118 OENAMENTAI. FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



slightly paler below. Its stately habit renders it worthy 

 a place in. every collection. Native of the Indian Archi- 

 pelago. 



Beaucaenea. 



A small and exceedingly curious genus of Mexican 

 Bromeliaceous plants. They form slender woody stems, 

 with a remarkably swollen or napiform base. The 

 general opinion is that they are of extremely slow 

 growth, and unless treated in a liberal manner as to soil 

 and watering, they probably would be so, but under 

 favourable treatment good specimens may be obtained 

 in the course of a few years. Beaucarneas are both 

 grotesque and graceful in habit, and form striking objects 

 in the conservatory, or in the open air during summer. 

 They should be potted in rich fibrous loam and sand, 

 with ample drainage, and, during the growing season, 

 must be supplied liberally with water. They may be 

 increased by cuttings when these can be obtained, but 

 chiefly by seeds, which hitherto have been imported from 

 their native country, no specimen, as far as we are aware, 

 having flowered in European gardens. They have been 

 sometimes cultivated under the barbarous name Fince- 

 iieetitia. 



B. glauca. — In this species the stem is slender, while 

 the swollen base becomes woody and hard with age. It 

 bears a crown of long pendent glaucous leaves, which are- 

 from two to three feet in length, and present the appear- 

 ance of a beautiful fountain. Native of Mexico. 



B. glauca latifolia. — In general appearance this resembles 

 the preceding, and indeed, differs from it only in its stouter 

 and more robust stem and broader leaves. Native of 

 ifdesiico. 



