BOTANICAL INDEX. 
83 
article of nutritive food, under the very common name of Sweet Potato and Yam. 
But let us now see what we can find in standard works of botany. In the article 
on Testuclinaria, we find: “The distinction between this genus and Dioscorea, the 
type of the order of Yams, ( Dioscoracece ,) depends more upon the general habit of the 
plants than upon characters derived from the flowers or fruit; for with the exception 
of the seeds being winged at the top only, instead of all round, their technical pecu- 
liarities are almost identical. In habit, however, they differ widely. True Yams 
produce large underground, thin-skinned tubers; but in the three species of the 
Testuclinaria, the corresponding portion called the root-stock, or rhizome, is wholly 
above ground, which is coated with a thick, bark-like, corky or woody substance, 
which in time becomes deeply cracked and forms large angular protuberances, as if 
carved by the hand of an eminent sculptor, which have a fancied resemblance to the 
shell of the tortoise, whence the name. These rhizome are more or less globular, and 
frequently of a large size — some of them measuring 4 feet in diameter. Several 
slender, climbing steins rise from their summit and grow to the length of 30 or 40 
feet, bearing small, entire, smooth, more or less heart-shaped leaves, in the axils of 
which the short racemes of little, inconspicuous, greenish-yellow flowers are pro- 
duced. At the Cape of Good Hope it is known as “Hottentot Bread,” the fleshy 
inside of the rhizome having At one time afforded part of the food of Hottentots, 
i though now it is only eaten by baboons and other animals.” ( Treas . of Botany.) 
There are only three species of the Testuclinaria known to botanists, two of which 
; are from the Cape of Good Hope and one from Mexico. The propagator has not found 
any way to increase it except from seed, which are difficult to obtain, as the plant is 
dioecious, and both sexes have not yet been grown near together, either in Europe or 
America. They succeed well in peaty or turfy loam. They should be kept dry when 
not growing. ( Paxton's Botanical Dictionary.) 
We have only a single specimen plant of it, and do not wish to be understood as 
advertising it, but would undertake to procure it if desired. Of the allied form, 
Dioscorea bulbifera, the Chinese Yam, we have quite a stock, and can furnish them at 
a very reasonable price. The bulbs of Testuclinaria Elephantipes are worth from 10 to 
200 francs each, or about from $2 to $40 each, in Belgium, according to the size ; but 
to bring them here will about double the cost. 
NEW COLEUS FOR 1879. 
Kentish Fire,, leaf trilobate, deeply serrated, center of leaf bright vermilion and 
crimson, changing to carmine, edged and suffused with a dark metallic green. This 
superb variety was introduced by the distinguished English florist, H. Cannell, and 
has created quite a stir in horticultural circles in Europe. It is without doubt the 
grandest acquisition to new Coleus that has as yet been introduced. $1. 
George Bnnyarcl, is a very fine variety, habit robust, leaves of good size, its midrib, 
veins and connecting veinlets are of a deep carmine color. The upper surface of the 
leaf is of a bronzy crimson, edged with yellow and green. 50 cents. 
Lord Falmouth, one of the best of our recent importation. The coloring of the 
foliage is rich and varied, shades and marking of crimson, yellow, orange and green, 
! being seen in the same plant. 50 cents. 
Empress of India — Bright crimson maroon, narrow yellow edge. 50 cents. 
Exquisite — Brilliant violet-carmine leaves, with a broad lobed green margin. 75c. 
Fascination — Brilliant crimson center, surrounded with yellow, deeply laciniated 
i green edge. 50 cents. 
Garnet — Veined and blotched violet, crimson center, surrounded with chocolate, 
green edge, lobed. 50 cents. 
Mr. ./. Linden — Bronzy crimson, with a broad and bright yellow edge. 50 cents. 
Royalty — Center blotched and veined with violet-carmine, surrounded with choc- 
olate, green edge, lobed; broad foliage. 50 cents. 
CHOICE COLEUS, OF GREAT MERIT. 
Albion — Yellow ground, spotted and edged with crimson. 25 cents. 
Compte de Greffuhle — Golden color, striped with vivid purplish-crimson. 25 cents. 
Eldorado — Golden yellow, with a narrow crimson edge and mid-rib usually. 25c. 
Madame E. Burgess — Green ground, with deep amaranth veins. 25 cents. 
Multicolor — Crimson, red, rose, and often yellow; deeply laciniated. 25 cents. 
Musaica — Marbled and spotted with yellow and crimson. 25 cents. 
Oriole — Deep yellow border, crimson center, with irregular bronzy-purple 
blotches. Our seedling of 1874. 25 cents. 
Pictns — Green ground, marbled with bronzy-yellow, maroon and crimson. 25c. 
Splendens — A clear, bright wine-color; an improvement, but variety of Varschaf- 
felti. 25 cents. 
