1875. ] 
STEVIAS. 
235 
S. monardcefolia is perhaps the strongest grower of all the Stevias; the 
leaves are broadly cuneate, the stems branching at one-half their height into 
widely-spread leafy panicles, the flowers rosy tinted ; produced freely. It forms 
a handsome border plant, flowering in September and October. 
S. ovata has the stems numerous, the leaves broadly ovate, the flowers very 
lax in their arrangement—in tiny groups, nestling amid deep green leaves, 
reminding one of some of the Galiums in appearance. It grows from 2 ft. to 3 ft. 
high, and flowers freely through September and October. 
S. serrata is of rigid growth, the stems clothed with narrow distinctly 
serrated leaves, branching towards the top, and terminated by dense tufts of 
flesh-coloured flowers. The flowering branches are from 15 in. to 18 in. in 
height. 
S. trachelioides is the loveliest of the whole herbaceous section. It is of 
slender growth, the flowering stems very laxly disposed, and few in number; the 
flowers are a bright crimson, sufficiently dense in their arrangement to make 
them attractive; the stems are purplish, and the leaves scattered and ovate. 
It flowers in October, so late that it rarely ripens seed in this country. 
The above species are selected from amongst those in cultivation as possessing 
well-defined specific characters. There are several other species, but so closely 
do they approximate to some of those mentioned, that to quote them would be to 
the ordinary cultivator but a mere repetition of names. 
In the shrubby section, so far as I am aware, we have but two species in 
cultivation at the present time, viz., S. salicifolia and S. Lundiana , the latter 
sometimes called S. Lindleycina; possibly both may be more correctly referred 
as mere varieties to the old species S. viscosa , as one important feature in this 
plant is that the long, narrow leaves are covered with a viscid excretion. Its 
habit is distinctly woody and elegantly branching, and it grows to a height varying 
from 1^ ft. to 2 ft., under ordinary culture, but no doubt if planted out in a con¬ 
servatory border it would assume the character of a good-sized shrub. Although 
not hardy, it has a value as a pot-plant for winter-blooming that would be more 
fully appreciated were it more widely known. When struck from cuttings in 
spring, and flowered in 32-sized pots, under the influence of the check from the 
small size of the pots, it produces freely its dense corymbs of white flowers, 
tinged with lilac, in September and October, and will extend its floriferous period 
in a moderately dry atmosphere into November and December, but so densely 
are the flowers arranged, that, failing the important condition of dryness, they are 
liable to be invaded and destroyed by damp, which is the great enemy we have 
to contend with in our greenhouses in November and December. 
S. salicifolia has a somewhat similar aspect, is more vigorous in growth, 
blooms earlier, and is less dense in the arrangement of its pink-coloured 
flowers; moreover, it is not so woody, and hence not so well adapted for 
winter purposes. I have not met with it recently in cultivation, but have no 
doubt it may yet be found in some out-of-the-way corner of the horticultural 
world. Neither of these species ripens seeds in this country, hence they must be 
increased by cuttings ; and a few reserve plants in small pots that may be placed 
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