245 
COSTUS SPECIOSUS. 
(SHOWY COSTU3.) 
CLASS. ORDER, 
MONANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
SCITAMINEiE. 
Generic Character. — Calyx divided into three parts, gibbous. Corolla three-cleft, nearly campanu- 
late, inner limb split. Filament lanceolate. Anthers either in the centre of it, or at some distance 
from the end. Seeds naked. 
Specific Character. — A greenhouse perennial plant, from two to three feet high. Leaves entire, sheath- 
ing, nervose, silky on the under side. Flowers springing from amongst spathaceous bracts, in a 
dense terminal spike, quite white. Corolla three-parted, fringed and waved round the edges. 
This species of Costus, when in flower at Messrs. Rollisons' nursery, at Toot- 
ing, in August last, was truly splendid, the glossy green leaves and the large bunch 
of pure white flowers terminating the shoots had a most imposing effect. Not- 
withstanding the length of time it has been known in our gardens, the little diffi- 
culty attending its cultivation, and the striking beauty of its flowers, we still And 
it is scarce ; this is to be regretted, as its merits strongly recommend it to a place 
in every collection. 
The following method of cultivation, if adhered to, will be attended with 
perfect success. In the spring, if the roots have been dormant all winter, free 
them nearly from the old soil, and shift them into a good-sized pot. in a compost 
of good open sandy loam and peat, having previously placed plenty of drainage at 
the bottom. Let them stand at the warm end of the house until the shoots appear, 
when a little water may be given, increasing the quantity as the growth of the 
plants advances. During their growth they will do well with the treatment of 
other greenhouse plants, only be sure to give them a light situation, particularly 
when flowering. After the flowers are faded the stems will begin to wither and 
