PARK AND CE:M£.TE:RY 
397 
branched heads. C. media is a North Australian kind 
said to attain a height of 70 feet. I think it was stems 
of media which Mr. Walter Hill had grow after lying 
dry two or three years. I forget the precise time. C. 
Duivenbodei is a Moluccas species with spiny stems. 
Cycas are often made a separate tribe by botanists, 
which at least makes more printing. 
Stangeria in one or two species are natives of Natal, 
South Africa. S. paradoxa, called the “Hottentot’s 
head,” caused a great deal of speculation among scien- 
tists when first introduced ; some were disposed to re- 
gard it as a Lomaria, some of which genus the leaves 
resembled. The old curator (Smith) of Kew didn’t 
believe that, however, for it would have been hard to 
impose upon him about ferns. The plant varies into 
a robust form know as schizodon, and a dwarf one 
called Katzeri. 
Bowenia spectabilis is monotypic, but varies in ser- 
rulation. It is a remarkable bi-pinnate cycad found in 
N. E. Australia, and had been in herbaria (probably 
ZAMIA INTEORIPOLIA. 
without name) since the voyage of Captain Flinders, 
about 1802-3. I happened to care for the first living 
plant which arrived in Europe during 1863. I think 
it was sent by Hill of the Brisbane Garden, or it may 
have been a Mr. Kennedy who sent it. It was named 
after Sir John Bowen, a Governor of Queensland. I 
have met with a single plant in America owned by 
Miss Gould, but others may now be known. 
Dioon has two Mexican species. The fine specimens 
of D. edule in the Kew Palm House, frequently fruit, 
and the cones, very like those of Araucaria, contain 
edible seeds. They are not eaten raw, as Araucaria 
nuts are, but are powdered and form a sort of sago. 
These plants seem near to several fossil forms. It 
may be stated, however, that in spite of all the fine 
writing, there is little generic precision about either 
fossils or casts ; reconstructions are necessarily dubi- 
ous, and in my opinion would better be let alone. Sub- 
epiphytal cycads for instance still exist, and if such 
were found seemingly attached to “Stigmaria” roots, 
it is not difficult to imagine what the reconstruction 
would be. 
Encephalartos “Caffir bread” is in 12 species from 
tropical and South Africa. They have green and 
spineless, or more commonly glaucous horridly spin- 
escent leaves, and are fine sub-tropical subjects, but 
little known or used in this country so far as I have 
seen. They are said to be in South Florida, but photos 
are not obtainable. Of the bluish leaved species E. 
brachyphyllus is reckoned hardiest, but E. caffer and 
E. horridus will winter with a min. of 40 degrees 
Fahrenheit. The old plant of E. caffer at Kew must 
be about 130 years old if still alive. For a period of 
more than 50 years after the stem began to lengthen 
it added less than i inch a year to its height. E. 
lanugino sus is a green leaved spineless kind. Many 
of these plants ought to do well in parts of California. 
Macrozamiia in 14 species are from tropical and 
sub-tropical Australia. They resemble Cycas in habit, 
but the leaflets are ribless. M. corallipes and varieties 
are notable plants, and so is M. Perowskiana Hopei, 
which reaches to 60 feet high. M. magnifica, Frazeri, 
plumosa, spiralis, and elegantissima are all well worth 
looking after for sub-tropical work and testing for sun 
or partial shade. 
Ceratocamia in 6 species are IVIexican. The leaves 
are green and Cycas-like ; the footstalks of some are 
prickly, and the stems are easy to import. 
Zamia in 30 species are all American tropical or 
sub-tropical plants. Z. pseudo-parasitica is sub-epi- 
phytal on tree trunks. Z. integrifolia is West Indian, 
Init extends to South Florida. 
Microcycas calocoma is a monotypic Cuban plant 
with leaves about 3 feet long. It was formerly called 
a Zamia. 
Probably the finest aggregation of these plants in 
the world is in the south wing of the Palm House at 
Kew. Several are of great age and size and have 
often fruited. James MacPherson. 
SEASONABLE SUGGESTIONS. 
The earlier perennials are transplanted now the bet- 
ter, affording an opportunity to make new roots before 
winter. Both freshly transplanted ones as well as 
others are greatly benefited by a good coat of manure 
about them before winter sets in. 
Crotons are now much used for bedding. Plants 
used in this way the past season should be lifted at 
once, potted and placed in a warm greenhouse, to be 
used again, perchance next season. These plants fair- 
ly revel in our hot summers. 
