318 



CASSELL'S POPULAE GARDENING. 



to a point, and sparingly toothed at the edges ; 

 flowers in short racemes near the tops of the shoots, 

 drooping, flowers numerous, tuhular, with promi- 

 nent ribs, rich yellow, a colour rarely found in this 

 order of plants. North-eastern India; 400 to 500 

 feet elevation. 



F. rugosum. — A somewhat lax -growing shrub, 

 forming a thick, gouty stem, and growing natui^ally 

 upon the branches of the large forest trees ; leaves 

 broadly-lanceolate, tapering to a point, and toothed 

 at the edges ; these, when young, are tinged -with. 

 reddish-purple, becoming deep green with age ; 

 flowers drooping, on long foot-stalks ; tubes sharply 

 five-angled, shining white, 

 transversely banded with 

 lines of cinnamon, and 

 tipped with green ; calyx 

 large, blood-red; springand 

 early summer. Northern 

 India. 



Phaenocoma. — A 



showy member of the As- 

 teracecR, known also as 

 Selichrysum, from which 

 genus, however, it differs 

 in the arrangement of the 

 florets. For culture, see 

 Aphelexis, to which it is 

 nearly allied. 



F. prolifera. — The only 

 species ; has curious small 

 granular leaves, which are 

 densely set on the woolly 

 stems; the flower -heads 

 are terminal and very 

 showy ; the texture is dry 

 and chaffy; colour reddish-crimson, 

 summer months. Cape of Good Hope. 



F. proUfera Barnesii is similar in habit of growth 

 to the species ; but the flowers are of a uniform rich 

 deep crimson. Summer and autumn months. Of 

 garden origin. 



Phormium. — The one species in this genus of 

 Liliacece is popularly known as the New Zealand 

 Flax ; it contains a great quantity of very strong 

 fibre, which the natives prepare and make articles of 

 clothing from, (Src. ; but there is some peculiarity 

 about it which prevents it coming into the European 

 market. 



Phormium is an extremely ornamental plant, and 

 quickly attains a large size; pot in rich loam, and 

 increase by division. 



It is found only in New Zealand and Norfolk 

 Island. 



Phormium Tenax. 



F. tenax. — Leaves erect, five to six feet or more 

 long ; ensiform ; arranged in a two-ranked (dis- 

 tichous) manner ; sheathing at the base, and deep 

 shining green in colour. 



This plant is quite hardy in many parts of the 

 kingdom ; forms a noble ornament in the conserva- 

 tory, and is very effective in the open air during 

 summer. 



P. tenax Colefisoi variegatum. — This is a highly 

 ornamental plant ; less robust than the type, and 

 consequently better adapted for green-houses of 

 smaller dimensions ; the habit is more erect ; leaves 

 bright green, with a broad white marginal band. 



P. tenax variegatum. — 

 Similar in size and habit 

 to the type ; leaves dark 

 gi-een, with longitudinal 

 bands of rich yellowish- 

 white. 



P. tenax atropurptircnm. 

 — A small-growing form, 

 the leaves being of a beau- 

 tiful deep reddish-purple 

 colour throughout. 



P. tenax Veitchii varie- 

 gatum. — In habit somewhat 

 resembling P. Cole n sol ; 

 but the leaves, instead of 

 being bordered with white, 

 are striped with bright 

 golden-yellow. 



There are numerous 

 other varieties. AU are 

 beautiful, and aU have 

 some distinctive character. 



Spring and 



Pimelea. — A large 

 family of slender-growing, handsome shi'ubs, be- 

 longing to the order Thymelacece. When well grown 

 they are imequalleJ for public exhibition, and are 

 equally valuable as home decorators. 



In potting, use a mixture of two parts peat, one 

 part light loam, and a fair proportion of sharp sand ; 

 they require great care in watering, just keeping 

 them in the happy medium between wet and dry 

 during the growing season ; shade from the strong 

 sunshine, and during the latter part of summer 

 place them in a cool frame, where they may obtain a 

 free circulation of air and shelter from heay\' rains. 

 A watchful eye must be kept upon them during 

 winter, to keep mildew or damp from injuring their 

 foliage, 



Pimeleas are natives of Australia and New Zea- 

 land. 



P. decussata. — Leaves opposite and set crossways 

 (decussate) ; dark green on the upper side, paler 



