134 OENAMENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



branch, enclosed in a separate spathe, wHcli entirely or 

 only partially encloses it. The flowers are small, greenish 

 rose in colour, and have both, calyx and corolla three- 

 parted. Fruits one-seeded, clothed with smooth shining- 

 imbricated scales. The species of Galamus are very 

 effective in a young state as decorators of the dinner table 

 or the drawing room ; they also form beautiful specimens 

 for the ornamentation of the stove, or for public exhibition. 

 They are increased by suckers which g^ow out from the 

 base, and also from seed. Loam and vegetable mould in 

 about equal parts is a good compost to grow them in, and 

 to keep them in a flourishing state a copious supply of 

 water is necessary. 



G. aeoidens. — A slender-growing and beautiful miniature 

 tree, with long arching dark green pinnate leaves, the 

 pinnaB being long and narrow, and somewhat closely set ; 

 petioles furnished with slender black spines. At present 

 somewhat rare, but deserving attention by all plant 

 growers. Native of East Indies. 



G. adspersus. — An exceedingly slender and elegant spe- 

 cies, with stem not much stouter than a large wheat 

 straw ; petioles six or more inches long, sheathing at base, 

 and clothed with long slender black spines ; leaves pin- 

 nate ; pinnsB six to eight inches long, narrow, and deep 

 green in colour. Native of East Indies. 



G. asperrirrms. — A beautiful species, eminently adapted 

 for general decorative purposes. . It attains considerable 

 size, and as it throws out quantities of suckers, it forms 

 a fine handsome mass. The leaves are pinnate, from three 

 to twelve feet in length ; pinnae from one to two feet in 

 length, and about an inch in breadth, pendent, light green 

 in colour, and furnished on the upper side with two rows of 

 hair-like spines ; petioles broadly sheathing at the base. 



