April 23, 1891 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
S27 
the purest yellowish green, while their shape and size oSer great variety, 
and one kind is distinguished by its long drooping blooi-red flower 
spikes. Among the Eranthemums we have similar variations—golden 
greyish, violet, pinkish flaked and dark purple narrow or broad, metallic 
flhining leaves, while the many varieties of Graptophyllums, with broadly 
light or dark blotched leaves, are valuable additions to the great number 
of variegated shrubs, among which perhaps few are more useful, though 
less striking in colour, than the white-blotched Aralia Guilfoylei, or none 
more elegant and graceful than the finely feather-leaved Panax Victoria, 
or the Snow Shrub, Phyllanthus nivosus, which forms a beautiful contrast 
to its dark purple coloured congener, Phyllanthus atropurpureus, the effect 
of which is, however, far surpassed by its ally, Exoecaria bicolor. Among 
flowering shrubs none are more effective than the brilliantly coloured 
Poinsettias, of which several varieties occur, while for variety of 
cloour, size, and beauty of the individual flowers, the numerous 
varieties of Shoe-flowers (Hibiscus) have no rivals. The Coesalpineas 
are most of the year covered with their large clusters of brilliant 
orange or pure yellow flowers, and the charm of our pure white- 
flowered or pale lilac Durantas can hardly be rivalled, while the masses 
■of gigantic bell-shaped white flowers of 
Datura suaveolens are well w'orth admira¬ 
tion. The coral-stalked flowers of Jatrophas, 
the yellow flowered Allamandas, Tecoma 
«tans and Thevetia neriifolia and the scarlet 
Tecoma capensis, the snowy white Tabernae- 
montanas, and the Almond-scented Gardenia 
(G. lucida) are along with the well-known 
crimson, pink or white Oleanders frequent 
inhabitants of our gardens, and assist with 
a great number of other flowering shrubs, 
among which perhaps the different kinds of 
the very popular Jessamines, the brilliantly 
coloured Ixoras, the white - bracted Mus- 
smndas, and numerous kinds of Cleroden- 
•drons deserve to be mentioned in yielding a 
continual supply of choice flowers. 
Among foliage plants other than Palms 
the many varieties of Alocasias with their 
gigantic leaves are perhaps the most effective, 
hut a pleasing variety is afforded by the many 
often brilliantly coloured Dracaenas by the 
curiously blotched Dieffenbachias, by the 
picturesque and handsome flowered Heli- 
conias, Alpinias, Hedychiums, and Gannas, 
of which at present most magnificently 
flowered varieties may be met with in Bom¬ 
bay. Several hardy varieties of Caladiums 
with brilliantly blotched and dotted leaves, 
the well known Coleus, and the splendid 
varieties of Amaranthus tricolor and A. 
sanguineus deserve to be mentioned as very 
effective. Cactaceous plants are rare in 
Bombay. The wonderfully large wdiite 
flowers of Cereus triangularis are worth 
sitting up for at night, the only time they 
expand. Some Cactus-like Euphorbias, 
several Agaves, Yuccas, and similar plants 
are fairly common. The selection of herb¬ 
aceous plants in the open ground is more 
restricted and almost limited to bulbous and 
tuberous plants, among which the Eucharis, 
Crinum, Pancratiums, Hymenocallis seem 
perfectly at home in Bombay, and the 
splendid varieties of Hippeastrums are gradu¬ 
ally associating themselves to the fire- 
coloured H. equestre, an old favourite of 
Bombay gardens. The beautiful white or 
pink Zephyrantbes remind us by the shape 
of their flowers of our homely Crocus. 
Single Dahlias, Chrysanthemums are friends 
from homo, which are gradually improving and gaining ground in 
Bombay, w'hile Achimenes succeed fairly well, and nothing is more 
•graceful perhaps than the scarlet-flowered Rusellias. 
Of ornamental Grasses a few are very effective, as the white- 
variegated Arundo versicolor, while the ordinary Arundo Donax, w'hen 
having sufficient room is very picturesque, especially when in flower, the 
Moonj Grasses (Saccarum Sara) is not a bad substitute for the Pampas 
Grass, and the striking foliage and graceful flower spikes of Thysanolana 
■acarifera are very attractive. Portable decorations nothing can be more 
useful than the copper coloured graceful flower spikes of the lately 
introduced Tricholoena rosea. Panicum sulcatum and P. plicatum are 
•effective plants when grown in masses, and Oplismenus imbicilis fol. var. 
(Panicum variegatum) with whfle and pinkish tinted leaves, a mo t 
useful and common plant for covering bare ground. Bamboos are not 
very common in Bombay, and succeed perhaps better c’sewhere. 
I’erhaps nothing adds more to the peculiar beauty of the Bombay 
•gardens than the luxuriance which several hardy Ferns display in open 
ground, often even when fully exposed to the sun. Of those the 
•different kinds of Nephrolep's are the most graceful, while the light 
•coloured Polypodium irioide’, and the dark glossy P. phymatodes are very 
■effective, each in their peculiar way. 
The flower beds arc generally adorned with annuals, among which 
Zinnias, Balsams, the small flowered Sunflower (Helianthus cucumeri- 
folius), Gallardias, Coreopsis, and Cockscombs may be met with at 
different seasons of the year, but arrive to the greatest perfection during 
the rains. In the cold weather our flower beds can be kept more gay by 
annuals, such as Phlox, Poppies, Nasturtium, Chinese Pinks, Portu- 
laccas, Pansies, Verbenas, China Aster, Petunias, &c., which often under 
favourable circumstances succeed admirably. In many cases it is a 
surprise and disappointment to new comers to India to see our flower 
beds embellished with plants familiar to us from home ; and in truth it 
is to be regretted that so very few plants of less ordinary character have 
found their way to our gardens, and as a step in the right direction it 
must be appreciated that such plants as the Zanzibar Balsam, Impatiens 
Sultani, with its beautiful crimson flowers, and the Neilgherry Violet, 
Torenia Fournieri, to which a yellow flowered kind, T. Bailloni, has now 
been added, and a white-flowered variety (White Wings) may be 
expected to flower in this cold season, are rapidly gaining ground in 
our gardens. Edging p’ants are rather an important feature of Bombay 
gardens, and the old-fashioned Justicia gendarussa is now almost every¬ 
FIG. GO. —CALLIPSYCHE MIKABILIS. 
where replaced by other plants, such as the Moss-like Pilea muscosa, 
the neat dwarf Coleus, wdiich when covered with its beautiful sky-blue 
flowers is very attractive ; the Australian Daisy (Vittadenia australis), 
the bright green Stonecrop (Sedum sirmentosum), the hairy crimson 
flowered Purslane (Portulaca pilosa). the dark olive-green, and in 
Bombay rarely variegifed Alternantheras, the dark purple Aerua 
sanguinolenta, the metallic grey and purplish Hemigraphis colorata, the 
sdvery Tradescantia zebrina, and teveral others. I have now, I believe, 
mentioned the most important and peculiar plants grown in Bombay 
gardens, and must defer a peep into the Bombay ferneries to a futucr 
occasion. 
CALLIPSYCHE MIRABILIS. 
Early in the present year the plant of which a flower scape is illus¬ 
trated in fig. 60 was one of the most noticeable in the T range at Kew, 
and though it cannot be claimed as of decorative value, Callipsyche 
undoubtedly possesses much interest. The flowers and their arrangement 
also are so peculiarly distinct that they at once attract attention amongst 
those of the type with which we are famiPar. Moreover the plant is 
easily grown, requiring similar treatment to many bulbs from tropical 
