HOT-HOUSE OR STOVE PLANTS. 



57 



^chmea. — A genus of plants belonging to the 

 Pine-apple family {Bromeliacece) , and deriving their 

 namefiom aiclune, " a point," in reference to the stiff 

 points of the calyx. They are all natives of tropi- 

 cal America, and are oftentimes found growing as 

 epiphytes in the company of Orchids, Ferns, and 

 other plants, on the stems and branches of the 

 forest trees. Their leaves are arranged in 

 a rosulate manner, the bases of the leaves 

 closely imbricating, so as to form a hollo-w- 

 in the centre, capable of holding water ; 

 and this should be always kept filled. 

 jVIany of the small-growing kinds thiive 

 best when grown upon a block of wood ; 

 the larger kinds, however, succeed better 

 treated as pot- plants, the soil being com- 

 posed of peat and loam in equal parts. 



ccelcstis.—'Lea.yes linear- oblong, the 

 edges armed with 

 closely-set short 

 spines, deep 

 green, but faintly 

 barred trans- 

 versely with a 

 paler hue ; the 

 peduncle stout, 

 bearing a large, 

 dense raceme; 

 bracts rosy -pur- 

 ple ; calyx pale 

 brown; petals a 

 lovely pale blue. 

 Summer months. 

 Brazil. 



uE. discolor. — 

 Leaves broad and 



recurved, green above, purple below ; the panicle 

 branched, destitute of bracts ; calyx coral-red, tipped 

 with black ; petals twisted, and dull purple. Summer 

 months. Brazil. 



distiacaniha. — Leaves linear - oblong acute, 

 glaucous-green, the edges distantly armed with red- 

 dish spines ; panicle furnished with numerous large 

 and showy bright red bracts, which greatly add to 

 the display ; calyx rose-colour ; the petals of a deep 

 bluish-purple hue. Summer months. San Paulo, 

 Brazil. 



fiilgens. — Leaves somewhat narrow, spiny at 

 the edges ; the flower-spike rather short, slightly 

 branched, ornamented with bright scarlet bracts ; 

 flowers scarlet, tipped with blue. Late summer and 

 autumn months. Cayenne. 



glomerata. — Leaves quite smooth, upwards of 

 two feet long, and nearly six inches broad ; linear- 

 oblong, distantly armed on the edges with short and 

 stout black spines ; dull green ; scape erect, eight to 



-3]CHMEA MINIATA DISCOLOK. 



twelve inches high, bearing its flowers in alternate 

 glomerate panicles, in which the large bracts are 

 bright red, the petals deep blue. Spring months. 

 Bahia. 



JIarice Eegince. — Very robust ; leaves some 

 eighteen inches long, armed with sprues at tht 

 edges, dark green; spike erect, the lower portior 

 bearing numerous, very large boat-shaped 

 bracts, of a rich magenta, flushed with a 

 shade of rose ; raceme dense, flowers tipped 

 with a deep blue, which changes with age 

 to rosy-pink. Its beautiful bracts last 

 months in full beauty. Spring months. 

 Costa Eica. 



■ M. Melinoni. — Leaves one to two feet 

 long, spiny at the edges, and dark green ; 

 scape erect, more than a foot high, bear- 

 ing a many -flowered panicle, the middle 

 branches being 

 the largest; 

 flowers rich scar- 

 let, tipped with 

 pink. Summer 

 months. Brazil. 



jE. Veitchn. — 

 This species 

 forms a pretty 

 rosette-like plant ; 

 the leaves strap- 

 shaped, upwards 

 of a foot long, 

 and about two 

 inches wide, finely 

 toothed at the 

 edges, pale green, 

 with some spots 

 of a darker hue ; flowers produced in a dense, oblong, 

 bractiate head, some six inches or more long, flowers 

 and bracts bright scarlet. Summer months. New 

 Grenada. 



iEschynantlius.— These are beautiful flower- 

 ing plants, belonging to the order Gesneracece. The 

 majority of the species thrive best potted in a mix- 

 ture of peat and Sphagnum moss, and they should be 

 placed in hanging baskets and suspended from the 

 roof. Naturally, M^ehynanthus are epiphytal, their 

 pendent stems and clusters of showy flowers hanging- 

 down amongst the branches of the forest trees ha-vdng 

 a gorgeous effect. They enjoy strong heat, and an 

 abundance of water both to the roots and in the 

 atmosphere. 



cordifolius. — Leaves heart-shaped, thick and 

 fleshy, smooth, dark green above, paler on the under 

 side. Flowers tubular, produced in large axillary 

 clusters; tube orange inside, red without; limb 



