846 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



compact habits, in its young state producing large deep green 

 leaves, supported by a short petioles ; the stem is somewhat 

 stout (Fig. 565). 



Raphia. — A stove genus, decorative when well grown, but 

 unfortunately presenting a certain amount of cultural difficulties. 

 The stems, or trunks, vary a great deal ; the petioles are cylin- 

 drical or convex at 

 the base, and flat 

 above, supporting- 

 some long and ter- 

 minate leaves with 

 linear - lanceolate seg- 

 ments. Raphias can 

 be grown as mentioned 

 for Geonomas, by 

 partly plunging the 

 pots in the water of 

 the tank, which 

 must in this in- 

 stance be kept 

 on the warm 

 side. R.pedun- 

 culata (R. 

 Ruffia) is a 

 distinct spe- 

 cies, producing 

 pinnate leaves 

 varying from 2ft. to 

 6ft. in length, with 

 shining green pinnse 

 ioin. to 12m. long; 

 the petioles are un- 

 armed, and partly pro- 

 tected by coarse 

 fibres. R. tcedigera is 

 the most ornamental 

 species of the genus, 

 being handsome in 

 every respect, chiefly 

 in its young state ; 

 the stem remains of a 

 moderate size, but the 

 leaves are sometimes 

 enormous, varying 

 from 40ft. to 50ft. in height, and forming a splendid plume- 

 hke crown. R. vinifera (Bamboo or Wine Palm) is also a 

 moderate-sized tree, producing leaves varying from 6ft. to 7ft. 

 in length, with spiny leaflets. 



Fig. 566.— Rhapis flabelliformis. 



