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POPULAR GARDEN BOTANY. 



Named from the Greek for spear and flower. I). excelsa 

 is called the Gigantic Doryanthes, from the flower-stem 

 growing many feet high and then producing a handsome 

 head of crimson flowers ; the leaves are at the base, on the 

 ground ; unfortunately, with greenhouse culture, the flowers 

 do not appear till the plant is ten or twelve years old ; in 

 the stove it flowers sooner. It requires sandy loam and 

 peat. 



ALSTBGEMERIA. 



Gen. Char. {Hexandria Monogynia.) Divisions of flower six, 

 campanulate or two-lipped, the two lower half-tubular at the base ; 

 stamens curved downwards or erect ; stigmas three, linear ; cap- 

 sule three-valved and not opening. 



The genus is named after Alstromer of Sweden. Many 

 of the species are sufficiently hardy for the garden, though 

 natives of South America ; but Hookerii, pulchra, and the 

 white variety of Pelegrina, look remarkably well in the 

 greenhouse, producing as they do fine heads of brilliant 

 flowers. After flowering, these plants should remain dry 

 for a considerable time, and be well watered again when 

 they are about to flower : they require a mixture of leaf- 



