GREEN -HOUSE PLANTS. 



133 



coriaceous in texture. In different stages and ages 

 of its growth., this plant would appear to assume 

 distinct characters, insomuch, that these different 

 forms have received specific rank. Thus in some 

 instances the leaves are narrow, one to two feet long, 

 dull purple, blotched with emerald-green, and this 

 form has been named Crassifolia punctata ; again, tbe 

 leaves from old plants become bifid, or even tri- 

 foliate, and in this state it has been named hetero- 

 morpha, and trifoliata ; whilst the younger leaves, 

 from which the name of Crassifolia is derived, 

 are oblong - acute, tapering towards the base, 

 \dth. a broad obtuse apex, and are sinuate or 

 lobed at the edges. Widely distributed in New 

 Zealand. 



A. papyrifera, or Fatsla papyrifera. — This species 

 is highly ornamental, and is much used in the sub- 

 tropical garden. Its stems, however, are usually 

 killed in wiater, but young plants come up from the 

 roots in the following spring ; the pith of the plant 

 is known as the Chinese rice-paper, and is largely 

 used by the natives of the Celestial Empire in the 

 formation of artificial flowers, animals, <fcc., in which 

 they display exquisite taste. This plant usually 

 attains a height of about six feet ; sometimes it 

 reaches to ten feet, but very rarely exceeds this size. 

 The stem varies from three to six inches in diameter ; 

 leaves borne on long foot-stalks, palmate, five to seven- 

 lobed, soft in texture, and densely clothed with a pale 

 tomentum, as are also the branches and flower-spike. 

 It is peculiar to the Island of Formosa. 



A. pentaphylla. — A handsome, but comparatively 

 dwarf species, bearing its five-lobed leaves on long 

 foot-stalks, which are deep green and serrated at the 

 edges. It is admirably adapted for all purposes of 

 decoration. Japan. 



A. pentaphylla variegata. — A form of the pre- 

 ceding, ha\'ing the margins of the leaves broadly 

 margined with yellowish- white, which renders it a 

 most attractive object. Japan. 



A. Sieboldii, more correctly Fatsia Japonica, is a 

 bold plant, bearing an umbrella-like head of large 

 palmate leaves, which are deeply lobed, slightly 

 serrate at the edges, very firm in texture, and of a 

 bright shining green. Japan. 



A. Sieboldii aicreo reticulata differs from the species 

 in the midribs of the lobes being white, and also 

 having the whole blade of the leaf closely reti- 

 culated with fine yellow lines. Japan. 



A. Sieboldii variegata. — The leaves of this variety 

 are profusely blotched with white, which also gene- 

 rally forms a continuous marginal band— a very at- 

 tractive form. Japan. 



A. Sieboldii aureo variegata resembles the last 

 variety in all particulars except colour, which, in- 

 stead of white, is here rich yellow. Japan. 



Araucaria. — This is a genus of Conifers, contain- 

 ing a few magnificent trees ; one species, A. imbricata 

 (the Chili Pine), is hardy. The species here enume- 

 rated attain a great size, and although extremely 

 handsome in a young state, it is only in large con- 

 servatories and winter gardens that their full beauties 

 can be developed. The soil best suited to the re- 

 quirements of Ai^aucarias is good strong loam ; like 

 all Conifers they require thorough di-ainage to keep 

 them in health and \-igoui\ 



A. Bidivillii is called Bunya-Bunya in its native 

 country, and forms a majestic tree some 150 feet or 

 more in height ; the branches are arranged in a very 

 symmetrical manner ; leaves flat, ovate-lanceolate, 

 hard and sharp-pointed, deep hea%y green in colour ; 

 the frmt is a very large cone, with reflexed hooks 

 upon each scale. Moreton Bay. 



A. Braziliensis. — A rapid-growing kind, with large, 

 flat, pungent, dark green leaves ; it is rather lax in 

 gi'owth, but, like all the species, very symmetrical, 

 and where space can be afforded it soon forms a very 

 ornamental plant. Native of Brazil, where it attains 

 a height of 100 feet or more. 



A. Cookii. — Named in honour of the famous navi- 

 gator, Capt. Cook, it is sometimes called A. colurnnaris, 

 in reference to the beautiful habit it takes on when 

 it attains size. It is similar in appearance to A. 

 excelsa, but its branches are stouter, and it is 

 altogether a more robust tree, and attains a height 

 of nearly 100 feet. New Caledonia. 



A. Cunninghamii. — This is a magnificent and very 

 s^-m metrical plant, named in commemoration of the 

 celebrated botanical traveller, Cunningham ; the broad 

 and flat branches are arranged in whorls, and assume 

 a very graceful habit, which will be fully understood 

 by a reference to the illustration; the leaves are 

 bright rich green in colom- ; it attains a height of 60 

 to 100 feet. Moreton Bay. 



A. Cunninghamii glauca. — Somewhat more robust 

 in habit than the species, and the whole plant is 

 beautifully glaucous, instead of bright green, which 

 renders it very distinct and attractive. Moreton Bay. 



A. elegans. — For a member of this genus, this is a 

 somewhat dwarf plant, and is one of the most hand- 

 some in a young state. New Caledonia. 



A. excelsa (the Norfolk Island Pine) is a grand 

 and symmetrical tree, as our illustration aptly shows, 

 with broad, flat, dark green branches, which have a 

 beautiful drooping habit ; it is an invaluable plant 

 for decoration in a young state ; it attains a height 

 of 100 to 150 feet. Peculiar to Norfolk Island. 



A. excelsa Xapoleon Baumann. — A rare and very 

 bold-growing variety of the preceding species, with 

 rich dark green leaves and branches. 



A. Rulei. — This species is the most robust grower 

 in the whole family, except the hardy Chilian kind 5 



