354 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



Darlingtonia. — A genus of Xorth American 

 "Pitcher Plants" [Sarraceniacece) , nearly allied to 

 Sarracenia, yet very distinct in appearance, and 

 especially in being entirely destitute of the large 

 umbrella-like stigma so conspicuous in that genus. 

 The soil for the only member of the genus should be 

 peat and sphagnum moss. During the summer sea- 

 son these plants enjoy almost tropical heat, but 

 thrive in a lower 

 temperature in 

 winter. Drain the 

 pots well, and 

 water freely. 



D. californica. — 

 This most interest- 

 ing plant was first 

 introduced into 

 this country in a 

 li\dng state about 

 thirty years ago. 

 The leaves all 

 spring from the 

 root, and when 

 mature attain a 

 height of some 

 eighteen inches. 

 These are hollow^, 

 slender at the base, 

 increasing up- 

 wards, the top bent 

 over like a hood, 

 on the under side 

 of which is an ova^. 

 orifice, by which 

 access to the in- 

 terior of the pit- 

 cher is obtained; 

 the blade takes the 

 shape of a trian- 

 gular or two-lobed 

 appendage, which 

 is curved down- 

 wards; ground- 

 colour bright apple-green, becoming darker with 

 age, the upper part marbled and spotted with white, 

 and veined with reddish-pink veins. 



Dasylirion. — Handsome plants belonging to 

 the order LUiacece, which thrive admirably in the 

 green-house during the summer months, but require 

 a cool stove during winter. All are natives of 

 Mexico, and have a somewhat Palm-like stem, bear- 

 ing large and dense heads of narrow rigid leaves, 

 which are spiny at the margins, and are terminated 

 by a little tuft of fibres. The flower- spike rises 

 from amid the leaves, attaining a height of from ten 



to fifteen foot. Pot in a compost of loam two parts^ 

 peat and sand one part, drain well, and during sum- 

 mer water freely, but in winter very little will 

 sufiice. Intermediate Ilouse in winter. 



D. acrotriclium — stem some 

 two or three feet high, 

 bearing a large dense head 

 of dark green, rigid, linear 

 leaves, which are about 



DiCHORISANDRA MTJSAICA. 



tlrree feet long, and less- 

 than an inch broad, pro- 

 fusely armed on the mar- 

 gins with small teeth-like 

 spines ; these, when old, 

 point dowTi wards. 

 The variety brevi- 

 folium has much 

 shorter leaves. 

 D. glaucophyllum.— 

 This is a handsome 

 plant, as also is the 

 variety latifolium. 

 It bears a dense 

 head of narrow 

 leaves, .which are 

 nearly tnirty inch- 

 es long, and deep 

 bluish-green . 

 D. plumosum. — This 

 grand plant may be 

 compared to an en- 

 larged form of the 

 first-named species 

 (D. acrotrichum), 

 the leaves being 

 both longer and 

 broader. 

 D. serratifolium — a 

 distinct and bold 

 plant, with a stout 

 stem, bearing a 

 dense head of broad 

 leaves about three 

 feet long, armed on 

 the margins with 

 distant, long, white 

 teeth - like spines, 

 colour on both sur- 

 faces bluish-green. 



Davidsonia. 



— This is a genus 

 of recent introduc- 

 tion, which is said 

 to produce a large 

 and delicious edi- 

 ble fruit. It is, 

 however, as a stove 

 ornament we in- 

 troduce the only 

 known species. I). 



pruriens is a handsome plant, with bold, spreading, 

 hirsute leaves. These are alternate, unequally pin- 

 nate, but usuaUy bearing five or six pairs of leaflets, 

 and an odd one ; these when young are of a vinous- 

 red, changing with age to a deep green. It has 

 neither produced flowers nor fruit in this coimtry. 

 Pot in loam, leaf-mould, and peat, in about equal 

 parts, adding a fair proportion of sharp sand, di-ain 

 well, and water freely. 



Desmodium. — A genus of Leguminosce, contain- 

 ing many species. We confine our remarks, how- 

 ever, to one only, which is perhaps the most extra- 



