HOT-HOUSE OR STOVE PLANTS. 



185 



leaves one to two feet long, upper side deep green, 

 with a few oblong, greenish- white dots, under side 

 paler, trans rersely barred with dull greenish-brown; 

 spikes drooping ; flowers greenish-yellow and white, 

 violet at the extreme points ; bracts large, lanceolate- 

 acuminate, bright red in front, paler the reverse side. 

 Autumn months. Central Brazil. 



B. rhodocyanca. — Leaves recurved towards the 

 apex, upwards of a foot long, closely armed on 

 the edges with long black spines, deep green above, 

 the under side slightly paler, transversely banded with 

 irregular white 

 lines ; spikes 

 shorter than the 

 leaves ; flowers 

 white and blue, 

 arranged in a 

 dense head; 

 these are accom- 

 panied with nu- 

 merous oblong- 

 acuminate, rosy- 

 red bracts, which 

 are furnished 

 with spines at 

 the edges. Sum- 

 mer and autumn 

 months. Brazil. 



B. thyrsoidea. 

 — Leaves strap- 

 shaped, tapering 

 to a point, bright 

 green ; flowers 

 numerous ; both 

 flowers and 

 bracts rich crim- 

 son. Summer 

 -months. Brazil. 



the root-room must be very much restricted ; indeed, 

 B. glabra is the only kind we have which conforms 

 kindly to pot-culture, although the others can be 

 grown in this manner also, but they make a far 

 more brilliant spectacle when planted out. Stove in 

 summer ; Intermediate House during winter. 



B. glabra. — This species has slender shoots, armed 

 with a few spines ; leaves small, smooth, and light 

 green ; flowers pale yellow, small, and inconspicuous, 

 surrounded with three large rosy bracts. When 

 grown as a pot-plant, it displays its beauties to the 



greatest advan- 



tage 



trained 



balloon 



trellis. 



tinues 



when 

 upon a 

 - shaped 

 It con- 

 in fuU 



BorGAixviLL^:A spectabilis. 



BougainviUsea. — These plants belong to the 

 natural order Xyctagmacem ; they are strong-gTOw- 

 ing climbers, with small inconspicuous flowers, but 

 they are rendered gorgeously beautiful by the large, 

 persistent, highly-coloured, leafy bracts, which are 

 arranged in threes, and surround the blooms. 



Bougainvillseas should be potted in rich loam, 

 made free and open by the addition of some sharp 

 sand; they enjoy strong heat and an abundant sup- 

 ply of water during the summer ; but during winter 

 the temperature should be much lower, and just 

 sufficient water given to keep the wood from 

 shrivelling. Early in spring, prune the plants, and 

 increase the temperature, gi\Tng plenty of water, 

 both to the roots and also over the foliage with 

 the s^Tinge. These plants, as before remarked, are 

 strong growers, and to preserve them within bounds. 



perfection for 

 several months. 

 South America. 



B. speciosa. — 

 This is a very 

 robust plant; the 

 stem is furnished 

 with stout re- 

 curved spines, 

 and, as well as 

 the leaves, 

 clothed with 

 short, silky 

 haii'S ; it pro- 

 duces dense pen- 

 dulous panicles 

 of rosy - lilac 

 bracts, and it 

 lasts for many 

 months in full 

 beauty. Tropical 

 South America. 

 B. spectabilis. — A smaU tree or climbing plant, the 

 stem armed with small spines ; the panicles are pen- 

 dulous, and the bracts of a rich deep rose-colour. 

 Summer and autumn months. Tropical South 

 America. 



Bowenia. — Named in honour of Sir George 

 Bowen, Governor of Queensland, a zealous supporter 

 of botanical science and explorations. The genus 

 contains but one species, and that is remarkable 

 as being the only known Cycadaceous plant in the 

 world having twice-divided leaves ; thus taking us 

 in fancy back to the time when this order of plants 

 abounded in our own country, when the voices of 

 the Iguanodon, the Megalosaurus, and the Hylaeo- 

 saurus were heard in the land, and marsupial 

 animals were common, which is fully exemplified by 



