156 



THE GAEDENEE'S ASSISTANT. 



Stephanotis floribunda. — A robust twiner, with deep- 

 green ovate foliage of leathery substance, from the axils 

 of which the tubular, white fragrant flowers are borne 

 freely in large bunches. Loam and peat. Cuttings. 



Steelitzia regince. — A stately - growing plant, with 

 large, spoon-shaped, green leaves, and tall scapes of yellow 

 and blue flowers issuing from a boat-shaped sheath ; var. 

 citrina has lemon-yellow flowers. S. Augusta and S. Nicola i 

 are tall-stemmed Musa-like plants, fit only for large houses. 

 Loam. Division. 



Streptocarpus. See p. 516. 



Strobilanthes. — Several species of this genus of 

 shrubby Acanthads are worth growing for their blue 

 tubular flowers, and S. gossypinus has attractive velvety 

 foliage. S. Di/erianus is remarkable for the rich colour 

 assumed by its foliage, especially during youth and when 

 in vigorous condition, the leaves, which are nearly a foot 

 long, being coloured rich steel-blue, purple, and magenta. 

 It is best when grown in a hot, moist, shaded position. 

 Cuttings. Any light soil. 



Tabern/emontana coronaria flore-pleno. — A Gardenia- 

 like shrub of medium size and free-growing habit; the 

 flowers, which are double and pearly-white, are borne on 

 the points of the young shoots in July. Peat and loam. 

 Cuttings. 



Theophrasta imperialis. — A large stately - growing 

 plant, with a stout erect stem, from which proceed im- 

 mense oblong, glossy-green undulated leaves, armed with 

 strong spines on the edge. Loam. 



Thunbergia. — Vigorous twining plants that require a 

 good deal of room. Loam. Cuttings. T. grandifiora pro- 

 duces in the summer a succession of large racemes of large 

 pale-blue flowers; var. alba lias milk-white flowers. T. 

 laurifolia (ffarrisii) is similar. T. alata, with its hand- 

 some black-eyed buff flowers, is a free-flowering stove 

 annual. T. affinis, a more shrubby plant, with purplish- 

 violet flowers with yellow throat, and T. [Meyenia) erecta, 

 with its variety alba, are useful pot-plants, and form 

 shapely little shrubs. 



Thyrsacanthus rutiUms. — An erect, rather leggy plant, 

 with lanceolate leaves, and in winter numerous elegant, 

 long, drooping panicles of bright-crimson tubular flowers. 

 Loam. Cuttings. 



Tibouchina (Melastoma and Pleroma). — Handsome 

 shrubs of easy cultivation, requiring liberal root-space, a 

 light soil, and plenty of water whilst growing. They are 

 attractive even when not in flower. They produce their 

 large, flat, purple-blue flowers in autumn and winter. 

 The best are T. Benthamiana, T. elegans, T. heteromalla, 

 and T. semidecandra. 



Tillandsia (including Vriesia). — A large genus of 

 Bromeliacese, comprising plants of very varied size and 

 habit, from T. Regina, of the dimensions of the American 

 Aloe, to the pigmy T. ionantha, which might be hidden in 

 a Walnut shell. The Spanish Moss or Old-Man's Beard, 

 T. umeoides, is another extreme form. Some species 

 never develop roots, their duties being apparently per- 

 formed by the leaves. Peat and leaf -mould. Suckers and 

 seeds. The following have handsome flowers: T. car- 

 dinalis, T. coraUina, T. Devansayana, T. Duvaliana, T. 

 yloriom, T. hieroglyphica, T. Lindeni (fig. 681), var. minor, 

 T. psittacina, T. Poelmani, T. Bex, T. splendens (zebrina), 

 T. tesscllata, and T. Vigersii. 



Torenia. — A genus of herbaceous trailers, which are 

 best raised from seeds in early spring and treated as re- 

 commended for Achimenes. They are useful for edging 

 borders or to furnish the front of stages. Also excellent 

 basket plants. The sorts grown are T. asiatica, blue and 



purple; T. Fournieri, blue and purple; and T. flava (Bail- 

 loni), yellow. 



ToxicoPHLiEA {Acohanthera) spectabilis. — A sturdy 

 evergreen shrub, which may be grown on a pillar; the 

 flowers, which are white, very fragrant, and clustered, are 

 produced from the points of the shoots and in the axils 

 of the leaves in winter. Loam. Cuttings. 



Urceolina aurea. — A small bulbous plant related to 

 Eucharis, but with smaller foliage than E. grandifiora, 



Fig. 681.— Tillandsia Lindeni. 



and scapes 6 to 9 inches high, bearing umbels of pendu- 

 lous yellow and green urn-shaped flowers. When the 

 leaves wither the bulbs should be rested on a dry shelf. 

 Urccocharis Clibraui is a hybrid between this and 

 Eucharis grandifiora. Peat and loam. 



Utricularia. — Remarkable little herbaceous plants, 

 the roots of some of them bearing bladders which are 

 utilized to trap insects as a source of food. They have 

 strap-shaped, ovate, or peltate leaves, and erect spikes of 

 flowers. They all like to be grown in wet moss in shade. 

 U. Endrcsii has rosy-purple flowers an inch across; U. 

 ionantha, U. longifolia (Forgetiana), and U. nelumbifolia, 

 bright-blue flowers, and U. montana, white flowers. The 

 last-named is the easiest to cultivate. 



VlNCA rosea. — A free-growing herbaceous plant, about 

 a foot high, bearing all through the summer from the 

 points of the shoots pretty red-eyed flowers. The variety 

 cdba has white flowers. Loam. Cuttings. 



Wormia Burbidgei. — A robust shrub, with erect, woody 

 stems, bearing large, flat, glossy-green leaves, and axillary 

 racemes of large bright-yellow flowers suggestive of those 

 of St. John's Wort. The base of the young leaf 

 the stem in a peculiar manner. Loam. Cuttings. 



