NEW AND LITTLE KNOWN GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



593 



Under treatment similar to that which produces such a 

 wealth of foliage and flower in the common fuchsias, 

 it does not thrive satisfactorily. It has been found, 

 however, that by allowing it a warmer temperature — 

 one intermediate between that of the greenhouse and 

 stove — it succeeds perfectly. At the Birmingham Bo- 

 tanic Garden there are now plants two feet through — 

 examples of the most robust health —with every one of 

 the numerous branches terminated by a beautiful raceme 

 of the pendent blooms. 



Crocosma (Triloiiia) attrea. — Two valuable varieties 

 of this old and useful plant have been introduced within 

 the last year and a half. One named imperialis is espec- 

 ially valuable. The flowers are almost twice as large 

 as those of the ordinary form, and in color are the 

 brightest orange-red. In size and strength the plant 

 itself is also much superior. Some specimens planted 

 out in a border in the cool succulent house at Kew are 

 over three feet high. The other variety is called m<tc- 

 ulata, on account of the three inner segments of the 

 perianth having a reddish-brown blotch near the base, 

 which adds greatly to the effect. The flowers are much 

 larger than those of the type. It was found in the south- 

 eastern portion of Cape Colony, near Algoa Bay. Like 

 the typical form, both these varieties will probably bear 

 several degrees of frost, but where the winters 

 are especially severe the roots may be taken 

 up in late autumn and stored away until spring. 

 Treated as cool greenhouse plants and given 

 liberal conditions, they prove very effective. 



Cliironia pediim iilaris. — Described originally 

 by Dr. Lindley in 1835, this plant appears to 

 have been but little cultivated ever since. It 

 was re-introduced to Kew by seed recently 

 brought from the Cape, and several plants are 

 now flowering very prettily. The easy culti- 

 vation of this plant, together with the fact of 

 its flowering for three months in the year, 

 ought to secure it general favor. It is from 

 one to two feet high, with slender, herbaceous 

 branches and light green, sessile leaves. The 

 flowers are very freely produced near the ends 

 of the shoots and measure two inches across ; 

 in color they are of a soft rosy lilac. C. pal- 

 ustris is a worthy companion of the preceding. 

 It is equally pretty, profuse in flowering and 

 easy to grow, but smaller. It is of compact 

 habit, about a foot high, with rosy purple 

 flowers an inch across. Both species require 

 simple greenhouse treatment. 



Mitraria coccinea. — At one time popular, this gesner- 

 aceous shrub afterward became quite neglected ; now, 

 however, it appears to be regaining its former position. 

 It was discovered in 1848 on Chiloc, an island situated 

 a few miles off the southern extremity of Chili. It is 

 evergreen, of semi-scandent habit, the branches clothed 

 with small box-like leaves. Its flowers are tubular, 

 about lYz inches long and of the brightest scarlet. It 

 blossoms freely in May and June, and is altogether a 



most desirable plant. It strikes freely from cuttings, 

 and by pinching in a young state handsome bushes may 

 be obtained. It prefers a'peaty soil. 



Another plant re-introduced from the same locality is 

 Crinodendron Hookerii. Although naturally a tree 15 to 

 20 feet high in an adult state, it flowers with the great- 

 est freedom when only two feet high. In the warmer 

 parts of this country it has withstood the winters out- 

 of-doors, but it is most satisfactory when treated as a 

 greenhouse subject. The flowers are produced singly 

 or in pairs from the axils of the leaves near the end of 

 the branch. They are pendent, and in shape resemble 

 a large unexpanded flower bud of a fuchsia ; the color 

 is a rich, deep scarlet. It thrives on a mixture of light 

 loam, sand and leaf-soil, and is increased by slips. 



Boionia heterophylla . — Being dwarf in habit, the bor- 

 onias are some of the most valuable of greenhouse 

 plants for those whose accommodation is limited. They 

 are of elegant appearance, floriferous, and usually very 

 fragrant. In every point except that of fragrance — in 

 which it is surpassed by B. megastigma — B . heteropliylla 

 takes rank as the finest of all. About nine years ago 

 Miss Marianne North, to whose genius and munificence 

 the gardens at Kew are indebted for a beautiful and in- 

 valuable collection of botanical paintings, found this 



Fig. I. A Cactus Rock-work. 



plant in west Australia. She sent seeds to Kew, where 

 they grew and eventually flowered. From Kew it was 

 distributed two or three years ago, and after industri- 

 ous propagating and exhibition by the trade firms, bids 

 fair to become a popular plant. It is certainly one 

 of the most lovely of recently introduced plants. The 

 flowers are bell-shaped, ^'2 inch in diameter, and pro- 

 duced in clusters of four to six at each leaf-axil. They 

 are of a rich rosy carmine and pleasantly fragrant. 



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