■204 OENAMENTAL FOLUGE PLANTS. 



feet, and supports a handsome crojra of leaves, which, are 

 pinnate, some fifteen feet in length, and rich dark green in 

 •colour. It is with this pla,nt in its young state, however, 

 that most cultivators will have to deal, and then it is 

 admirably adapted for the decoration of the dinner table pr 

 ■drawing room, and also forms a very attractive object ia 

 the plant stove. This species flowered in the year 1858, 

 for the first time in England. It is abundant on the West 

 Coast of Africa. 



S. melanococoa.- — A plant of somewhat decumbent habit, 

 ■and like the preceding, producing large quantities of oil. 

 In general appearance it somewhat resembles the pre- 

 ceding, but it never assumes the proportions of the African 

 species. It is a native of Tropical America. 



Encephalaetos. 



A genus of Cycadeaceous plants which in most instances 

 form very stout stems, and which must be many years in 

 arriving at maturity. They are magnificent plants for the 

 greenhouse or conservatory, and also make splendid orna- 

 ments when used in the sub-tropical garden in the summer 

 months, either plunged in the lawn as single specimens, or 

 grouped with other plants. Encephalartos coffer is the 

 species from which the Cafire tribes obtain some of their 

 food, and which has led to this plant being called Caflie 

 bread ; the part used is the pith of the trunk near the top, 

 which is scooped out, and then buried under ground, when 

 after having lain for some six or eight weeks, it is taken 

 up, made into cakes, partially baked, and eaten with great 

 relish. The large seeds are also roasted and eaten, and 

 these probably would be a greater delicacy to a European 

 than the bread. The pots for these plants should be well 

 drained, as they mostly inhabit dry stony places, and they 



