258 THE FLOKIST AND 



named it in honor of the present king of that nation. Dr. Planchon, 

 in describing another variety (citrina) of the same species, says of it, that 

 it is an half shrubby plant, with a simple, erect, somewhat succulent stalk, 

 with large oblong leaves, of a fine green, with bands of ivory white very 

 delicately marked along the middle and lateral nerves, which is, so far, 

 constant ; the present variety differs from the last in greater size of the 

 leaves, by the persistence of the marking which covers the lateral nerves, 

 and by the richness and long duration of its inflorescence. 



Dr Planchon also remarks (in the Flore des serves) that " a striking 

 resemblance in the inflorescence, might at first glance, presuppose more 

 affinity between this plant and the Porphyrocoma lanceolata (Hook. Bot. 

 Mag. t. 4,176) than really exists. On the other hand, the Hydromestus ma- 

 culatus of Scheidweiler, a Mexican plant, omitted in the work on the 

 Acanthaceoe of the Prodomus, is evidently a species of Aphelandra (A 

 maculata, Nob.) a neighbor of the squarrosa, from which it differs by its 

 green, opposite bracts, and its much smaller flowers. 



This plant requires heat, moisture and shade. It is easily increased by 

 cuttings. 



ACANTHACEOUS PLANTS; AND THE CULTURE OF THE 



APHELANDRA. 



The whole family of plants to which the Aphelandra belongs is one of 

 much interest to the floriculturist. It is also one of the oldest in cultiva- 

 tion, and has probably more handsome representatives than any other 

 tribe. 



Known as the family of Acanthaceoe, over one hundred different genera 

 have been described, of which over one-fourth are well known to the writer 

 as containing one or more beautiful species. One of our oldest acquain- 

 tances, one of the first plants to excite our boyish admiration, the 

 Acanthus mollis is well remembered, not only for the beautiful spikes of 

 large blue flowers which it annually produced in the border devoted to hardy 

 herbaceous plants, but also for the interest which attached to it from the 

 leaves having originally suggested the elegant form of the Corinthian capi- 

 tal in architecture. 



Subsequently, our attachment to the tribe was certainly not lessened 



