STEELITZU. 315> 



Strblitzia. 



This genus is very ornamental, both in foliage and 

 flower. It is, however, upon account of its ornamental 

 leaves that we wish to recommend it, as the leaves give 

 a very tropical appearance to the garden in the summer 

 season, and being of a leathery texture they are not easily 

 injured by the wind. These plants are very little trouble 

 to grow, and after they have served for ornamenting the 

 sub-tropical garden, they may be brought into the stove 

 during wiuter, when they frequently continue blooming 

 for several months. Strelitzias should be potted in a mix- 

 ture of two parts rich loam, and one part peat, with a little 

 river sand added ; they require a liberal supply of water 

 during summer, but if the object is to keep them dormant' 

 during winter, very little need be given, as their thick 

 fleshy roots support them for a considerable time. They 

 may be increased by suckers, by divisions of the old plants, 

 and by seeds when procurable ; these latter should be sown 

 in light soil, and plunged in a strong moist bottom heat, 

 when they will soon germinate, and increase in size 

 rapidly, if encouragement is given them. 



8. augusta. — ^A noble-looking plant, producing a splen- 

 did effect in the stove or greenhouse, and as its leaves are 

 thick and leathery, it is equally effective in the sub-tropical 

 garden during the summer months. The leaves are ar- 

 ranged in a distichous manner, and are dark g^een in 

 colour ; the petioles are from three to six feet long, and 

 slightly glaucous, whilst the blade measures two feet or 

 more in length, and from twelve to eighteen inches in 

 breadth. Native of the Cape of Good Hope. 



8. regina. — ^This species resembles the preceding, but is 

 not so large in its growth, and the whole plant is glaucous 



