Plate 96. 
VERSCHAEPPELT’S COLEUS. 
Coleus Verschaeffeltii . 
We think that we shall be doing good service to our subscri¬ 
bers if from time to time we figure, not merely such plants as 
are likely to be favourites, as improvements in the many exist¬ 
ing varieties of florist’s and garden dowers, but also such as 
either have been passed by, owing to some supposed difficulty 
of culture which has been overcome, or such as, from the beauty 
of their foliage, are likely to form ornamental plants for the 
decoration of the conservatory or the flower-garden. We have 
in the former class, already figured, Disci grandrfiora and Ani- 
gozanthus Manglesii, and we now in the latter class bring Coleus 
Verschaeffeltii before our friends. 
This species of Coleus , which bears the name of M. Ver- 
schaeffelt, the eminent Belgian Nurseryman, was introduced to 
this country by Mr. William Bull, of King’s Road, Chelsea, and 
was largely exhibited by him during last season at the various 
horticultural exhibitions in the metropolis, where it attracted a 
considerable degree of attention; and it strikes us as being a 
very manageable plant, capable of being grown to a large size 
for indoor decoration, and probably in warm situations, adding 
a pleasing change to the ribbon system of gardening; brighter 
in colour than Perilla Nanlcinensis , which has been so extensively 
used during the past few years, it will probably supplant that, 
when it comes to be more extensively known and reduced in 
price, and the ease with which it is cultivated will soon effect 
this.* 
* In stating this, we are aware there are some authorities against us, but it 
was used in this way very extensively by M. Terschaefielt last summer in Bel¬ 
gium, and should we have anything of a fine season it will be well tested, as 
the Eoval Horticultural Society is about to try it. 
