170 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



tubular flowers, wliich. are much inflated or bellied 

 out towards the base. There is indeed little to dis- 

 tinguish them from Aloe, but they were separated 

 from that genus by Haworth, who made these plants 

 a special study. There are a considerable number 

 of species ; many of them have their leaves arranged 

 in a two-ranked or distichous manner. The leaves 

 are thick and massive, and rigid in outline, whilst 

 some have a spiral habit of growth. The leaves 

 are mostly tongue-shaped ; some species have rough 

 leaves, caused by little wart-like protuberances all 

 over the skin ; others again are smooth, shining, 

 and very beautifully coloured. In addition to their 

 highly-coloured leaves, the Gasterias produce long- 

 arched spikes of pendulous flowers, which are 

 tubular and mostly some shade of red, tipped with 

 green, and spring from the axils of the leaves during 

 spring and eaidy summer. All are natives of the 

 Cape of Good Hope. For cultivation see Aloe. 



The following are some of the most interesting 

 and handsome species : — 



G. anguina. 

 G. brevifolia. 

 G. bracliyphylla. 

 G. Bowieaua. 

 G. oarinatn. 

 G. caudicans. 

 (t. conspurcata. 

 G. disticlia. 

 G. ensifolia. 

 G. formosa. 

 G. fasciata. 

 G. glabra. 

 G. intermedia. 

 G. lingua. 



G. latifolia. 

 G. IsBvis. 

 G. Isetepimctata. 

 G. maculata. 

 G. nigrieans. 

 G. obliqua. 

 G. obtusifolia. 

 G. pulcLra. 

 G. subnigricans. 

 G. spiralis. 

 G. undata. 

 G. verrucosa. 

 G. vittata. 



Genetyllis. — This genus belongs to the natural 

 order called Fringe -Myrtles, to distinguish them 

 from the order of Mj-rtle-blooms, for although the 

 foliage of the Genetyllis have the fragrance of the 

 latter, there is no other resemblance between them. 



The correct name of the present genus is Dancinia ; 

 it contains about a score of species ; these, kowever, are 

 all handsome plants, characterised by the large cam- 

 panulate involucre encircling their flowers, which is 

 highly coloured and very persistent; to this involucre, 

 which many cultivators look upon as the flower, these 

 plants are indebted for their beauty, whilst in reality 

 the individual flowers are small and unattractive. 



As before remarked, Genetyllis are all highly 

 ornamental plants, and as the involucres are not 

 easily bruised they bear removing well, and thus 

 they are excellent subjects for exhibition purposes. 

 They are plants that require considerable care and 

 attention to grow into good large and well-furnished 

 specimens. The soil we prefer for them is good 

 fibrous peat, with a very little light loam added, and 

 sufficient sand should be mixed with it to render 

 the whole gritty. Good drainage is most essen- 

 tial ; water judiciously, but enough should be given 



to wet the whole mass through, and the roots must 

 never be allowed to become quite dry at any time. 

 The species here enumerated are to be foimd in some 

 collections under the name Sederoma. All are natives 

 of South-west Australia. 



G. Jimbriata. — A charming small-gro\Adng plant, 

 which has the character of being a rather shy 

 bloomer under cultivation ; it is, however, so distinct 

 and beautiful that it well merits a place in every 

 collection; the bell-like involucres are light rose- 

 colour, elegantly fringed around the mouth. Summer 

 months. 



G. Hooker'uota — sometimes called G. fuchsioides — 

 is a stronger-growing plant than the preceding ; all 

 the stems and branches are bright red ; leaves small, 

 dark green above, pale on the under side ; the in- 

 volucres are bright reddish-scarlet and very lasting. 

 Spiing and early summer. 



G. tuUpifera. — As its name implies, the large in- 

 volucres of this species resemble inverted tulips ; it is 

 a strong grower and very free bloomer ; the leaves are 

 stout, about an inch long, and fragrant, dark green 

 on the upper side, paler below ; involucres white or 

 pale yellow, flaked and striped with bright flame- 

 colour and crimson. Spring and early summer. The 

 coi-rect name is Danvinia macrostegia. 



Genista. — A large family of Pea-flowered plants, 

 most of which are hardy and must be passed over in 

 this place. A sprig of Genista was the badge of the 

 Plantagenet kings, and from whence they derived 

 the name, Genet or Planfa Genet of the French, 

 Gen being the Celtic name for a small bush. One 

 species, G. tiuctoria, in former times was in great 

 repute as a dye -plant. 



The green-house species, with which only we shall 

 deal here, are free-growing and compact plants, 

 admirably adapted for all purposes of decoration; 

 the flowers are fragrant and mostly produced during 

 the winter and early spring months, which greatly 

 enhances their value. Genistas succeed well in a 

 light loamy soil. After the flowering season is past 

 they should be pruned back hard in order to in- 

 duce lateral growth, and thus form bushy and 

 well-furnished specimens. After the new growth is 

 made remove the plants to the open air, so that the 

 shoots may be well ripened, and a plentiful crop of 

 flowers insured. They strike \qtj easily from cut- 

 tings, and commence blooming when quite small 

 plants. 



G. Everestiana. — A compact plant with trifoliate 

 dark green leaves, and long spikes of rich orange- 

 yellow ; fragrant flowers. Early spring months. 



G. racemosa. — A somewhat tall plant ; leaves tri- 

 foliate, racemes terminal on all the shoots ; flowers 

 brigrht yeUow and fragrant. Winter months. 



