254 
HINTS ON THE GENUS THIBAUDIA. 
round the branches ; the flowers are of a beautiful brilliant red, slightly variegated 
and produced in the greatest profusion in loose panicles on the young shoots — these 
panicles are axillary ; when the blossoms are at the greatest height of perfection, 
the whole plant appears one complete mass of flowers ; added to its truly lovely 
blossoms, and the brilliant display they create in the wilds of India, is its stunted 
peculiar habit. It is well ascertained that the generality of shrubs prefer a situa- 
tion where there is a body of soil or a quantity of decayed vegetable matter for their 
roots to run amongst, but this plant is remarkable for fixing itself upon the trunks 
of trees and upon huge rocks, where there is seldom any trace of the least particle 
of soil of any description. And in point of situation, it is by no means particular, 
for it is frequently found growing upon large prominent rocks and trunks of sturdy 
old trees, fully exposed to the influence of a tropical sun, and at other times in the 
midst of almost impenetrably dense woods, at an elevation of four thousand feet ; at 
its root it produces immense thick fleshy nodosities, some of which are as thick as a 
man's body, and equalling four or five feet in length ; these nodosities coil them- 
selves round the trunks of those trees on which they fix, and round large por- 
tions of rocks they adhere and twist in a surprising manner, penetrating every 
fissure and chasm within their reach, in order to fortify themselves from being torn 
up by the merciless hurricane : besides the purpose of climbers or tendrils, they 
serve as reservoirs of nutriment for the future use of the plant, particularly through 
the dry or hot season, during which they become contracted, wither, and de- 
crease in circumference, and appear as though they did not contain the least 
particle of moisture ; but no sooner does the rainy season return, than they refill 
themselves, become bulky, assume their original size and fatness, and as the plant 
increases, so these nodosities enlarge and extend in the same proportionate degree. 
Culture. — Either of the fine species named above will grow freely if merely 
laid on the surface of a body of soil in a moist shady part of the greenhouse or a 
cool part of the stove, providing they are furnished with similar reservoirs for 
moisture as above described ; but as it is perhaps more desirous to have fine speci- 
mens of these plants in pots or tubs for the convenience of moving about, it will be 
the best way to plant the roots in soil. 
In the process of potting or tubbing, care should be taken to keep the thick 
portion of the root on the surface, else they will probably rot ; the small fibrous 
roots should be only just covered. 
Any rich light soil will answer, but that which is close and retentive is highly 
objectionable. 
Propagation. — If branches are taken carefully off in spring, and put into 
good-sized pots, and placed in a moist shady part of the stove under a glass, they 
will immediately make young roots : while in the striking pot, they require only a 
moderate supply of water ; but when older, and growing, they delight in a liberal 
quantity. 
During the cold season, that is about December, on the Khoseea Hills the 
above species may be seen in a state of perfection rarely equalled or surpassed in 
the whole range of vegetable life. 
