





76 THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
4.—DIOSMA SPECIOSA Sims. THE SHOWY DIOSMA. 
Synonymes.—D. cistoides Zam. ; D. umbellata Hort. ; D. rugosa | lute, dotted beneath, smooth, but sometimes slightly fringed on the 
Donn ; Adenandra speciosa Link. edges. Flowers terminal, umbellate. Calyx fringed, but petals with 
Encravines.—Bot. Mag., t. 1271; and our jig. 1, in Pl. 18. smooth margins. (G, Don.) 
Speciric Cuaracter.—Leaves scattered, oblong or obovate, revo- 
Description, &c.—This is perhaps the handsomest species of the genus. The flowers in colour and general 
appearance resemble those of D. amana, 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 than those of D. uniflora, which 
are too far apart to be 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 drained with potsherds broken very small and placed so as to 
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 dry, so as to allow them a 
season of repose, when the flowers are 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 Rem. et Schult. ovate-oblong, glandular, a little crenulated; pedicels clammy, aggre- 
Eneravines.—Bot. Mag., t. 1519; and our fig. 2, in Pl. 18. gate, umbellate, almost twice as long as the leaves. Calyxes reflexed. 
Speciric Cuaracter.—Leayes scattered, spreading very much, | Petals crenulate. (G. Don.) 

Description, &c.—This species differs from the others in the flowers being of a beautiful rose-colour, and not 
being terminal. They have also a very agreeable aromatic smell, and the leaves are handsome, being somewhat 
larger 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 their great abundance. The species was introduced 
in 1812, and, like the others, it is a native of the Cape of Good Hope. 
6.—DIOSMA PULCHELLA Lin. THE PRETTY DIOSMA. 
Synonymes.—Hartogia pulchella Berg.; Bucco pulchella Rem. et Speciric Cuaracter.—Leaves crowded, ovate, quite smooth, with 
Schult. ; Barosma pulchella Wendl. thickened, crenate-glandular margins. Peduncles axillary, usually 
Eneravines.—Bot. Mag., t. 1357; and our jig. 3, in Pl. 18. solitary, exceeding the leaves. (G. Don.) 
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 very 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, 



