IPO 
mimosa. An extensive genus of rather 
tall-growing plants, which generally re¬ 
quire to be treated with a temperature 
about intermediate between the stove 
and greenhouse. Their flowers are ex¬ 
tremely beautiful, and in some few cases 
are produced sufficiently numerous to 
render the species highly ornamental. 
Perhaps the best is I. Harrisii, or as it is 
now called Calliandra Harrisii; the in¬ 
florescence of this plant owes its beauty 
to the many hair-like, prettily-coloured 
stamens, which rise above the petals and 
form a circular head of vivid crimson and 
white filaments. They grow freely in a 
mixture of peat and loam, and if an in¬ 
termediate house is not at hand, should 
be kept in the stove to grow; ripening 
the wood in the greenhouse through the 
autumn and winter, and returning them 
to the stove in early spring to flower 
and again grow. 
IPOMkEA (Linn.) Nat. Ord. Convol- 
vulacea. The value of this large genus of 
climbers as ornaments to the pillars and 
rafters of the stove, or for training to 
trellis, is well known; the large specious 
flowers of some, and the vivid or delicate 
colours of all the species, are sure to 
raise admirers wherever they are grown. 
There are a few which may be said to 
bear the atmosphere of a greenhouse, 
such as I. Learii (Pharbitis Learii ); but 
it is only when grown in the stove that 
their real merits can be estimated. A 
mixture of loam, leaf-mould or peat, and 
rotten manure, suits them well, and in 
summer frequent applications of water 
are necessary, both to the roots and the 
foliage; but in winter, when the stems 
are cut back, little or none should be 
given. 
IPOMOPSIS (Micheli.) Nat. Ord. 
Polemoniacea. The only two species of 
these plants at present known are as 
beautiful as they are difficult to manage; 
it is seldom indeed they are seen in per¬ 
fection, but when that is effected, few 
plants exceed their splendid appearance. 
They are biennials, requiring to be sown 
in the summer in well-drained pots of 
loam and sandy peat, and after being 
transplanted to other pots in the autumn, 
should be kept on an elevated shelf in 
mi 
the greenhouse, so as to be at the same 
time protected from frost, yet sufficiently 
near to the glass to prevent their being 
drawn up weakly; much care is neces¬ 
sary at this time to guard them from 
drips or excessive moisture, it is safer 
to err in the opposite direction; for if 
once over-watered, it is rarely possible 
to preserve them, indeed with the ut¬ 
most care it is not probable that more 
than half the number will be alive in 
the succeeding spring. But those which 
are left should be shifted and encouraged 
to grow till they produce their flowers, 
which will be in the following July; the 
brilliant scarlet of the blossoms will, how¬ 
ever, then repay all the former trouble. 
The species are I. elegans and I. picta. 
IRIS (Linn.) Nat. Ord. Iridacea. 
An extensive genus of hardy free-flower¬ 
ing plants, known through some or other 
of its members in nearly every flower- 
garden. Those having tuberous roots 
are perhaps the most common, because 
more easily managed; they grow best 
in light rich loamy soil, though they do 
not refuse to vegetate in even the poor¬ 
est earth, and when once established, 
seldom require other attention than an 
occasional thinning to keep them within 
proper bounds, for their creeping stems 
speedily cover a considerable portion of 
ground. The tall-growing kinds should 
be planted in the shrubbery borders, or 
in large beds, while some of the dwarf, 
or more curious, may be introduced even 
to the best parts of the garden. I. sub¬ 
bifora is a lovely little plant; and I. 
susiana, from the singular mixture of 
colours and the large size of its flowers, 
deserves to be taken care of. The varie¬ 
ties of the bulbous-rooted English and 
Spanish Irises (/. xiphium and I. xiplii- 
oides), are among the very best of our 
garden-flowers; these should be planted 
in rich earth and a good situation about 
September, and in the blooming season 
should be well watered, to preserve the 
foliage till the bloom is passed; when 
they have ceased to grow, the bulbs 
may be taken up, if it is desired to 
move or separate them; but they should 
not be dried or kept out ok the ground 
for a longer period than six weeks, or 
