542 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



minate leaves and yellow flowers over an inch across, and 

 R. trigyna, similar in habit, but with three instead of four 

 styles. India. Loam and peat. 



PiK. G62— Reinwardtia tetragyna.. 



Rhodochiton vol ub lie, the only species, is a climbing 

 Mexican plant with cordate leaves and reddish calyces, 

 with nearly black corollas, freely produced. Loam and 

 peat. Excellent as a screen. 



Ru bus.— Several species are handsome plants, and ser- 

 viceable for pillars. Two of the finest are R. Moluccanus, 

 the "Himalayan Blackberry", with large handsome leaves 

 and large black fruit in dense clusters, and R. reflexus, 

 with smaller hastate leaves and white flowers. 



Salvia. — A large genus of herbaceous plants, several of 

 which are useful for the greenhouse. They are of easy 

 culture. Cuttings root readily in spring, or seeds may be 

 sown in February. The young plants should be kept 

 growing, and placed outside in June, feeding them when 

 required. Flowering season, autumn and winter. A 

 few showy species are — 



S. azurca. Loose bush 6 feet high; bright- blue flowers in long 

 spikes in great profusion. N. America. 



S. coccinea. Bushy plant, long racemes of red flowers. N. 

 America. 



S. involucrata, var. Betnelli. Good bush, large leaves, reddish- 

 purple flowers. 



S. splendens. One of the best of winter-flowering plants for 

 the conservatory Bushy plant with long racemes of bright- 

 scarlet flowers. Brazil. Of this there are several varieties, var. 

 grandiftora being the best. It has very long racemes and large 

 flowers. 



Schizanthus. — Chilian annuals, notable for their 

 showy flowers. S. planatus grows 3 feet high, has small 

 pinnatifid leaves, and lilac or violet flowers. S. retusus 

 grows quite as high, and lias red flowers. 



Senecio. — The " Cineraria " of gardens is said to have 

 originated from & cruentus. All are of easy cultivation, 

 requiring rich loamy soil. 



S. cruentus. Biennial, i feet high, large leaves; inflorescences 

 2 feet across, flowers mauve-purple. Canaries. 



S. grandifolius (Ghiesbreghtii). Tall shrub 10 feet high, large 

 leaves, terminal heads of yellow flowers in winter. Mexico. 



S. Heritieri. Bushy plant 3 feet high, whitish leaves, large 

 heads of white flowers, fragrant, edged with pink. Canaries. 



S. laxifolius. Like £. grandifolius, with rounder leaves and 

 looser heads of flowers. New Zealand. 



S. macroglossus (fig. 663), "Cape Ivy". A quick -growing 

 climber with Ivy-like leaves, and sulphur-yellow flowers neai ly 

 2 inches across, produced in winter. Loam. Cuttings. S. Africa. 



S. populifolius. An erect plant with roundish leaves white 

 on the under surface, and Daisy-like flowers nearly an inch across, 

 pink and white. Canaries. 



Smilax. — Several tender species are useful for draping 

 large pillars or as trailers. Loam. 



S. aspera has small hastate leaves, sometimes green sometimes 

 with white spots. S. Europe. 



S. australis. An Australian plant with large ovate leaves; 

 very strong grower. 



S. macropliylla. Strong grower, with large ovate leaves, green 

 spotted white. E. Indies. 



Solan um. — The shrubby or scandent species with 

 Potato-like flowers and often ornamental fruit are useful 

 for the conservatory. Loam. Seeds or cuttings. 



S. aviculare, "Kangaroo Apple", 3 feet, entire or pinnatifid 

 leaves, large blue flowers, scarlet fruit. 



S. capsicastrum, the "Winter Cherry". A perennial bush 2 

 feet high, with small green leaves, white flowers, and round oi 

 oval, bright-red, Cherry-like fruit. Brazil. 



■J 

 U 



wVWm- 



Fig. 663.— Senecio macroglossus. 



S. jasminoides. Strong climber, small leaves, large pendulous 

 heads of white flowers. Brazil. 



S. macrocarpum. Biennial with large spiny leaves and scarlet 

 Tomato-like fruit. Trop. Africa. 



S. Melongena, the "Egg Plant". An annual with large leaves 



