ON PALMS, CYCADS, AND BAMBOOS. 



8 47 



Rhapis. — A genus represented in cultivation by three or four 

 typical slender-growing plants, which form a very ornamental 

 greenhouse group, with fan-shaped leaves, deeply cut into 

 numerous segments. Rhapis are very robust, and grow nearly 

 everywhere. They produce a great quantity of suckers, which 

 may be successfully utilised for reproduction ; these only require 

 to be detached with care, just retaining a few roots. In the 

 case of young suckers, a light soil must be used, but for 

 established plants a strong compost, as recommended for 

 Chamcerops, must be employed. R. flabelliformis (R. aspera) is 

 certainly the best species of the genus, and may be employed 

 for decorative purposes at any time. In its early state it forms 

 an attractive and robust table- 

 decoration plant, on account of 

 its persistent and petioled leaves, 

 divided into five or seven 

 segments. The stem rarely 

 exceeds, in cultivation, 

 i|in. in diameter. It is 

 a good plant for sub- 

 tropical gardening (Fig. 

 566). There is also a 

 variegated form. R. humilis 

 (R. Sirotsik) is closely 

 allied to 7?. flabelliformis, 

 but produces larger leaves, 

 with more pendent seg- 

 ments, which increase its 

 beauty. It may be used 

 with great success for table 

 decoration, &c. 



Rhopalostylis. — A 

 .handsome but small genus, 

 very well known by growers, 

 and for many years classi- 

 fied under Areca. The 

 two elegant species in 

 cultivation belong to the 

 unarmed greenhouse 

 Palms; they produce 

 terminal leaves, with 

 numerous narrow segments, 



and very short petioles. They require exactly the same treatment 

 as Arecas. R. Baueri (Areca Baueri and Seajorthia robustd) 

 is very well known and largely cultivated ; it has elegant pinnate 

 leaves, from 6ft. to 12ft. long, the pinnae varying from i8in. to 2ft. ; 

 it often reaches a height of 20ft. in our houses, but when young 

 forms one of the finest plants for table decoration (Fig. 567). 



Fig. 567. — Rhopalostylis Baueri. 



