MAEANTA. 245 



•which is relieved by beautiful bauds of silvery white. It 

 is a native of South America. 



M. lioolor. — An old but pretty species, of spreading 

 'habit. The leaves are orbicular, the ground colour pale 

 glaucous green, whilst midway between tiie mid-rib and 

 margin, are irregular-shaped blotches of polished dark 

 ■olive, which give a peculiar and pleasing appearance to 

 ■the plant ; the under side is rosy purple. Native of Brazil. 



M. cliimhoracensis. — This is a very beautiful plant. The 

 leaves are from 'six to twelve inches in length, or more ; 

 ground colour light green, having a zigzag zone of olive 

 green traversing the entire length, a little distance from 

 the mid-rib, the outer edge of this zone is bordered with 

 white. Native of Ecuador. 



M, fasciata. — A very distinct and handsome plant, dwarf 

 in habit, and producing leaves from eight to twelve inches 

 long, and from six to eight inches wide, broadly heart- 

 shaped ; ground colour bright green, with broad bands 

 •of white running across from mid-rib to the margin, the 

 under side pale green, tinged with purple. A very desira- 

 fcle and ornamental plant, from Brazil. 



M. hieroglyphioa, — This is a plant of dwarf habit, but of 

 great beauty, and very distinct. The leaves are broadly 

 ■obovate, and obtuse. The ground colour is rich dark 

 velvety green, which towards the mid-rib shades off into 

 light emerald green ; the primary veins are oblique, and 

 the spaces between them are ornamented with irregular- 

 shaped streaks and bars of silvery white ; the reverse side 

 as of a uniform dark vinous purple. Native of New 

 ■Grenada. 



M. illustris. — This very fine plant is a dwarf grower, 

 tiut makes leaves of a considerable size, somewhat ovate 

 in shape, the upper surface of a bright pea green, streaked 



