330 ORNAMENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



leaves, which are obtained by planting out young plants- 

 into the summer sub-tropical garden annually, but these, 

 if lifted early in autumn and kept in a stove, bloom freely, 

 and are by no means devoid of beauty. The leaves are 

 broadly oblong, and rounded at the extremities, a foot to 

 a foot and a half in length, and of proportionate width, 

 of a very deep rich green colour, and having a remarkably 

 rugose surface. It is one of the most striking of all the 

 plants used for what is called sub-tropical gardening. 

 Native of the Caraccas. 



W. ii/rens. — A plant very closely resembling W. caracasana 

 and W. Viffiei-i in its general characteristics. The leaves 

 are, however, somewhat more ovate in outline, and more 

 obviously hairy. 



W. Vigieri, — This plant is, we believe, of garden origin. 

 It is of robust growth, yet perhaps less coarse than W. 

 caracasana, and the leaves are slightly glaucous. It is used, 

 as a sub-tropical pUmt, and is one of the most effective and 

 ornamental. It is supposed to be a hybrid between W. 

 caracasana and W. tirens. 



Xanthoeeh^a. 



An exceedingly curious and interesting genus of lAliaceos, 

 which are very ornamental objects in the greenhouse or 

 conservatory ; they are all natives of Australia, and are 

 popularly known as " Black Boys," " Grass Gum Trees," 

 and " Grass Trees." Several species of this genus produce 

 stout stems, varying from six to eighteen feet in height, 

 supporting on their summit large crowns of penduloua 

 grassy leaves ; these stems are mostly simple and un- 

 branched, though some few examples are met with sup- 

 porting two and three distinct heads, whilst other species 

 never develope an arborescent stem. A gum resembling 



