MAKANTA. 247 



three inches in length, and a little more than one in 

 breadth, the. colour is dark shining green, with a white 

 feathery stripe down the centre. It is spreading in habit, 

 and quickly forms dense arid beautiful tufts. It is a species 

 which shoald be in every collection. Native of Tropical 

 America. 



M. ornata. — Plant from one to two feet high ; leaves 

 from six to nine inches long and three or more broad, 

 oblong-acuminate, and yellowish-green, relieved by broad 

 transverse bands of dark olive green, the under side tinged 

 with purple. It is an elegant and attractive plant, suitable 

 for either a large or small collection. Native of Columbia. 



M. pa/rdina. — A very ornamental plant, said to be a 

 variety of M. villosa. The leaves are from ten to eighteen 

 inches long, and five or six wide, ovate, pale green, with 

 large dark brown blotches on each side the mid-rib, and 

 which occur at regular intervals the whole length of the 

 leaf. It also produces handsome large yellow flowers in 

 great abundance. This, unlike the most of its relatives, is 

 a deciduous plant, and requires considerable care to keep it 

 through the winter, for although dormant, it must not be 

 dried, or will never start into life again. It is a native of 

 the Valley of Magdalena, New Grenada. 



M. Forteana. — An elegant erect plant, growing about 

 three feet high, sometimes more ; the leaves are oblong- 

 acuminate, bright green on the upper side, striped with 

 transverse bars of white, the under side rich purple. A 

 highly ornamental species. Native of Brazil. 



M. prinoeps. — This is a superb large-growing species, 

 attaining a height of three or four feet. The leaves 

 measure from twelve to eighteen inches in length ; the 

 centre of these is rich dark green, broadly margined with 

 yellowish green. It is a very distinct and handsome 



