266 ORNAMENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



centre of the plant, surrounded by their coloured leafy 

 bracts, which are the chief attractions of the genus. Nidu. 

 lariwms are handsome spreading vase-like plants, remark- 

 ably easy to grow into good specimens ; and as the rich 

 colouring of the inner leaves retain their brilliancy for 

 several months, they become valuable for decorative pur- 

 poses, more especially when this occurs, as it frequently 

 does, during winter. Pot these plants in a mixture of peat 

 and leaf mould, in equal parts, adding a little sand. They 

 require stove treatment to bring them to a flowering state, 

 but when in bloom, they may be used without injury for 

 the decoration of apartments. Increase is efiected by 

 suckers and seeds. 



N. Iimocentii. — A compact-growing plant, with large 

 lanceolate leaves, the margins prettily serrated, dark green 

 on the upper side, deep reddish purple beneath. The 

 flowers are produced in the nest-like crown, and are bright 

 orange red. Native of Brazil. 



N. Laurentii. — This elegant plant has ligulate recurved 

 leaves which become suddenly acuminate at the apex, light 

 green in colour, dotted with dark brown ; the inner ones 

 are white towards the base, contrasting beautifully with 

 the pale blue flowers. Native of South, America. 



N. Sclieremetiefii. — The leaves of this species, like all the- 

 genus, are arranged in a rosulate manner, ligulate and 

 spreading, dark rich green, the inner ones brilliant red. 

 Flowers blue. A very elegant plant. Native of South 

 America. 



CEnocaepus. 



A group of Palms entirely confined to South America, 

 and which seem to be very nearly related to the genus 

 Euterjye, from, which, however, they differ considerably in 



