'U 
'S:£iiF^^; 
KHODOSTOMA GARDENIOIDES. 
RHODOSTOMA GAEDENIOIDES. 
I^'at. Orde)\ ClSCHONACEylS \ GARDENIDiE, 
Geneuic Chauacter. — Rhodostoma, Sclieidivelkr. — Calyx 
with a somewhat cylindrical tube, two-bracteolate, adnate, the 
limb superior, persistent, five-toothed, teeth equal, acute, and 
recirrved. Corolla superior, fimnel-shaped, the tube long, 
cylindrical, glabrous mthin, the limb fiTe-lobed, mth lanceo- 
late, slightly plaited, reflexcd, mucronate lobes. Stamens live, 
inserted at the top of the tube of the corolla ; filaments very 
short ; anthers linear, included, fixed hy the middle, sagittate 
at the base ; ovary inferior, two-ceUed, covered by a fleshy disk ; 
ovules solitary ; style simple ; stigmas two, linear. Fruit ? 
(p;ndl., Oen. PI. Supp., iii. 74). 
K. QARDENioiDES, ScJietdtceilcr. — Gardenia-like Uhodostoma. 
— Stem striate, shining; leaves opposite ohovate-lanceolate. 
slightly acuminate above, attenuated into the short petiole, 
dark-green above, with the ribs prominent, pale beneath, shin- 
ing ; stipules minute, triangular, acute, and approximated in 
pairs over the base of the petiole ; flowers in terminal and axil- 
lary leafy cymes } bracts and bracteoles small, ovate-lanceolate ; 
calyx tubular, "with a small five-tootbed limb ; corolla with a 
very long tube, expanding very gradually upward, much 
longer than the caljT: ; the limb short, five-toothed, reflexed ; 
stamens almost simple, anthers long, just included ; ovary sur- 
mounted by a fleshy disk ; style filiform ; stigmas two, linear. 
Stnontjit. — R. gardenioides, Scheidweiler, in Otto and Die- 
trich, Allgem. Oartenzeitwng. x. 286. 
BESCRIPTION. — Shrub. Stems erect, glabrous, ratber shiny, finely ribbed, branching. 
Leaves opposite, obovate-lanceolate, acuminate, attenuated into the short petiole ; upper 
side dark green, rather shiiiiag, veins prominent, under side paler, glabrous ; stipules minute, 
acutely triangular, approaching in paii's over the petioles, persisting after the leaf has fallen. 
Cymes chiefly terminal, branches of cyme rather fleshy ; bracts and bracteoles ovate-lanceolate, 
pale green, rather fleshy. Calyx superior, urceolate-tubular, five-toothed ; coroUa much longer, 
white, tubidar, funnel-shaped, the tube five times as long as the reflexed limb ; limb five- 
toothed, teeth mucronate, valvate in festivation. Stamens arising near the s umm it of the tube, 
just included, filaments very short ; anthers linear, attached about the middle, and prolonged 
downwards into a sagittate base. Ovary inferior, crowned by a fleshy disk, two-celled ; style 
long, filiform ; stigmas two, linear ; ovules soHtaiy. 
History. &c. — The origin of this shrub appears to be unknown ; it has, however, been 
gTOwn in this country since 1845. It flowers both in the Winter months, and also throughout 
the Summer, but is not very showy, as the corollas soon drop ofi". — A. H. 
The sjjecies appears to have reached this country from some of the continental gardens. 
Its fii'st public apjDcarance here, as far as we are aware, was at an exhibition of the Horticul- 
tural Society of London, in May 1846, when a plant in bloom was shown in the class of new 
plants, by Messrs. Veitch and Son, of Exeter. It is now rather freqiient in collections, but is 
not held in very high estimation among cultivators. 
Culture. — A stove shrub, never attaining a very ornamental character, partly in conse- 
quence of its excessively floriferous habit, by which the formation of a vigorous head of branches 
is prevented ; and partly from the marcescent character of the flowers themselves. Om- plate 
represents it at its best. The plants shoidd be gTown in a compost of three parts peat earth to 
one of good mellow loam, made rather sandy ; and they must not be over-potted. When small, 
the developement of flowers shotdd be entirely prevented, in order that a good growth of 
branches may be secured. 
The Rhodostoma is propagated very fi-eely by cuttings in sand plunged in gentle bottom- 
heat. It will be found a usefrd flower for bouquets. If large specimens are wanted, the yoiuig 
plants must not be permitted to produce any flowers until they have attained considerable size. 
Planted in a warm conservatory border, or encomaged in the stove by a slight bottom-heat, 
this plant wiU be found usefrd for cutting, as the delicious scent of the flowers makes up, in 
some measiQ-e, for their very ephemeral character. 
Though by no means a showy plant, in consequence of the defective characteristics which 
have been mentioned, it is worth growing for winter bouquets ; for which its very free 
flowering habit, and its much-branched mode of growth, — admitting of many sprigs being cut 
fr-om a moderate-sized plant, — render it very suitable. — M. 
