TETRANEMA MEXICANA. 
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ago as 1759. More recently the plant has 
been brought by Siebold from Japan, and 
from this source was re-introduced in 1836, 
and distributed among some few botanical col- 
lections. When kept in a greenhouse, it 
comes into blossom about the end of February; 
but treated as a hardier plant it blossoms 
during April, and sometimes in May. 
It should be kept in a pot, and during win- 
ter ought to have the protection of a frame ; 
in summer they ought to be placed in a cool, 
somewhat shaded situation, and must be 
liberally supplied with water. If they are 
set in a situation where they will obtain only 
the morning sun, they will thrive well enough. 
The soil for them may be any light loamy 
soil, but a mixture consisting of equal parts 
loam and peat, with a little sand, is, perhaps, 
as good as any to keep them in a healthy con- 
dition, and in a medium state of growth. 
They are propagated without difficulty by 
dividing the plant into as many pieces, if 
requisite, as there are crowns. 
TETRANEMA MEXICANA. 
(Bentkam.) 
THE MEXICAN TETRANEMA. 
This is a very pretty little greenhouse or 
frame herbaceous perennial plant, growing 
with a tuft of ovate-oblong leaves, wrinkled 
something like those of a primrose, but more 
pointed, and throwing up to the height of six 
or eight inches many slender flower-sterns, 
bearing at the top a corymb usually of from 
ten to twenty flowers. The flower consists of 
a slender tube, divided at the extremity into 
five spreading segments, forming what is 
called a two-lipped flower, that is, the divi- 
sion between the two upper and the three 
lower segments on each side are deeper than the 
other division, thus forming two main divi- 
sions, which are respectively called the upper 
and lower lips. As the name implies, it is a 
native of Mexico, whence it was introduced 
about 1841. The flowers are produced, ac- 
cording to the treatment given, during the 
summer or autumnal months. 
The plants may be grown into a large tuft 
with several crowns, or of smaller size with 
a single tuft of leaves, and in either way forms 
a neat and interesting object. It is particu- 
larly useful as an autumnal flowering plant 
for ornamenting the greenhouse, for which 
purpose it is well adapted, when kept cool 
and retarded in its growth during summer, 
so as to cause it to blossom about September. 
j This is done by setting the plants during 
summer in a north aspect, and keeping them 
pretty well potted in the early part of the 
season : they must be regularly sup- 
plied with water, so as to sustain no check 
from droughts which might induce the flower- 
ing state. Towards the end of August they 
may be removed to a frame with a southern 
exposure, where they may be protected by 
the sashes at nights and during heavy rains, 
but not entirely closed up. As they come 
into flower they may be removed to the 
greenhouse. The soil for them should be 
composed of about three parts sandy peat, 
and one part turfy loam, and the pots must be 
well drained with broken potsherds and lumps 
of charcoal. For a large-sized plant a five- 
inch pot will be suitable ,• but the small 
single crown plants above referred to, will 
flower w e n in a three-inch one. 
It is desirable to keep a continued stock of 
young plants, for although a perennial, the 
older plants sometimes die off suddenly, and 
young plants of a year old are generally 
more vigorous in their growth. In the winter 
the plants must be kept on a dry shelf in the 
greenhouse, or in a very dry cool frame. 
They do not require more than protection 
from frost ; but are liable to suffer much in- 
jury from confined damp ; and where there is 
the convenience of a greenhouse this will be 
found the least troublesome way of preserving 
them. If they are placed in frames, the frost 
must be excluded either by coverings or the 
application of slight artificial warmth. For 
flowering at the ordinary season, the plants 
may be repotted in spring, and set in the 
front part of the greenhouse near the sashes 
where there is plenty of air ; and if it is not 
convenient to continue them in that position 
they may afterwards be removed to the shelter 
of a frame — not, however, in a shady position. 
The plants are impatient of an excess of 
water at any time, and therefore, whenever 
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