ON PALMS, CYCADS, AND BAMBOOS. 



847 



Rhapis. — A genus represented in cultivation by three or four 

 typical slender-growing plants, which form a very ornamental 

 greenhouse group, with fan-shaped leaves, deeply cut into 

 numerous segments. Rhapis are very robust, and grow nearly 

 everywhere. They produce a great quantity of suckers, which 

 may be successfully utilised for reproduction ; these only require 

 to be detached with care, just retaining a few roots. In the 

 case of young suckers a light soil must be used, but for 

 established plants a strong compost, as recommended for 

 Chamccrops^ must be employed. R. flabelliformis [R. aspera) is 

 certainly the best species of the genus, and may be employed 

 for decorative purposes at any time. In its early state it forms 

 an attractive and robust table- 

 decoration plant, on account of 

 its persistent and petioled leaves, 

 divided into five or seven 

 The stem rarely 

 in cultivation, 

 diameter. It is 

 plant for sub- 

 gardening (Fig. 



segments, 

 exceeds, 

 i|in, in 

 a good 

 tropical 



566). There is also a 

 variegated form. R. hiimilis 

 {R. Sirotsik) is closely 

 allied to R. flabelliformis^ 

 but produces larger leaves, 

 with more pendent seg- 

 ments, which increase its 

 beauty. It may be used 

 with great success for table 

 decoration, &c. 



Rhopalostylis. — A 

 handsome but small genus, 

 very well known by growers, 

 and for many years classi- 

 fied under Areca. The 

 two elegant species in 

 cultivation belong to the 

 unarmed greenhouse 

 Palms; they produce 

 terminal leaves, with 

 numerous narrow segments, 



and very short petioles. They require exactly the same treatment 

 as Arecas. R. Baueri {Areca Baueri and Seajorthia robiista) 

 is very well known and largely cultivated ; it has elegant pinnate 

 leaves, from 6ft. to 12ft. long, the pinnae varying from iSin. to 2ft. ; 

 it often reaches a height of 20ft. in our houses, but when young 

 forms one of the finest plants for table decoration (Fig. 567). 



Fig. 567. — Rhopalostylis Baueri. 



