ON STOVE PLANTS. 



691 



up the rafters of the house, and will thrive when trained up 

 the moist back wall of a stove in partial shade, where 

 comparatively few other plants will flourish. H. c. picta and 

 H. c. variegata (Fig. 451) are two distinct variegated forms. 

 The first has leaves with a creamy - white centre and 

 green margins, while in the second the middle of the leaves 

 is green and the margins are white. They are free-growing 

 varieties, and very ornamental, but to retain the variegation 

 it is necessary to use a little more lime rubbish in the 

 compost and smaller pots, for if treated too liberally they 

 are apt to revert to the type form. H. imperialis (Imperial 

 Hoya) is a noble and 

 vigorous species from 

 Borneo ; it has ob- 

 ovate lanceolate leaves 

 as large as the common 

 Laurel, which are in 

 pairs, and covered with 

 a silky down. When 

 well grown on a pyra- 

 midal or balloon-shaped 

 wire trellis it forms a 

 fine specimen plant. Its 

 large umbels of reddish- 

 chocolate flowers, with a 

 central ivory-white column, 

 each flower 3m. across, 

 polished and glossy like 

 wax or ivory, are very 

 curious and beautiful. The 

 flowers have the merit of 

 being sweet-scented in the 

 •evening. This plant re- 

 quires liberal treatment, and 

 coming as it does from one 

 of the hottest parts of the 

 world, must have plenty of heat and moisture when growing. 

 H. campanulata, from Java, is a stove twiner, with oval, 

 pointed, leathery leaves, and umbels of rather large, greenish- 

 white, sweetly citron-scented flowers ; the somewhat bell-shaped 

 . flowers are best seen when the plant is trained up the 

 rafters, and can be observed from beneath. H. bella is a gem 

 from Java, of dwarf habit, and with small, Myrtle-like leaves 

 placed opposite ; the flowers are produced freely in numerous 

 small umbels, and the individual blossom has been aptly com- 

 pared to an " amethyst star set in frosted silver," the corolla 

 being ivory white with nectaries of a pleasing amethyst or violet. 

 Being a dwarf grower it may be tied into a neat shape with 



2 Y 2 



Fig. 451. — Hoya carnosa variegata. 



