ON STOVE PLANTS. 



667 



long, and ioin. to 15m. broad, with a deep green and glossy 

 metallic surface. A. Warocgueanum is another handsome and 

 distinct species, with leaves 30m. to 40m. long, and,8in. to 12m. 

 broad, of a very rich deep 



green, with a velvety lustre, 

 with which the light colour 

 of the midrib and veins 

 forms a pleasing contrast. 







iif|f|li • s&rasir 



Aphelandra. — Some 

 very attractive species be- 

 longing to this family de- 

 serve to be classed among 

 ornamental foliage plants. 

 A. fascinator has rich dark 

 green leaves, beautifully 

 banded with white, and in 

 addition produces dazzling 

 vermilion-coloured flowers ; 

 it is a native of Columbia. 

 A. Leopoldii (from Brazil) 

 has opposite leaves, 6in. 

 long by 2^in. broad, of a 

 deep green shade, with pure 

 white veins running from 

 the midrib to the margin. 

 A. Margarita has the upper . 

 surface of the leaves dark 

 green, with . nerves of a 

 lighter shade and the under- 

 side rose - coloured ; the 

 flowers are of a bright 

 orange colour. A. nitens, 

 also from South America, 

 has dark green leaves, with 

 a brilliant glossy polish on 

 the upper surface, -the under-side being of a deep claret colour; 

 the flowers are bright vermilion and freely produced, even on 

 very small plants, during the winter months. 



Aralia. — The stove shrubby species of this genus form very 

 useful and ornamental plants for dinner-table and general decora- 

 tion, and are of very easy culture. They may be' propagated 

 by cuttings, or still better by grafting on free-rooting species such 

 as A. reticulata and A. Guilfoyki. For compost use equal 

 parts loam and peatj» with a little leaf-mould and sand. 

 A. elegantissima (from the South Sea Islands), A. Veitchii (from 

 New Caledonia) (Fig. 434), and its variety, A. V. gracillima, are 

 charming plants, of most elegant appearance, with erect stems and 



Fig. 433. — Anthurium splendiddm. 



