60 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENIXG. 



Alpiiiia. — This family of plants is nearly re- 

 lated to the Gingerworts [Zlngibcraccce) ; it contains 

 many handsome species, but it is long since they 

 were fashionable. The name commemorates the 

 celebrated Italian physician and botanist, Prosper 

 Alpini, who resided in Egyi)t upwards of three 

 hundred years 

 ago. 



A. nutans^ some 

 years back, was a 

 general favomite. 

 The whole plant 

 is very aromatic, 

 and its drooping 

 spike of white 

 flowers have a 

 very pearl - like 

 appearance. A. 

 Gcdanga produces 

 the aromatic root 

 of commerce 

 known as " Ga- 

 langa," which is 

 used in cases 

 of indigestion ; 

 whilst the fruits 

 of A. alba are 

 known as *' China 

 Cardamom s." 

 These plants en- 

 joy rich loamy 

 soil, and an ab- 

 sence of heat and 

 moisture. 



A.viilafa.—Tl\n9 

 species is about 

 the only member 

 of the genus now 

 to be found in 

 our hot-houses, 

 saving in strictly 

 botanic gardens, 

 and this has found 

 favour on account 

 of its variegated 

 foliage ; it has 

 stout under- 

 groTmd creeping rhizome 

 stems bearing numerous 



Alocasia Thibautiaita 



whieh produce reed-like 

 narrow yellowish - green 

 leaves, which are variously striped with deep green 

 and creamy- white. South Sea Islands. 



Amasonia. — This contains but a few species, 

 all of which, however, are more or less beautiful ; 

 they belong to the Verbenaceous order, and are easily 

 cultivated in the stove if treated in the same 



manner as recommended for Eranthemums and other 

 Acanthads. 



A. punicea. — This is a plant of recent introduction, 

 and the most beautiful of all the species hitherto 

 discovered. Leaves somewhat oblong-lanceolate, 

 coarsely serrated at the margins, nine to twelve 



inches long, and 

 pale green ; pe- 

 duncle erect, rich 

 crimson, beaidng 

 long narrow bril- 

 liant crimson- 

 scarlet bracts, 

 which last many 

 weeks in full 

 beauty. Floweis 

 long and tubular; 

 pale yellow, but 

 they do not last 

 in perfection so 

 long as the bracts. 

 Amasonias are 

 all natives of 

 tropical America, 

 the majority be- 

 ing found in 

 Brazil ; this spe- 

 cies is widely dis- 

 tributed. Autumn 

 and winter. Tro- 

 pical America. 

 Correct name, A. 

 calyc'ma. 



Amherstia. 



— A genus of 

 L e fj u III i n s <B , 

 named in honom- 

 of the Countess 

 Amherst. It con- 

 tains but one spe- 

 cies, and -'when 

 in flower it is said 

 to be one of the 

 most superb ob- 

 jects imaginable, 

 unrivalled in 

 India or any other part of the w^orld." There is some- 

 thing of mystery attached to this plant, inasmuch as 

 it has never been found in a perfectly wild state, but 

 was discovered in the gardens of a monastery near 

 Martaban, and these were evidently under cultivation. 

 The flowers of this plant, which the Bm-mese caU 

 " Thoka," are strewn in profusion as votive offerings 

 before the images of Buddha. This plant requires 

 very strong heat, shade, and a very moist atmosphere ; 



