HOTTONIA 



HOUSE PLANTS 



775 



submerged and alternate, pinnatuly dissected Ivs., the 

 divisions numerous aud liriuar. From the center of the 

 whorl of branches a single loaHess flower-stera rises 

 out of the water in summer, bearing a raceme with sev- 

 eral whorls of 3-5 or G handsome, pale purple tls., ap- 



1101. Hutbcd (or forcing-house) heated by hot water. 



parently with 5 petals, l>ut actually with a short corolla 

 tube below the lobes. Tiiu plauts root in the mud or 

 float, and the Hs. are about three-fourths of an inch in 

 diameter. Stamens 5, inserted on the tube of the corolla: 

 capsule subglobose, with 5 lateral valves ; seeds nu- 

 merous. The American plant, H. inil^ta, Ell., has 

 spongy stems and clustered peduncjes, which are partly 

 above water, inflated, jointed, the lowest joint 2-4 in. 

 long aud sometimes 1 in. thick, the others ]-3 in num- 

 ber and successively shorten-: lis. small, in whorls of 

 2-10 at the joints. B.H.2:r)8n. Neither species is ad- 

 vertised. Like all aquarium plants, they are interesting, 

 but they have no horticultural value otherwise. Both 

 plants are called Featberfcil and Water-violet ; the 

 American also Water-feather and Water-yarruw. 



H0ULLI:TIA (after rii)ullet, French gardener). Or- 

 rhlddcece. About 8 species of ejiiphytic, pseudobulbous 

 orchids from South America, allied to Stanhopea, aii<l 

 blooming in summer. Pseudobulbs conical, 1-leaveiI: 

 Ivs. lanceolate, plicate: sepals and petals usually nearly 

 equal : labellum continuous with the clavate, arcuate 

 •'olumn: pollinia 2, on a long caudicle. 



odoratissima, Linden. Sepals and petals reddisVi 

 brown : labellum white, with two crimson appendages 

 midway of its length. Columbia. G.C. \\. 24:777. Var. 

 Antioquiensls, AndrtS (//. Ai)tioqitei)sis, Hort.), has 

 labellum white, tinged yellow. LH, 17:12. 



Brocklehurstlina, Lindl. Fls. 5-8, about 3 in. across, 

 brownish red, dotted with J)rown-purple; sepals oblong, 

 obtuse, the lateral ones slightly uuitfMl at base; petals 

 narrower, obovate; labellum yellow, thickly dotted with 

 brown-purple; from its lower half two linear appen- 

 dages have their origin. Braz. B.M. -li)72. P.M. \.f-A'J. 

 R.R. 1885:492. 



picta, Licden & Reichb. t. Fls. (i-lD; soitals oblong, 

 brownish, unspotted above, tessellated with yellow be- 

 low; petals similarly cohn-ed; labellum yellow, spotted 

 or dotted with brow^n-purple or red-purple, the end has- 

 tate: apex recurved, pale yellow veined Avith crimson. 

 Colombia. B.M. G305. 



Wallisii, Linden & Rci<dib. f. ( fl. cJiri/sdiifha, Lind. 

 & Andre}. Fls. about 2 in. across; sepals aud petals 

 yellow, blotched inside with brown-purple ; labellum 

 yellow, dotted with crimson. Colombia. G.C. II. 18:437. 

 ^■^•18:71. Cakes Ajies. 



HOUSE LEEK. Semper ri cum leclorum. 



HOUSE PLANTS (Figs. 1102-1104) are those plants 

 which can be grown iu the ordinary rooms of dwelling 

 bouses. They may be hardy or tender; but only such as 

 are suitable for tliis purpose will bo considered here. 



In the living rooms of the modern well-built house, 

 plants must contend against dilTiiuiltics wliirh did not 

 exist in the less carefully e(|uipi)ed dwellings of fifty 

 years ago or earlier. The pres!.'ut methods of heating 

 and lighting, by gas or kerosene lamps, not electricity, 

 produce a dry atmosphere which is inimical to vegetable 

 growth. In houses lighted by electricity, and heated by 

 any system Avhich introduces fresh air in abundance, 

 this matter is not so troublesome. Too much heat and 

 dry air are harder for plants to endure than insulhcient 

 Ijght, but it is also lack of light which makes it so 

 ditHcult to grow flowering ])lants in bouses. Dust 

 and insects do harm, but these dilJiculties can be 

 overcome. 



For the above reasons it is important to select 

 House Plants which are adapted to resist a dry at- 

 mosphere, a high temperature aud inadecjuate light. 

 Such examples can be found among certain tropical 

 plants wnth coriaceous leaves and small stomata, 

 what the florists call foliage plants, e. g., ru)>ber 

 trees, palms, etc. These make the best foundation 

 upon which any successful system of growing plants 

 in houses can be built. Flowering plants can also be 

 "" used, but they should be introduced from time to 

 time, each in its proper season, when about to bloom 

 or in bloom, and not considered a part of the perma- 

 nent arrangement. After flowering they should be re- 

 moved : their function is not unlike the use of cut- 

 flowers, but they last longer and are not much more ex- 

 pensive, while they largely increase the attraction of 

 the wdndow^-garden. 



The best rooms for plants are those which get the 

 most sun, and the best positions are those nearest the 

 windows, where there is not only more light but more 

 fresh air. A large palm, fern or rubber wdll grow in an 

 entry or poorly lighted corner, but the best place is that 

 which is best lighted. Plants do well in a kitchen, the 

 moisture from the cooking helping tbem materially ; it 

 is by no means a bad hospital for unhealthy specimens. 



HOUND'S TONGUE. 



<~'ll)foi/?oss:inil. 



1102- Pot-plants in the window. 



Sometimes a plant-room, not a conservatory, can be set 

 aside for this purpose exclusively. If this is done in 

 the basement, and it is possible to get good light, satis- 

 factory results are obtained. The floor can l>e made of 



