CRO WEA—CYPERUS. 



73 



C. jasminea, or the jasmine-flowered crassula, bears only a very slight resemblance to 

 C. coccinea. It is of a dwarf, neat habit of growth, and produces small trusses of white 

 flowers, void of scent, in April and May. Only the early formed strong growths will 

 flower the following spring, the species in this respect resembling C. coccinea, and 

 requires much the same treatment, with this material difference, that 5 -inch pots are 

 large enough for the majority of plants. 



crowea. — These greenhouse evergreen shrubs are very nearly related to Gorrea and 

 Eriostemon, and in common with these plants fully deserve inclusion in select 

 collections. C. angustifolium (West Australia), height 1 to 3 feet, flowers red and 

 solitary, and C. saligna (New South Wales), height 1 to 3 feet, flowers clear pink, are 

 the two species principally grown. Cuttings inserted in sand under a bell-glass in 

 gentle heat during March or April root freely, and neat plants can be grown by 

 occasionally topping them. Much the best plants, however, result from grafting on 

 either Correa alba or Eriostemon buxifolia, according them the same treatment recom- 

 mended for Correas. 



Cyclamen, see Florist Flowers, page 10, Yol. II. 



CYPERUS. 



Of this large family of grass or rush-like herbs three species only, all of which are 

 ornamental, serviceable, and easy of culture, are selected for growing in greenhouses, 

 C. alternifolius, or umbrella plant, is perhaps the best known. It is a native of 

 Australia, and of this there is a dwarf compact variety, C. a. nanus, and a handsomely 

 variegated form, C. a. variegatus. C. laxus, from the West Indies, grows from 1| to 3 

 feet in height, and is most ornamental when in flower. C. natalensis, an elegant 

 species from Natal, has come into prominence of late years, and is deservedly popular 

 for greenhouse and conservatory decoration as well as for the flower garden. 



Although all are easily propagated by division this is not often resorted to except in 

 the case of C. a. variegatus. The most perfect plants are raised from seed. This 

 should be sown in pans in March or April, germination soon taking place in a brisk 

 moist heat. The most elegant pots of plants are obtained by moving small patches of 

 seedlings out of the seed pans into 2|-inch pots, rather than by growing the plants 

 singly. Keep the small patches of plants growing in gentle heat till well rooted, when 

 they may be transferred to cooler quarters. Before they become stunted in growth 

 shift into 5-inch pots, a mixture of two parts loam to one of leaf soil with sand added 



