Floral Decoration of Apartments in Paris. 117 



terpe edulis, with its finely-serrated and very graceful foliage ; 

 Oreodoxa regia, young plants of which are very frequently used ; 

 Phoenix puraila, P. leonensis, and P. reclinata, Rhapis flabelliformis, 

 and Thrinax argentea and elegans. 



Next in importance to the Palms we must place the Dracaenas. 

 Those which are the most frequently noticed are Dracaena australis, 

 cannaefolia, congesta, indivisa, indivisa lineata, rubra, stricta, termi- 

 nalis, and umbraculifera. Those most easily managed, and there- 

 fore the most popular for window ornaments, are Dracaena congesta, 

 rubra, and terminalis. Pandanus utilis, Vandermeerschi, and Java- 

 nicus variegatus ; Cycas revoluta, and the different varieties of 

 Aspidistra, occupy also a very important place in the decoration of 

 apartments. 



The plants composing the following list, although suitable and 

 elegant in appearance, are less sought after and cultivated than the 

 preceding ones, because they are more difficult to manage as window 

 plants, and require some care and attention. They are more suit- 

 able for glazed frames and cases, and may frequently be met with 

 cultivated in that manner. Several species of Aralia, more especially 

 Aralia Sieboldi; Bambusa japonica variegata and B. Fortunei varie- 

 gataj the different varieties of Begonia; most of the Bromeliads; 

 Caladium odorum, for winter decoration, and the species with 

 the beautifully-spotted and mottled leaves, for the summer; Carlu- 

 dovica palmata and plicata; Croton pictum, pictum variegatum, and 

 discolor ; Curculigo recurvata, and some species of the genus DiefFen- 

 bachia. The Ficus elastica is a very elegant plant for a window 

 ornament, and some years ago was very much employed for that 

 purpos&; but since it has become somewhat common Ficus Chau- 

 vieri has been substituted for it in many places. There are many 

 other Ficuses which are suitable for this purpose, and will be found 

 most useful when they become plentiful enough. Isolepis gracilis ; 

 Maranta zebrina — this is the only species of Maranta suitable for 

 cultivation in apartments, as all the others speedily succumb to the 

 hot and dry atmosphere inseparable from a living room. Several 

 species of Musa are favourites, but principally M. discolor and M. 



