July 4, 1891. 
THE GARDENING- WORLD 
703 
ture. When well exposed to sunshine the pitchers get 
more highly coloured than when grown in continuous 
shade, and assume a bronzy purple hue, while the lid 
is heavily reticulated. A flowering plant on the rockery 
in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society has 
large, bronzy purple sepals, tipped with green. The 
petals are purple except at the base, which is creamy 
yellow. The large, umbrella-like stigma is greenish 
yellow, slightly tinted with a bronzy hue. 
Chimaphila corymbosa. 
Probably this plant is best known in gardens under 
the name of Chimaphila umbellata, and Pyrola 
umbellata is also applied to it. The stems are dwarf 
as in the allied Pyrolas, and the same cultural treatment 
is necessary. The leathery oblanceolate leaves are 
evergreen, and mostly crowded towards the apex of the 
stems, which are generally about 6 ins. high. The 
flowers are produced in terminal, pendulous corymbs, 
finally becoming erect and white when expanded. 
While in bud the segments of the corolla are more or 
less tinted with pink. A cool half-shaded position on 
the rockery is the best place for it, and peaty soil 
would also be necessary, at least in the warmer and 
drier parts of the country, in order to ensure perfect 
success. A specimen is now flowering in a recess at the 
base of the rockery in the gardens of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society at Chiswick. 
Eremostachys laciniatus. 
A good plant of this Labiate has a bold and telling 
appearance in a border, and may be compared to some 
of the hardy species of Acanthus as far as general habit 
is concerned. The leaves are of large size, and twice 
divided into irregular segments.- The stems rise to a 
height of 2 ft. or more when well established, bearing 
a many-flowered spike of large, substantial-looking 
flowers. The upper lip is of a dull red, as well as the 
lateral lobes of the lower one ; but the middle one is 
intensified to crimson or scarlet. The whole of the 
upper part of the stem, together with the flowers and 
buds, is covered with a dense coating of woolly hairs, 
which give to the whole a shaggy appearance. There 
are several species, but only a few in cultivation. 
They are natives of Central and Western Asia, and that 
under notice was originally introduced from the Levant 
in 1731. 
Layia heterotricha. 
Several of the prettiest of the annual Composites are 
very little cultivated, although extremely easily 
managed. That under notice is a case in point. The 
flower heads are borne singly on the ends of the shoots ; 
but others arise in the axils of the upper leaves, and 
ultimately overtop or equal the primary one. The rays 
are broad, golden yellow, and trifid, with the apices 
of the lobes ending in a white blotch, which has the 
effect of giving the heads a parti-coloured appearance, 
resembling in some respects the flowers of Limnanthes 
Douglasii, only they are flat. Like the rest this species 
is an annua], and requires merely to be sown in the open 
border, thinned out, and kept clean. 
Spigelia splendens. 
The brilliancy of the flowers of this species recalls that 
of Scutellaria mocciniana ; but the shape of the leaves, 
and the aggregation of the greater number of the larger 
leaves towards the apex of the stem recalls Paris 
quadrifida. The lower ones are small and distant, 
while the upper ones are elliptic or obovate-elliptic, of 
different shapes and width. The stems vary from 
12 ins. to 18 ins. in height, and terminate in secund 
racemes that are curved towards their tips, somewhat 
after the manner of a Myosotis or Heliotrope. 
According to the arrangement of the leaves, the flowers 
also should be in four ranks ; but two of them are 
wholly suppressed so that the flowers appear in two 
ranks on the upper side of the axis. They are brilliant 
scarlet, cylindrical, slightly inflated under the four- 
lobed or toothed mouth, which is white. The lower or 
older flowers commence to open first, and finish off at 
the tip of the raceme. The species is a native of 
Mexico and Guatemala, and therefore requires stove 
treatment. Its congener, S. marilandica, is hardy or 
almost so, but not so showy. That under notice may 
be seen in the stove at Kew. 
Gesnera cardinalis. 
