212 OENAMENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



let them be liberally supplied with water, and alwaya welT 

 shaded, as this intensifies the rich colour of the veins. 

 Fittonias are readily increased by cuttings, and by divisions' 

 of the plants ; and on account of their bright colours and' 

 neat manner of growth, no collection should be without 

 some of the species. Some of the under-named plants are 

 also found in collections under the name of Gymnostachyum 

 and Gymnostachys. 



F. argyroneura. — A very neat and compact-growing 

 plant. The leaves are somewhat ovate, about four inches 

 long and nearly three wide ; when well grown the ground 

 colour is vivid green, with a shining surface over which is 

 an elegant net-work of silvery white. It is a beautiful 

 plant, and deserves general cultivation. Native of Peru. 



F. gigantea. — In this species we have a plant of more 

 robust constitution than F. Yerschaffeltii and Pearcei, and 

 also producing larger leaves, which are deep rich green, 

 and beautifally netted and veined with clear rose, but notso 

 brightly coloured as in the species just alluded to. It is a 

 native of Tropical America. 



F. Pearcei. — This plant resembles the first species in its- 

 general habit, but is even more compact than it. The 

 leaves are from three to four inches long, and two to three 

 broad, and somewhat obtuse at the point. The upper sur- 

 face is of a light but very bright green colour, the broad 

 mid-rib and veins being light bright carmine, which gives 

 it. a most beautiful appearance ; the under side is some- 

 what glaucous. Like its congeners it is a shade-loving 

 plant, and deserves a place in every collection. Native of 

 Tropical America. 



F. Yerschaffeltii. — ^Another very beautiful kind, but 

 closely resembling F. Pearcei. The leaves are similar in 

 shape but larger, and the ground colour is dark green, the 



