;664 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



peculiar-shaped blotches, and are mottled and splashed in a 

 curious manner with scarlet and crimson, the ground colour 

 being a coppery-green. These interesting colourings are pleasingly 

 developed in A. WUkesiana when grown in a light position not 

 too far from the glass: 



Two new species of considerable merit have recently been 

 added to those already in cultivation. One of these, A. God- 

 seffiana, is a dwarf shrub of dense, bushy habit, having ovate- 

 lanceolate shining green leaves, with creamy-white margins. A 

 plant of a very ornamental appearance lately obtained from New 

 Guinea. A. hispida (Sanderiana) (Fig. 430), another new species, 



FIG. 43O. — ACALYPHA HISPIDA. 



is one of the most striking plants ever introduced into this 

 country. It is a branching shrub with broad, ovate, deep green 

 leaves and pendulous, crimson, velvety, tassel-like spikes of 

 flowers i2in. to i8in. long, arising from the axils of the leaves, 

 and somewhat resembling those of Love-Lies-Bleeding. This 

 important acquisition was obtained from the Bismarck Archi- 

 pelago; . and deserves growing even more for its remarkable 

 infiorescenses than for its bold, stately foliage and habit. 



Of the older varieties, A. Macafeeana, A. macrophylla, 

 A. marginata, and A. musaica are all attractive and ornamental. 



