242 



GREEN-HOUSE — EEPOTTIXG. 



[March. 



3Ih]} lilts. See Enjahotrya. 



MetrosideroSy about fifteen species. Many have been added 

 to Callistemon. M. fibrida^ M. nmhelicita, and M. angusti- 

 folia, C. saUgnumj G. lanceoJdtiim, C. sew.perfldreiis, C. 

 (/laucum, once 31. specidsa, and G. formbsum ; these are. all 

 beautiful plants, with scarlet flowers. Other two beautiful 

 species with white flowers have been given to Angojjhdra. 

 A. cordifblia, once 31. hispida, and A. lanceoldtcij once 

 31. costdta ; these genera are very easily distinguished from 

 any other Australasian shrubs, by the peculiar character of 

 having both sides of the leaves alike. The flowers consist of 

 stamens, stiles, and anthers, coming in hundreds out of the 

 young wood for the length of three or four inches, forming 

 a dense cone crowned with a small twig ; hence frequently 

 called bottle brush plant leaving capsules in the wood, 

 which will keep their seeds perfect for a great number of 

 years. They grow freely, and the pots should be well 

 drained. (Soil No. 1.) 



3Ii/rsineSy Cape Myrtle, dwarf cape evergreen shrubs co- 

 vered with small flowers from March to May. 31. rethsa 

 has purple flowers ; 31. rotund If blia, flowers white and pur- 

 ple. They will grow in any situation, and are of easy cul- 

 ture. (Soil No. 1.) 



31yrtus, Myrtle, is a well-known and popular shrub, espe- 

 cially the common varieties, and was a great favorite (even 

 to adoration) among the ancients. It was the mark of au- 

 thority for Athenian rulers, and is among the moderns an 

 emblem of pre-eminence. They are elegant evergreen shrubs 

 Avith an agreeable odor. 31. communis midtljpUx, double 

 flowering, is a very neat shrub, and flowers abundantly. 31, 

 communis, leucocdrpci, white-fruited myrtle. 31. itdlicaxari- 

 egdta, striped leaved; 31. itdlica maculdta., blotch-leaved, are 

 very fine shrubs ) and M. tomentbsa, Chinese myrtle, is a 

 magnificent erect-growing shrub, with a white down over the 

 foliage; the flowers are the largest of the genus. When they 

 first expand they are purple, and afterwards change to white^ 

 so that there are beautiful flowers of several shades of color 

 on the plant. We have not the smallest doubt but this species 

 will become, in many instances, as plentiful as the common 

 myrtle. It is more easily grown, but cannot stand much ex- 

 posure to the sun in summer. 31. tenuifblia is a very fine 

 plant^ and a native of New South Wales. Myrtles in general 



