244 OENAMBNTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



is destitute of the peculiar window-like holes in its leaves. 

 In this plant they are somewhat elongate or oblong, bifid 

 at the apex, and dark green. It is an elegant plant for 

 table decoration, and, on account of its small size, can be' 

 grown in even the smallest plant stove. It is a native of 

 Costa B/ica. 



Maeanta. 



A genus of very elegant and ornamental plants, a great 

 majority of the species of which have their foliage more or' 

 less variegated, and many of them in the most beautiful 

 manner. As omamental-foliaged plants for the decoration 

 of the stove, and for exhibition purposes, few plants can 

 equal them, but few of them are adapted for the greenhouse 

 or the window, as most of them being natives of moist 

 warm places, they consequently cannot withstand a dry cool 

 atmosphere. Marantas are plants very easily grown into 

 handsome specimens, if a strong moist heat can be main> 

 tained. The soil should be good fibrous peat, with silver 

 sand, and a small portion of rich loam added. The drain- 

 age must be good, as although Marantas enjoy most liberal 

 waterings, they will not suffer it ■with impunity to remain 

 in a stagnant state about their roots. These plants are 

 increased by divisions of the roots, which may be dona 

 at almost any season, although spring is far the best. 

 Some of the species are referred by botanists to Galathea 

 and Phrynium ; indeed, until flowers are produced, it is 

 impossible to determine to which group they belong. 



M. Ban-aquinii. — ^This is a very distinct and handsoma 

 species. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate in shape, and may 

 probably attain a much greater size by cultivation than we 

 have at present seen it ; the ground colour is bright green. 



