202 OENAMENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



B.plwmosa. — ^Another very boautifiil plant; when small 

 it is one of the most elegant table plants it is possible tO' 

 conceive. The leaves are dense, from five to ten inches 

 long, and about half an inch broad, linear-elongate in shape, 

 and pinnatifid, dark green on the upper side, pure white 

 below. Native of South Australia. 



D. senedifoUa. — The present is a very elegant plant, 

 growing some two or three feet high. The leaves are 

 from three to four inches or more long, linear and pin- 

 natifid, the lobes being divided almost to the mid-rjb ; 

 lobes very small, triangular ; deep green above, greyish' 

 white below. It is a most desirable and very ornamental 

 species. Native of Australia. 



Dtckia. 



A small genus of Bromeliacex, remarkable for their 

 elegant foliage and ornamental habit of growth. They 

 are quite destitute of stem, or more rarely produce a very 

 short one, and have rigid leaves, which are spiny at the 

 edges and apex. The DycTdas succeed admirably in the 

 company of Agaves, and such-like plants, and form a 

 pleasing contrast in a Wardian case of succulent plants. 

 The soil best adapted for them is a mixture of two parts 

 loam, and one part vegetable mould, with some sand added. 

 The pots must be well drained, and water must be liberally 

 applied during summer, but in the dull winter months 

 much less will be necessary, though these plants do not 

 prefer such a total deprivation as the Agaves. They may 

 be increased, by suckers, and also by seeds when they are 

 to be obtained. 



D. argentea.-^A most elegant plant, with long rigid 

 recurved leaves, arranged in a rosulate manner, and lying 

 so close to each other, and so much recurved, that they 



