst, of Kew Gardens. Several horticultural varieties have 

 been developed. 



Stem. — Red or yellow, twelve to eighteen inches high. 



Leaves. — Opposite, variable, broadly ovate or orbicular, acute or ob- 

 tuse or notched at the apex; purple-red of varied tints, with prominent 

 veins; or green with yellow veins. 



Flowers. — Small, perfect or imper- 

 fect, greenish-white, in axillary or ter- 

 minal panicles. 



Perianth. — Five-parted. 



Stamens. — Five; stigmas two or three. 



Fruit. — A little utricle. 



The Iresines are a group of South 

 American plants of brilliant foliage 

 that are supplanting coleus in beds 

 and borders, because they are quite 

 as effective, considerably hardier, 

 and bear the shears as well. The 

 chief objection to coleus as a border 

 plant is its extreme sensitiveness to cold; after a hght frost its 

 stems stand leafless, but Iresine will bear about as much cold as 

 the geraniums. It appears in two colors, a deep blood-red and 

 a greenish-yellow, of course with variations of each. 



123 



Achyranthes. Iresine HerhsUi 



