DKOSPATHA, 325 



times to be found in collections under the name of Bavenala 

 madagascariensis. Native of Madagascar. 



Ueospatha 



A curious and interesting genus, containing some most 

 remarkable plants, wbicb appear to be semi-aquatic in 

 their habit. We cannot speak of them from experience, 

 for we have never grown them, and neither have we 

 seen them well done in any collection. The Vrospathas 

 belong to the Aroidce, and have long creeping rhissomes, 

 and stout, leathery, persistent leaves. To grow them they 

 ehould be potted in loose turfy peat, with a little loam, and 

 river sand ; the pots should be well drained, and during 

 the summer months placed in water for about a third of 

 their depth. If these plants should prove free growing, 

 they will be well deserving cultivation, as, in addition to 

 their peculiar bright colours, the leaves are fantastically 

 mottled, and present a singular and grotesque appearance. 

 They may be increased by divisions of the rhizomes. They 

 have all sagittate leaves, and are natives of Para. 



Z7. varians. — Leaves sagittate, with the basal lobes much 

 elongated ; the ground colour is green, mottled with con- 

 fluent blotches of dull rose. 



U. varians grandis. — The lobes of this variety are elon- 

 gate and divergent ; the ground colour is greenish yellow, 

 the veins being darker yellow. 



U. varians pidurata, — In this plant the basal lobes form 

 nearly two-thirds of the leaf, which is of a bronzy green 

 colour, mottled with silvery grey. 



U. variaiis spectahilis. — Leaves extremely curious ; the 

 ground colour is green, and the whole surface is splashed 

 and mottled with yellow and silvery grey, except the mar- 

 gins, which are deep green. 



