EHAPIS. 295 



Rhapis. 



A genus of slender-growing Palms, with fan-shaped 

 leaves, admirably adapted for the decoration of the green- 

 house, the dinner-table or drawing-room, or for the sub- 

 tropical garden during the summer months. They are 

 very ornamental plants, and withstand unharmed a consider, 

 able amount of rough treatment. For soil use loam and 

 peat in equal parts, adding a little sand. They produce 

 suckers freely, and may be increased by this means, and 

 also by seeds when they are obtainable. As far as we 

 know, the genus has neither flowered nor fruited in this 

 country, 



B. flahelliformis. — This elegant slender-growing plant, 

 which forms a beautiM object for the dinner-table, for the 

 centre of a jardinette, or for the decoration of apartments 

 generally, is equally at home in the stove or greenhouse. 

 The stems are slender ; the leaves flabellate, upon short 

 footstalks, and of a dark green colour ; the petioles are 

 slender, sheathing at base,, and firmly enclosed in a tissue 

 of brown fibres. The leaves are very persistent, so that a 

 plant with a stem of six feet may be frequently seen with 

 perfect leaves down to the very bottom. Walking-canes 

 are made from the stems, and imported under the name of 

 Ground Rattans. Native of China and Japan. 



Hi. fiabelliformis variegata. — A beautiful variety of the 

 preceding, with broad longitudinal bands of white and 

 yellow, which give the leaves a strikingly handsome 

 character. It is, however, somewhat rare in cultivation. 

 Native of Japan. 



B. liundlis. — The present species is grown in some 

 collections under the name of JB. Sierotzik. It resembles 

 B. flahelliformis in general habit, but the leaves are larger. 



