HOT-HOUSK OR STOVE PLANTS. 



199 



Psychotria. — A small genus of Cinchonada, 

 which are not remarkable for beauty in either leaves 

 or Uowers ; but the species introduced here is so 

 extremely elegant, with its large bunches of berries, 

 that it should not be absent from any collection of 

 stove plants ; it may be either grown as a basket or 

 pot plant. Pot in peat and loam with a little sand. 

 Stove. 



P. cyanococea. — Leaves rather small, somewhat 

 ovate lanceolate ; flowers white, inconspicuous, 

 followed by large bunches of the most brilliant ultra-, 

 marine berries, which ripen in autumn and remain 

 on the plant all the winter. Nicaragua. 



Havenala. — A genus of Scitaminece, containing 

 but one species, sometimes called Urania speciosa ; it 

 requires strong heat and moisture, and should be 

 potted in rich loam. Stove. 



JJ. madagascariensis — ^the Traveller's Tree — is a 

 bold plant, somewhat resembling M^lsa ensete ; the 

 base of the leaf is sheathing, and if pierced yields a 

 quantity of fresh and pure water, most welcome to 

 thirsty travellers; very effective in a large house, 

 owing to the peculiar distichous arrangement of its 

 enormous blue-green leaves. The flowers are not 

 conspicuous. Madagascar. 



Reidia. — A genus of JSttphorbiacece, now merged 

 into Phyllanthus ; it contains several species, which 

 resemble each other closely. The species here in- 

 troduced is admirably adapted for dinner-table deco- 

 ration in the day time, but from its habit of closing 

 its leaves and sleeping at night, it is not effective 

 after dark. Pot in loam and peat, drain well, and 

 water freely, or red spider will destroy its beauty. 

 Stove. 



R. glaiwescens. — An elegant slender shrub, with red 

 branches, bearing numerous thin, oblong, entire 

 leaves (which are so arranged as to pi-esent the 

 appearance of a pinnatii leaf) ; these are light green 

 above, glaucous beneath ; the flowei-s are produced 

 from the axils of the leaves on slender red peduncles, 

 pendulous and bell-shaped, fringed round the edge, 

 yellowish-red, forming a eontinuous line of pendu- 

 lous bells all along the back of the slender branches. 

 It blooms several times during the season. Siam. 

 The proper name is Phyllanthus pallidif alius. 



Khynchospermum. — More correctly Pare- 

 chites, but usage has so thoroughly connected the 

 name with this plant in the horticultural world, that 

 we retain it here ; it must not, however, be con- 

 founded with a genus of the same name belonging to 

 Composiia. The genus now under consideration 

 belongs to the order Apocynacecu ; the species are 

 woody climbers, producing Jasmine - like flowers. 



Pot in peat and loam in equal parts, adding a little 

 sharp sand. In winter, Intermediate House ; when 

 growing, stove. 



E. jasminoides. — A ,woody climber with opposite 

 leathery-green leaves ; the flowers are produced in 

 clusters at the ends of all the branches, pure white, 

 and very fragrant. It is a beautiful plant for a 

 rafter, or trained over a trellis. Also known as 

 Farechites Thunhergii, but the correct name is Trache- 

 lospermiim jasminoides. Winter and spring months. 

 Japan. 



Eivina. — A small genus of undershrubs belong- 

 ing to the order Fhytolaccacets, or Bloodberry family ; 

 they are less conspicuous for their flowens than their 

 numerous highly-coloured berries, about the size of 

 small Peas ; like many of these soft-growing under- 

 shrubs they require to be well cared for, or they 

 present a wretched appearance. Pot in peat and 

 loam ; syringe freely, to prevent the ravages of red 

 spider. Stove. 



R. liuihills. — A small shrub with slender branches, 

 and soft, alternate, light green leaves. It has long 

 spikes of small white flowers, which are succeeded by 

 bright scarlet berries ; these remain upon the plant 

 for months. Tropical America, &c. 



R. tinctoria. — In growth and general appearance 

 vesemhling . hicmilis ; the berries, however, are deep 

 rich purple. Tropical America, &c. 



Rogiera. — This must not be confounded with the 

 genus Rogeria; it belongs to the order Rubiacece. 

 The genus is now included under Rondehtia. Pot 

 in peat, leaf-mould, loam, and sand, in about equal 

 parts ; water moderately. Intermediate House. 



R. gratissima. — Leaves opposite, coriaceous, and 

 deep green ; flowers pi'oduced in large terminal 

 corymbs, similar to an Ixoi-a, rosy-pink in colour, 

 and very fragrant. It is almost a perpetual bloomer. 

 Las Caipas. 



. Eondeletia. — A large genus of handsome flower- 

 ing shrubs, belonging to Rubiacem ; they have op- 

 posite leaves, and dense branched heads of showy 

 flowers, usually terminal, but sometimes axillary. 

 Pot in equal parts of loam, peat, and sand ; drain 

 well, and water liberallj'. Stove. 



E. Purdei — leaves oblong- 

 lanoeolate, oMuse, deep 

 greeu above, paler below. 

 Flowers pale yellow or 

 lemon-colour, very sweet, 

 produced iu dense ter- 

 minal and axillary co- 

 lumns. Summer months. 

 New Grenada, &c. 



E. speciosa — this is said to 

 be more correctly named 

 B. odorata. Leaves oppo. 



site, ovate-cordate, some- 

 what rugose, and dark 

 green. Flowers rich ver- 

 milion with a deep 

 orange-yellow eye. Sum- 

 mer and autumn montlis. 

 Havana. 

 E. odorata major — similar 

 to the x^recediug, hut the 

 flowers are brilliant scar- 

 let with orange eye. Sum- 

 mer months. Havana. 



