8i6 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



like a partially open fan provided with a great number of ribs, 

 all radiating from the centre. It is of a rather slow growth. 



Brahe\— A very small genus composed of dwarf Palms, 

 represented in cultivation by only a few species, which thrive 

 in the greenhouse during the summer months. The leaves are 

 fan-shaped, and the flowers are hermaphrodite and green. Braheas 

 require a rich fibrous compost and abundant saturation through 

 their growing period. B. dulcis is a rare and slow-growing species, 

 possessing a stout stem, with petioles partly protected at their 

 base by a network of brown fibre, clothed with woolly tomentum, 



and armed all along the 

 edges with a multitude of 

 spines ; the leaves are 

 nearly circular, plaited, and 

 shining green. 



Calamus. — A very in- 

 teresting genus represented 

 by many species. Dtzmono- 

 rops, which formerly was 

 united to Calamus, is now 

 separated. Calamuses have 

 their flowers densely 

 clustered upon branching 

 spikes, every branch having 

 a separate spathe which 

 is not long enough to 

 enclose it. For the charac- 

 teristics of the 'other divi- 

 sion, see " Dsemonorops." 

 Calamuses are all of 

 slender growth, some of 

 them climbing very high 

 in their native countries, 

 while others rarely exceed 

 20ft. The species in general 

 are very decorative in their 

 young state, and may be 

 used for table decoration. They are also very handsome 

 in the stove. A rich soil composed of loam and vegetable 

 mould in equal quantities is required, as well as a copious 

 supply of water. Propagation can easily be effected by suckers, 

 which grow pretty freely from the base. C. accedens is an 

 elegant, slender-growing species, rather rare, and dwarf in 

 stature, which ought to be more largely grown. It produces 

 long, arching, deep green, pinnate leaves, the pinnae being 

 long, rather narrow, and somewhat closely set. The petioles 

 are provided with slender black spines. C. adspersus is a 



Fig. 548. — Calamus ciliaris. 



