538 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



Luculia gratissima (fig. 655). One of the most showy 

 of greenhouse plants. It forms a large bush 8 to 12 feet 

 high, clothed with oval leaves 6 inches long. The flowers 



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Fig. 655.— Luculia gratissima 



are very fragrant, rose-coloured, and are developed in large 

 terminal cymose heads in summer. L. Pinceana differs in 

 having white flowers and narrower leaves. Peat and 

 loam. Pot or border. Cuttings. 



Lycoris. — Bulbous plants from China and Japan, 

 resembling Nerines in habit and requiring much the 

 same treatment. The four species in cultivation are: 

 L. aurca, with large umbels of erect golden blossoms ; L. 

 radiata {Ncrine japonica), with pink flowers; L. sanguinea, 

 with red flowers ; and L. squamigera, with large bluish- 

 pink flowers. This last is as hardy as Amaryllis Bella- 

 donna. 



Macleana. — Vaccinium-like plants of scandent habit. 

 The best known are: M. pulchra, from Colombia, with 

 long shoots, leathery oblong leaves, and clusters of scarlet 

 and yellow tubular flowers; M. punctata, from Ecuador, 

 has cordate leaves and rosy-red flowers. Peat. Cuttings. 



Magnolia. — The following species may be grown in 

 the greenhouse : — 



M. Campbelli . Flowers 10 inches across, pale-rose inside, red 

 outside. Deciduous tree. Himalaya. 



M. fuscata (Michelia fuseata). An evergreen shrub with small 

 purple and yellow fragrant flowers. China. 



;1/. Watsoni. A deciduous bush with large white fragrant 

 flowers. Japan. 



Mandevilla suaveolcns. — A South American deciduous 

 climber with large white Vinca - like flowers borne in 

 summer. Peat and loam. Border. 



Melaleuca. — -Australian Myrtles, of which several are 

 ornamental flowering plants. They grow best in a sunny 

 airy position, and prefer a peaty soil. 



M. decussata. Bushy; small leaves, lilac flowers. 

 M. genistifolia. Strong bush; lanceolate leaves, red flowers. 

 M. Leucadendron (Cajeputi). Large bush; leaves 3 inches 

 long, narrow; flowers white. 

 M. pulchella. Small bush, small oval leaves, red flowers. 

 M. styphelioides. Dense bush, small spiny leaves, white flowers. 



Mesembryanthemum. — Chiefly South African sub- 

 shrubby or herbaceous fleshy -leaved plants with con- 

 spicuous red, white, or yellow flowers. They delight in 

 a compost similar to that usually given to Cacti, and 

 should be perpetually in full sunshine. 



M. blandum. Compact, Ik foot high, large white flowers. 

 M. Brownii (fig. 656). A compact bush 1J foot high, flowers 

 magenta. 

 M. coccineum. Compact bushy habit, brilliant scarlet flowers. 

 M. lacerum. Dwarf; thick, triangular leaves; yellow flowers. 

 M. muricatum. Dense, with small glaucous leaves, flowers red. 

 M. rhomboidenm. Thick, fleshy leaves; yellow flowers. 

 31. uncinellum. Dense mass, with small glaucous leaves. 



Metros id eros. — Evergreen Myrtle-like trees and 

 shrubs with flowers in crowded heads encircling the stem 

 bottle-brush-like, usually white or red. Sandy peat. 



il/. robusta (florida). Leaves oblong glabrous; heads of bright- 

 red flowers. 



M. scandens. A scandent shrub which climbs by means of 

 stem-roots. It has small Box-like leaves and white flowers. 



M. tomentosa. A large bushy tree with oblong leaves and 

 terminal heads of crimson flowers. 



Mimulus glutinosus {Diplacus) is worth a place in the 

 greenhouse. It is a small shrub with ovate leaves and 

 salmon-coloured flowers an inch across, produced freely 

 for the greater part of the year. Var. coccineus has red 

 flowers. Loam. Cuttings. 



Mitraria coccinca, a shrubby Gesneriad from Chili, 

 has small ovate leaves and tubular scarlet flowers an inch 



Fig. 656.— Mesembryanthemum Brownii. 



long, resembling those of Gesnera. Peat, or peat and loam. 

 Cuttings. 



Monochaetum. — Pleroma-like shrubs with freely- 



