ox PALMS, CYCADS, AND BAMBOOS. 



86l 



height, and are suitable for pot cultivation in the conservatory or 

 greenhouse, growing in tufts, and having variegated leaves. 

 . A. Metake (yBambiisa japonica) is of rather dwarf and branched 

 habit, forming a handsome specimen, 4ft. to 6ft. in height, 

 extremely free flowering, and produces persistent lanceolate 

 deep green leaves ; it is very useful for sub-tropical gardening. 

 A. Simonii {Bambusa Simonii)^ a very rapid growing conservatory 

 plant, attains a height of about loft., and produces long narrow 

 leaflets, some of which are green and others often white. 



Arundo. — Another very ornamental group, very closely allied 

 to Bambusa, and composed of half-hardy plants, which become 

 quite hardy in the southern counties or in close proximity to 

 the sea. Arundos are excellent for sub-tropical gardening, and 

 may be employed with great success in landscape \vork. They 

 do not present any cultural difficulties, only seeming to prefer a 

 rather moist soil. Propagation is effected by seeds or by divisions 

 of the crown. A. conspiaia is a valuable species, being nearly 

 hardy; still, it is best grown in the conservatory. It produces 

 long curving green leaves, and bears large ornamental panicles of 

 flowers; its height varies from 3ft. to loft., and it forms an 

 excellent plant for su])-tropical gardening. A. Donax is another 

 handsome plant, producing large glaucous leaves, which are 

 very ornamental, and bearing numerous spikelets of flowers : 

 it varies in height from 8ft. to loft., and may successfully be 

 employed for various landscape works, being extremely robust 

 and a free grower. A. D. variegata is very largely grown on 

 account of its decorative properties ; it produces long leaves, striped 

 with green and white. Unfortunately it is rather difficult to 

 propagate. The best plan is to cut off the stems and place 

 them in water in a warm pit, when they will break at the joints, 

 and form small plants, which can be removed and potted. This 

 variety seldom exceed 3ft. in height. A. mauritaiiica is closely 

 allied to A. Do?tax, reaching sometimes a height of i8ft. ; 

 unhappily, this species is little known, and seems as if it will 

 remain so for a long period ; it forms a handsome plant for the 

 greenhouse. 



Bambusa. — Under this very familiar genus many others have 

 been several times classed, and it is in most cases extremely 

 difficult to recognise any of theii' representatives. But the true 

 Bambusa form some valuable decorative plants for greenhouse 

 ornamentation or for sub-tropical gardening. They are partly 

 half hardy, requiring a position more or less protected from 

 sharp, cold winds, &c., but are quite hardy in the South. 

 Bambusas, like their relatives, are very easily cultivated ; they 

 delight in a fresh moist soil during the growing period, and 

 in w^inter water must be given with care. Propagation is 

 eff'ected by divisions when the plant has just started growth. 



