200 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING, 



corymbs, similar to an Ixora, rosy-pink in colour, 

 and very fragrant. It is almost a perpetual bloomer. 

 Las Caipas. 



Rondeletia. — A large genus of handsome flower- 

 ing shrubs, belonging to Cinchonacea ; they have 

 opposite leaves, and dense branched heads of showy 

 flowers, usually terminal, but sometimes axillary. 

 Pot in equal parts of loam, peat, and sand ; drain 

 well, and water liberally. Stove. 



E. Purdei — leaves oblong- 

 lauceoJate, obtuse, deep 

 green above, paler below. 

 Flowers pale yellow or 

 lemou-colour, very sweet, 

 produced in dense ter- 

 minal and axillary co- 

 lumns. Summer months. 

 New Grenada, &c. 



E. speciosa — this is said to 

 be more correctly named 

 It. odorata. Leaves oppo- 



site, ovate-cordate, some- 

 what rugose, and dark 

 greeu. I'jowers rich ver- 

 milion with a deep 

 orange-vellow eye. Sum- 

 mer and autumn months, 

 bavana. 

 E. speciosa major — similar 

 to the preceding, but the 

 flowers are brilliant scar- 

 let with orange eye. Sum- 

 mer months. Havana. 



Rormebergia. — This is a commemorative name, 

 and the genus comparatively new. It belongs to 

 the Bromeliaccce, and should have the same treat- 

 ment as recommended for Tillanchcce. Peat and a 

 little loam. 



H. Morreniana. — Petioles sheathing, channelled; 

 leaves oblong - acuminate, a foot long, and four 

 inches broad ; ground emerald-green, banded with 

 blotches of deep olive-green. Spike erect, clothed 

 with large green bracts, which decrease in size as 

 they reach the scape, which bears a dense head of 

 flowers, with light green sepals and tubular white 

 petals, the latter spreading and broadly margined 

 with azure-blue. Tropical America. 



Rudgea. — A genus of Cinckonacece, most being 

 shrubs, but some few attain the dimensions of trees. 

 Pot in loam and peat ; they enjoy strong heat and a 

 moist atmosphere. Stove. 



li. macrochilia. — A beautiful shrub with large 

 obovate - lanceolate leaves, which are some two 

 feet in length, smooth, shining, and dark green. 

 Flowers white, produced in very large and dense 

 globose heads. Spring and summer months, Pdo 

 Janeiro. 



Saecliarum.— These are gigantic Grasses, popu- 

 larly known as Sugar Cane, and a most impor- 

 tant economic plant, as producing the best sugar 

 of commerce. As garden plants, the various species 

 are extremely ornamental. Pot in loam, peat, and 

 leaf -mould in equal parts. 



S. officinarum. — The Sugar Cane is a tall Reed- 

 like Grass, attaining a height of about twelve feet, 

 producing in abundance large feathery plumes of 

 flowers ; the leaves are long, broad, and deep green, 

 beautifully recurved. Sugar is the expressed juice, 



and the plant has been cultivated from time imme- 

 morial ; it was evidently known to the Jews, for 

 Jeremiah speaks of the sweet cane from a far 

 country " being sent as a present. 



There are many varieties and species of this 

 genus in tropical countries; one variety, 8. rio- 

 laceum, having deep violet-purple stems, is very 

 handsome. Tropics. 



Sanchezia.— A genus of Acanthads, remarkable 

 for rich variegated foliage and handsome flowers. 

 They resemble Aphelandras in general outline, and 

 are easily grown into fine specimens, luxuriating in 

 strong moist heat. Pot in peat and loam in equal 

 parts, adding a little sharp sand. 



S. glaucophylla. — Leaves opposite, obovate-oblong 

 and acuminate in shape, about twelve inches long ; 

 dark green, midrib rich crimson, the primary veins 

 broadly banded with yellow. Ecuador. 



S. npbilis variegata. — Stems broadly winged, leaves 

 opposite, obovate-oblong and acuminate, twelve to 

 eighteen inches long ; ground-colour brilliant green, 

 the midrib and all the primary veins banded with 

 rich yellow. It also produces large racemes of gor- 

 geous orange-yellow flowers. Spring and summer 

 months. Ecuador. 



Sarracenia. — A curious and beautiful genus of 

 Carnivorous plants, which give their name to the 

 order Sarracenaccce ; popularly they are known as 

 Side Saddle Plants, and North American Pitcher 

 Plants. Their leaves are hollow cylinders, with a 

 jointed lid at the top, which is closed down until 

 the leaf attains full size, when it springs open, 

 never to close again. These leaves contain a liquid 

 which attracts flies and other insects in vast quan- 

 tities : ingress is very easy, but as the inside is lined 

 with sharp hairs, all pointing downwards, exit is 

 impossible, and the pitchers are oftentimes half full 

 of dead insects, upon which they are said to thrive. 

 There are but a few species, but on account of their 

 peculiar structure, and the varied and beautiful 

 markings of their pitchers, they have become ex- 

 ceedingly popular, and many improved garden 

 varieties have been raised by cross-breeding. 

 Naturally, they grow in the bogs and swamps of 

 North America, and are looked upon as green-house 

 plants, but as they are there subjected to almost 

 tropical heat in summer, they really thrive best in 

 the Intermediate House in winter, and the stove in 

 summer. 



S. Atkinsonii — pitchers 



erect, long and mrrrov ; 



green, netted with red : 



li<i broad, ribbed and 



veined with red. Garden 



variety. 

 S. atrosanguinea— pitchers 



erect, long and narrow, 

 with a broad round lid, 

 which, when yourg, is 

 green, changing with aee 

 to deep blood-red." Xorth 

 America. 

 S. CheJsoni — pitchers some- 



