14 
REMARKS ON THE GENUS HOYA. 
organs are hidden by the crown, which converges to a point in the centre of the 
flower, precisely over the stigma. 
The species enumerated in the Hortus Britannicus are five, namely, H. carnosa, 
the first imported, and perhaps the best, anno 1802 ; lanceolata, crassifolia, JPottsii, 
trinervis, at periods between 1814 and 1825. They are natives of Asia, chiefly 
of China. 
The flower of Hoya carnosa is white, tinted with pink, and a little yellow ; 
the crown being blotched with vivid crimson ; the flowers— twenty to thirty- — are 
produced upon processes, which, at first, appear like simple peduncles, with swollen 
points, the germs of the future inflorescence. These arise from the stem, between 
the thick, coriaceous leaves, gradually enlarge, flatten, and develope, each, a perfect 
corymbous umbel of blossoms. When the flowers fall off, the processes remain 
elongate, and continue the permanent organs of inflorescence : every succeeding 
cluster, however, is produced at the point of the flower-stalk, leaving the receptacles 
of the previous cluster in the form of a rough burr, which acquires length in 
proportion to the numbers of corymbs that it has supported. 
The odour of the blossom is highly fragrant, but very peculiar ; and, therefore, 
disagreeable to some persons. 
The plant is hardy enough to support the low temperature of the greenhouse ; 
but it ought to be placed in the stove, or vinery. Nothing can be more easy of 
cultivation : cuttings strike freely ; and the plants grow well in simple loam, or in 
rich composts : we, therefore, do not dwell upon these particulars, it being our 
principal object to detail some very interesting circumstances which came under 
our observation very lately ; it is probable, however, that others have noticed the 
same facts ; but they have not, to our knowledge, been publicly communicated. 
The Hoya will live, grow, and flower in very small pots : it will prosper pretty 
well with either a liberal or scanty supply of water ; but it appears to luxuriate in 
a bed of earth : hence we recommend, if it suit local convenience, that, when a 
plant has filled its pot, it be sunk into the ground or border within the stove, close 
to a wall ; or, if cultivated in a conservatory, at the foot of some pillar, or trellis- 
work, up which it may be trained. The roots will pass through the hole of the 
pot, and speedily ramify in the soil. The ball may be turned out entire, and 
planted in the border, with the earth of which a small portion of lime rubbish may 
be incorporated ; but in this case the plant becomes a fixture ; whereas if the pot 
be plunged, it may be safely removed without causing any serious check. 
The most interesting circumstance to be mentioned is the following. A fine 
young plant, that had rapidly produced three stems, each nearly two yards long, 
and many floral processes, was kept in a small pot (a 48) of loamy earth, which it 
had filled with roots. The pot stood on a shelf at the end of a stove, formed of 
12-inch paving tiles, built into the wall, and little more than eighteen inches above 
the flue at its entrance. The stems were trained on rods along the end light, and 
it could not be readily moved, although the situation was found too hot for the 
soil, which rapidly became dry. To obviate this inconvenience, a quantity of moss 
was placed under the pot, and on the shelf, to some distance from it ; and this was 
