THE CONSERVATORY 
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are now scarcely known in gardens except for a few easily-grown 
species. Even at Kew they make a poor display compared with 
the plants of one hundred years ago. There is a very good collection 
of mesembryanthemums here — curious succulent plants whose leaves 
occasionally take on extraordinary forms. Some have leaves so 
similar to pebbles and small stones that it is not always easy to 
distinguish them. 
Of pelargoniums the best known is the species with brilliant scarlet 
flowers commonly called geranium, which is so popular a plant for 
summer bedding. English gardens owe its introduction, like that 
of many heaths and other Cape plants, to Francis Masson, who 
went out from Kew in 1772 to collect plants in South Africa. About 
fifty species of these Cape pelargoniums are grown here. There is 
also a medley of other curious plants from the same region, notable 
amongst them the curious haemanthuses, or “ blood-flowers.” 
