ON PALMS, CYCADS, AND BAMBOOS. 



833 



the leaflets have a distinctly curly appearance. H. Forsteriana 

 {Kentia Forsteriana)^ the Thatch Palm, is a highly decorative 

 Palm of rather robust habit ; it seems to be very closely allied 

 to the preceding, the principal distinction being in the leaf 

 segments, which mostly hang, while in the other species they 

 are inclined to turn upwards. 



Hyophorbe. — A genus of stove plants, only represented in 

 cultivation by two or three typical species, all of which possess 

 some decorative properties, and are decidedly worth growing. 

 The flowers, which are disposed in spikes, are pure white, and 

 their berries, which resemble Olives, are one-seeded. The leaves ' 

 are terminal and pinnate, and the stems are unarmed. They 

 thrive in a compost of equal parts loam and peat, and need a 

 good supply of water. H. amaricaulis [Areca speciosa) is rather 

 stout and robust in habit ; the stem as well as the petioles are 

 very thick, of a deep maroon colour ; the pinnate leaves are erect 

 in their early state, and spreading when fully developed ; the 

 pinnae are stout, broad, and acuminated. H. Vers chaff eltii {Areca 

 Verschaffeltii) is a beautiful plant. A curious distinction is that the 

 sheath of the leaves forms a kind of triangular, columnar stem ; 

 the pinnate leaves vary from 4ft. to 6ft. long, are nearly erect, and 

 splendidly arching at the top ; and the pinnae are linear-lanceolate 

 and acuminate. 



HYPHif:NE. — Amongst the plants composing this genus only 

 one seems to be in cultivation (ZT. thebaica, the Gingerbread 

 Palm), and that a stove one, with unarmed stem of moderate 

 size; it is simple in its young state, or dichotomously branched when 

 fully developed. The leaves are terminal, with sword-shaped acute 

 or bifid segments ; and the flowers are dioecious, the males being 

 in twos and the females always solitary. It presents a certain 

 amount of cultural difficulties. 



Iriartea. — This small genus of stove Palms is extremely 

 distinct in habit. The stems are supported by a number of 

 cone-like aerial roots. The leaves are pinnate, with trapezoid 

 pinn^. These plants are somewhat rare in collections, and no 

 doubt that is due to their being grown in too dry a place. They 

 succeed fairly well when their pots are partly plunged in water, 

 and they require a sandy compost. /. deltoidea (7. robusta), the 

 species best known in cultivation, is very attractive ; it is entirely 

 spineless, with pinnate leaves and broad sessile pinn^, erose at 

 the apex; the petioles are round and sheathing at the base. 



JUB^A. — Another striking monotypic genus, represented by a 

 very useful species {/. spectabilis) for sub-tropical gardening, and 

 growing splendidly under greenhouse treatment. The flowers, 

 which are deep yellow, are disposed in branching spikes, and 

 enclosed in a double spathe. When fully developed, this species 

 forms one of the noblest Palms amongst our greenhouse kinds. 



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