274 ORNAMENTAL FOLUGE PLANTS. 



and present a curious appearance ; leaves dark shining 

 green on tte upper side, paler below. A splendid plant 

 for table decoration. It requires stove heat, and should be 

 grown in a mixture of two parts peat and one part loam, 

 and liberally supplied with water. 



Pandanus. 



The plants comprising this genus are familiarly known 

 as Screw Pines, from the very peculiar spiral arrangement 

 of their leaves. They usually inhabit the muddy banks 

 of rivers and marshy places, and are found principally 

 ia the Indian and African Islands, some few extending to 

 Australia, but as far as we are aware none have hitherto 

 been found in the Western Hemisphere. In a state of 

 nature Pandanads grow to a great size, reaching twenty 

 or thirty feet in height, and becoming much branched ; 

 in this form they present a peculiar appearance, from the 

 stem being elevated above the soil upon a cone of roots, 

 which adventitious roots are produced at intervals from 

 the stem, and are protected at the points by a covering 

 of thick scales, until they reach the ground. These plants 

 form conspicuous objects in a stove, especially in positions 

 from which they have not to be often removed, for then 

 their long leaves do not get broken j another great ob- 

 jection to moving Pcmdanus, when they get large, is that 

 their very spiny leaves commit such havoc amongst the 

 leaves of neighbouring plants. In a young state many 

 of the species of Pandanus are admirably adapted for 

 window plants and for table decoration. The soil for their 

 successftil cultivation is sandy loam, and the drainage 

 should be good, as they enjoy a copious supply of water. 

 They are increased by cuttings, suckers, and seeds. 



