76 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
4.— DIOSMA SPECIOSA Sims. THE SHOWY DIOSMA. 
Synonymes. — D. cistoides Lam. ; D. umbellata Uort. ; D. rugosa 
Bonn ; Adenandra speciosa Link. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 1271 ; and our fig. 1, in PI. 18. 
Specific Character. — Leaves scattered, oblong or obovate, revo- 
lute, dotted beneath, smooth, but sometimes slightly fringed on the 
edges. Flowers terminal, umbellate. Calyx fringed, but petals with 
smooth margins. ((7. Bon.) 
Description, &c. — This is perhaps the handsomest species of the genus. The flowers in colour and general i 
appearance resemble those of D. ammna, but they are much larger and are in more numerous clusters. The leaves 
are also considerably larger and handsomer, and though they are still what botanists call scattered, that is, ' 
produced at irregular distances from each other, they cover the stem much better tha n those of D. uniflora, which ' 
are too far apart to he ornamental. The plant grows from a foot to eighteen inches high, and remains in flower a 
long time, the flowers beginning to expand about April, and continuing all the summer. The species was 
introduced in 1790, and it is one of the most commonly cultivated. It is necessary, however, to keep it in a 
greenhouse or balcony, as the flowers are apt to drop off without expanding if it is planted in the open ground. 
The pots in which the plants are kept should be well di’ained with potsherds broken very small and placed so as to Ij 
fill nearly a quarter of the pot ; and the soil should be a mixture of sand and peat. The plants should be watered | 
every day when they are in flower or have flower-buds, but they should be kept nearly diy, so as to allow them a 
season of repose, when the flowers ai’e over. The cuttings should be taken from the top of the shoots, and potted 
in pure sand with a bell-glass over them, in the same manner as is done with the cuttings of Heath. [ 
5.— DIOSMA FRAGRANS Sims. THE FRAGRANT DIOSMA. ! 
Synonyme. — Adenandra fragrans R(nm. ct Schult . , ovate-oblong, glandular, a little crenulated ; pedicels clammy, aggre- n 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 1519 ; and our fig. 2, in PI. 18. 1 gate, umbellate, almost twice as long as tbe leaves. Calyxes refiexed. [ 
Specific Character. — Leaves scattered, spreading very much, I Petals crenulate. (G. Bon.) j 
Description, &c. — This species differs from the others in the flowers being of a beautiful rose-colour, and not f 
being termmal. They have also a veiy agreeable aromatic smell, and the leaves are handsome, being somewhat t 
lai’ger than those of the other species, and of a glossy green on the upper side. The flowers, though they are rather 
small, are also very ornamental, from their brilliant colour and then’ great abimdance. The species was introduced ' 
in 1812, and, like thejothers, it is a native of the Cape of Good Hope. 
6.- DIOSMA PULCHELLA Lin. THE PRETTY DIOSMA. 
Synonymes. — Hartogia pulchella Berg. ; Bucco pulcbella Rcem. et j Specific Character. — Leaves crowded, ovate, quite smooth, with 
Sc/mit . ; Barosma pulchella Wcndl. j thickened, crenate-glandular margins. Peduncles axillary, usually 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 1357 ; and our fig. 3, in PL 18. I solitary, exceeding the leaves. {G. Bon.) 
Description, &c. — Nothing can be more different than the general appearance of this plant from those which 
have been already described as belonging to the genus, as the flowers are small, and produced at the ends of the 
shoots in veiy great abundance. It is also more hardy than the other kinds, though, like them, it is a native of 
the Cape of Good Hope, whence it was introduced in 1789. The smell of this species is very disagreeable, and it 
remains so long, that if a nosegay containing it is held in the hand when a leather glove is on, the glove scarcely 
ever loses the scent. The Hottentots are said to be particularly fond of the leaves of this plant, which, when 
dried and powdered, they mix with grease to make their buku ; and when they have anointed themselves with it, 
