822 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



another handsome dwarf-growing species, producing entire leaves, 

 bifid at the apex, varying from 6in. to Sin. in length, and they 

 are of a dark green colour. 



C. glancifolia is one of the most decorative of the genus, 

 producing a slender stem with long and pinnate leaves ; their 

 narrow, plume-like pinnse are long and slender, of a very rich 

 green, suffused w^ith a glaucous hue. C. gramijiifoUa (Fig. 551) is a 

 very graceful species on account of its elegant habit ; the plant in 

 general has the appearance of a plume of feathers, and possesses 

 a quite distinct reed-like stem ; the leaves, which vary from 2ft. 

 to 4ft. in length, are pinnate, beautifully arched, and of a dark 

 glaucous green, with upward pinnse. C. macrospadix is one of 

 the largest-growing kinds, and is a very handsome species, 

 producing a rather stout stem, with pinnate leaves, prettily 

 curved, and reaching 4ft. in length ; the pinnae vary from i2in. 

 to I Sin. by 2in. broad, and are of a deep green. C. Martiana 

 (C atrovirens) is quite a distinct species, of very useful dwarf 

 habit, producing numerous little dichotomous stems. It could 

 be utilised with success for room decoration. The leaves are 

 pinnate and spreading ; the pinnse, which are pendent, vary from 

 6in. to 9in. long, and are of a rich green. C. microphylla is a 

 pretty and rare species of elegant habit, producing some branching 

 flower-spikes from under the crown of leaves ; in its earliest 

 itate it has a dark green slender stem, with pinnate and arched 

 leaves varying from 5in. to loin. in length; the pinnse are ovate- 

 caudate, reaching 4in. long, and are a very deep green. C. oblon- 

 gata (C liinata) is a very valuable species for room and table 

 decoration, possessing a rather stout stem, with long pinnate leaves 

 of a dark green ; the pinnse are more or less lunate. C. Sartorii 

 (C. mexicana and Morenia oblongata co?tferta) is an excellent 

 species, and the illustration (Fig. 550) gives a good idea of its 

 beauty ; it, however, possesses a certain analogy with C. elegans^ 

 although it produces longer leaves, having broader pinnse, and 

 carrying a denser crown of leaves. C. tenella is a very distinct 

 species, known as one of the most diminutive species of the genus 

 — in fact, of the whole Natural Order. It produces some ebracteate 

 and ebracteolate spikes, bearing yellow flowers ; the leaves, w^hich 

 do not exceed 5in. in length and 3in. in width, have short petioles 

 of a spreading habit, and are convex and bifid for a part of their 

 length ; the nerves vary from eight to nine pairs. C. Tepejiloti 

 is a species worth growing on account of its graceful habit, but 

 unhappily it is rather rare in cultivation ; it produces a slender 

 stem, with pinnate leaves, and pendent pinnae of a shiny dark 

 green ; the whole plant seldom exceeds loft. in height. 

 C. Warscewiczii is another elegant sort, having a slender stem, 

 with long, pinnate, light green leaves, beautifully curved ; the 

 pinnse are somewhat broad, sessile, and tapering to a point ; the 

 terminal pinnae are broad and bifid. C. Weiidlandii is a useful 