A batch of plants of this species is very effective in 
the stove during the summer months. The quantity 
of flowers produced by a single plant varies greatly, 
according to treatment. Small and badly grown 
specimens produce a few flowers only ; but large ones 
under a skilled cultivator bear a cymosely branching 
inflorescence, and numerous large bright scarlet flowers. 
The latter are covered all over with coarse hairs, and 
as well as the foliage, present a shaggy appearance. 
The leaves vary remarkably in size and shape, some 
being ovate, others cordate, and the larger ones roundly 
cordate. The stems are quite dwarf, not exceeding 
10 ins. or 12 ins. in height. Somewhat similar treat¬ 
ment to that accorded Gloxinias will answer in this 
case. The tuberous rootstocks may be wintered in a 
pit or stove, where they may be kept dry, and a suc¬ 
cession insured by starting batches at different times, 
commencing about February or March. Propagation 
is effected by offsets or divisions of the tubers. During 
the summer months a night temperature of 65° should be 
kept up. Owing to the hairy character of the foliage, 
little or no syringing should be given. 
Rodgersia podophylla. 
Planted in an ordinary border, this herbaceous plant 
forms by no means a conspicuous object, owing to the 
poor development the foliage would make. Being by 
nature a semi-aquatic, the proper place for it is by the 
side of a running stream, or the edge of a pond, where 
its roots can dip into the water and draw copious 
supplies of moisture to keep up the vigour of the huge, 
sub-orbicular and digitate leaves. Those given off 
directly from the rootstock are the largest and finest, 
consisting of five long wedge-shaped, trifid and serrated 
segments of a rich bronzy green hue, especially in the 
younger stages. On this account the popular name of 
Rodgers’ Bronze-leaf is sometimes applied to the plant. 
Notwithstanding the ornamental value of this plant, it 
was only introduced from Japan about eleven years 
ago. The flowers are terminal, and borne in one-sided 
panicled cymes. They are very numerous, and 
although consisting solely of the creamy white 
calyx are highly attractive in conjunction with the 
foliage. 
Fine foliage of Carapa guianensis. 
The young foliage of this tree is practically as orna¬ 
mental as a similar quantity of flowers. The leaves 
are pinnate, consisting of eight to ten pairs of large 
leathery leaflets, and when these expand, they are of a 
bright crimson or red, changing to pink, then to a 
shining satiny hue, pale green, and finally dark green. 
“When the young growths are being made the tree is 
very ornamental. In its native country it attains a 
height of 60 ft., but specimens can be kept to any size 
for the decoration of the stove. A good-sized specimen 
may be seen in the Palm house at Kew. 
The Yellow Butter wort. 
It is a pity we cannot naturalise, or at least establish 
many of the prettier and hardier Butterworts in our 
bog gardens, for they impart a charm of variety and 
interest to any collection. Unfortunately, the Yellow 
Butterwort (Pinguicula lutea) is only half hardy in 
this country, although a native of North America, from 
whence it was originally introduced in 1815. Since 
that time it has no doubt been several times lost to 
cultivation. The flowers are bright yellow, with the 
two upper segments obversely heart-shaped, and each 
of the three lower ones with about five lobes to each. 
Sometimes all of them are like the upper ones, even on 
the same plant, although a distinct varietal name is 
given to this form. The flower scapes arise from the 
rosette of leaves, which closely resemble those of 
our native Butterworts. The plant would be a 
beautiful associate for cool Orchids, or other plants 
cultivated in houses where the atmosphere is cool and 
moist. 
Iris Susiana. 
From the account one occasionally hears of this plant, 
a supposition has arisen that it is difficult to cultivate ; 
and consequently some cultivators have been led to 
take a great amount of trouble in attempting to 
cultivate it, with no great degree of success. The plant 
is sometimes coddled and half starved in order to 
flower it, whereas the plant responds wonderfully to 
liberal treatment. A bed of good turfy loam, and well 
drained, may be made up in a sunny or well-exposed 
position, planted and kept well watered during the 
growing season, with every hope of success. A mulch¬ 
ing of coco-nut fibre during the early part of the season 
would prevent the soil from getting dry, so that the 
flowering period would be of long duration. The 
foliage and rhizomes have plenty of time to get matured 
after the plants have done flowering, and the mulching 
could be removed after that time. The unusual 
colours and the great size of the blooms are induce¬ 
ments to grow the species. The purplish falls are 
densely spotted with purplish black, and there is a 
black blotch close to the black and yellow beard. The 
standards are lilac, spotted with black, and lined with 
the same hue towards the margin. 
