158 OENAMENTAIi FOLUGB PLANTS. 



ridors and halls, as it is a native of the United States of 

 America, and can withstand unharmed a low temperature. 



CHEYSOPHTIyLTJM. 



As the name implies, this genus is remarkable for its 

 golden leaves, most of its species being clothed with a 

 yellow tomentum on the under side. It belongs to the 

 order SapotaeecB, and is popularly known as the Star 

 Apple, in reference to its fruit, which is esteemed in its 

 native countries as a delicate adjunct for the dessert. As 

 ■these plants, however, mostly acquire a considerable height, 

 and in many instances assume the proportions of large 

 trees before yielding much fruit, very few plant-growers 

 have sufficient accommodation to grow them for this pur- 

 pose, and we have introduced them here solely on account 

 of their highly ornamental foliage. This order to which 

 ■the genus belongs, is interesting on account of its includiug 

 the ■pl&nb'Isonandra Gutta, ia which we are indebted for 

 the g^tta percha, an article which has become so exten- 

 sively used by us as to be almost a necessity. Ohryso- 

 phyllums require potting in sandy loam and peat, in the 

 proportion of two parts of the former to one of the latter ; 

 ■they re(^uire an abundance of heat and moisture during 

 the growing season, but less during -winter, though they 

 must then by no means be allowed to suffer from want 

 of water, or the result will be the loss of many leaves, 

 and disfigurement of the plants. They may be increased 

 loj cuttings of weU-ripened small shoots, plunged in strong 

 moist heat, and by seeds when procurable. 



G. oainito. — This is the Star Apple of Tropical America, 

 and forms a very large tree in its native habitats. It is, 

 however, in a somewhat small state we wish to look upon 

 it here. The leaves are oblong, from three to four inches 



