642 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



another handsome species with recurved leaves from i2in. to i8in. 



long, arranged in a vase-like manner, and having spiny margins. 



It is of robust growth, producing an erect flower-spike, the 



beauty of which is enhanced 

 by rich magenta bracts 

 fading to rose, the upper 

 part being thickly set with 

 dark blue flowers, changing 

 with age to rose-pink. Like 

 the former species, this lasts 

 several weeks in perfection, 

 and it thrives under the 

 same treatment. 



^ESCHYNANTHUS 



is a genus of small 

 shrubs with gene- 

 rally rather thick 

 opposite leaves and 

 handsome tubular 

 flowers in terminal 

 fascicles ; most of 

 the species are na- 

 tives of East India 

 and Java. Fibrous 

 lumps of peat with 

 a few clean pot- 

 sherds and pieces 

 of charcoal and a 

 sprinkling of silver- 

 sand, suit them 

 very well. Most of the species should be kept moist and growing 

 all the year in a warm part of the stove. They make elegant 

 basket-plants for hanging from the roof. sE. Boschianus (Fig. 

 413) has vermilion-coloured flowers; AL. grandiflorus, scarlet; 

 AL. Lobbianus, scarlet and purple ; Al. lohgiflorus, scarlet ; 

 Al. pukher, scarlet and yellow ; and AL. speciosus, orarige and 

 red. sE. splendidus is a hybrid raised from Ai. grandiflorus 

 and /£. speciosus, and has violet, scarlet, and orange flowers. 



Agalmyla staminea, from Java, has large, oblong, acuminate 

 leaves, with beautiful axillary bunches of red tubular flowers. It 

 succeeds well on blocks, or in baskets, treated like Aischy- 

 nanthus, to which it is closely allied. 



Allamanda neriifolia, from Mexico, possesses the merit of 

 flowering freely in a young state, and is of easy culture. Flowers, 

 orange-yellow in terminal bunches; leaves resembling those of 

 the Oleander. It may be raised from " cuttings of young growths 

 in spring. The old plants should be cut back after flowering. 



FlG. 412. — ^CHMKA FULGKNS. 