Lindelofla spectabilis. 
Few of the large-flowered Borageworts are of so decided 
a blue as that under notice. The buds are purple, but 
after expansion the corolla is of a rich warm blue. The 
stems are 12 ins. to 15 ins. high, and decumbent at the 
base ; and the plant, although a native of the northern 
parts of India, is perfectly hardy, even in the northern 
counties of Britain. Its beauty and value as a garden 
plant should secure it a place in every collection. 
Other names sometimes given it in gardens are Cyno- 
glossum loDgiflorum and Symphytum longiflorum. 
Amorphophallus campanulatus. 
About 1 ft. to 15 ins. is the usual size of the spathe of 
this plant, although it is often considerably under it, 
and this notwithstanding the statements that have 
sometimes been made concerning it. The outer surface 
of it is pale green, variegated with grey blotches, and 
suffused with brown on the upper third. The brown 
on the same region of the inner surface is darker in hue, 
while the very base is of a purplish black. The curious 
looking spadix or process occupying the centre of the 
spathes terminates in a broad, wrinkled, brownish 
purple or almost black cap. The leaves are developed 
after the flowering period is over, and may be described 
as more handsome than the spathe. The latter is 
certainly a most curious object, and for that reason 
many might be induced to grow the plant. The 
rootstock may be treated in the same way as those of 
Arisrema, both during the growing period and when 
at rest. A large number of specimens at Kew have 
kept up a succession of flowers for many weeks past. 
-- 
THE MOSQUITO CATCHER 
PLANT. 
Rejoice, New Jersey, and be glad, Long Island ; the 
music of the festive mosquito has been changed to an 
agonising wail, for out of the Flowery Kingdom has 
come a trap for the unwary, and the blood-thirsty rascal 
pays for his supper with his life. 
It belongs to the Milk-weed family of plants, and is 
known botanically as Yincetoxicum acuminatum. 
Generically it has both good and bad relations, for 
instance, the showy Asclepias tuberosa, the favourite 
Hoya and the delightful Stephanotis all belong to the 
same family, and so too does the fcetid Stapelia. 
And this mosquito catcher is a really pretty, hardy 
herbaceous perennial, and well worth having for its 
beauty as a garden plant. It grows about 18 ins. to 
24 ins. high, and forms a good bushy clump of some¬ 
what slender shoots that have opposite leaves and 
axillary loose clusters of starry white blossoms that 
are borne' abundantly in May and June, and scatter- 
ingly all the summer. In the centre of the flowers in 
the clefts of the corona is secreted a viscid juice, which 
is peculiarly attractive to mosquitos and some other 
flies, but woe be to the unwary ; whoever dips his pro¬ 
boscis into the alluring liquid never draws it out again, 
for it is held fast, and no amount of tuggmg and 
plunging and buzzing will free the insect from its 
cruel captor. Mosquitos often live for two days 
or more in this trap, but once caught they never 
escape. 
Now here is an interesting, beautiful, and useful 
plant. It is of little avail for cut flowers, as it wilts 
soon after being cut; but if you wish to attract the 
attention of the children, what plant can you place 
before them that will interest them more ? Your own 
little boy or girl will bring around every little playmate 
and acquaintance it can scrape up to see the Japanese 
plant that catches mosquitos. And not only do they 
see the plant itself, but the mosquitos too that it has 
caught. It is an indelible object lesson, and there 
is not a boy or girl in the country who does not want 
one of these mosquito plants for him or herself, and 
another for his or her mother. Then why don’t you, 
like the world-renowned Barnum, do something to please 
the children ? They want mosquito catcher plants.— 
W. F., in American Florist. 
