(i8) 



tively few species are found, while in very cold countries they 

 are entirely absent. Most of the tropical forms are epiphytes, 

 that is, they grow upon trees and usually have bulb-like or 

 thickened stems and fleshy leaves for the conservation of 

 their water supply, as, from their habitat, this supply must 

 be precarious. In temperate regions nearly all of the species 

 are terrestrial, and have thin leaves, the soil about their roots 

 serving to protect them from the cold and also giving them a 

 more constant water supply : they do not, therefore, need 

 pseudobulbs or thickened stems. Coming from all parts of 

 the world as they do, their blooming time varies greatly, so 

 that at almost any time of the year, be it winter or summer, 

 some of these interesting plants will be found in bloom. 



Among the palms on the central bench the most interesting 

 is the double cocoanut {Lodoicea maldivica), a native of the 

 Seychelles Islands, also known as the coco de mer, and coco 

 des Maldives, and one of the rarest palms in cultivation ; in 

 the specimen here shown the upper portion of the seed may be 

 seen projecting above the soil. The tree in its native wilds 

 attains a height of ninety feet, bearing aloft a magnificent 

 crown of green leaves which make it an important feature 

 of the landscape. 



Tanks for water -'plants. In the court formed by the con- 

 servatories are two tanks in which are grown a large collec- 

 tion of water-lilies. In the easterly tank are placed the hardy 

 sorts, such as are able to withstand the severe cold of our win- 

 ters, which remain permanently where they are, winter and 

 summer. In the westerly pool are, in the main, the tender 

 kinds, or such as require protection during the winter, and 

 many of these are stored in a warm cellar during winter, and 

 placed on view again in the spring. The most conspicuous 

 of the tender sorts are the royal water-lilies ( Victoria rcgia 

 and Victoria Crnziana'), from South America ; these are not 

 hardy in this climate, and, as they are too large to protect 

 from the cold, they are grown anew from seed each year; 

 the seeds are sown in the propagating houses late in winter, 

 and the young plants placed on view late in the spring or in 

 early summer. 



