ON PALMS, CYCADS, AND BAMBOOS. 



821 



C. desmo7icoides (C. scande^ts) is a very pretty species in its early 

 state, and when it reaches a certain size begins to cHmb. This 

 has several times caused mistakes, from which has originated the 

 above synonym. It produces pinnate leaves, which vary from 

 2ft. to 3ft. long, and the pinnse very often reach ift. in length, 

 and are pendent and dark green in colour. C. elatior is a fast- 

 growing climber, useful for the decoration of large stoves. It is 

 thetallest 

 species of the 

 genus. The 

 leaves, which 

 are of a splen- 

 d i d green 

 shade, are 

 pinnate, with 

 rather broad 

 leaflets. C. 

 elegans (C. 

 Hel le r i a na 

 and Kunthia 

 Deppeana) is 

 a species of 

 very elegant 

 habit, pos- 

 sessing a 

 some what 

 stout stem 

 with ])innate 

 leaves, which 

 vary from 2 ft. 

 to 4ft. in 

 length, and 

 are nicely pen- 

 dent; the 

 pinnae, which 

 also vary in 

 length from 

 6in. to 9in., 

 are deep 

 green, and 

 the petioles 



are sheathing at the base. C. Ernesti-Aiigusti (C. simplicifrons) 

 is a charming species, chiefly during its flowering period, the 

 flowers, which are of a scarlet colour, making a fine contrast 

 with the leaves ; the stem is relatively small, and the leaves are 

 broader than those of any other species, and of a rich deep 

 green ; they vary from i8in. to 2ft., and are not less than ift. 

 in breadth. C. geonomcBformis [Nunnezharia geonofnceformis) is 



Fig. 551. — Cham^dorea graminifolia. 



