THE WARM HOUSE 75 
Dracaena. The dracaenas also belong to the Lily family. All are 
natives of tropical countries. This collection includes representatives 
of 20 species and varieties, among them the tree form that may reach 
a height of 60 feet and live for many centuries. The larger speci- 
mens are grown in the Palm House and are described under that 
heading. 
Dioscorea, is a genus of the Dioscoreaceae, the family to which our 
wild yam belongs, that has been cultivated since prehistoric times 
for its edible rootstocks. The genus is represented here by 2 species. 
Dichorisandra mosaica is a member of the Commelinaceae, or Wander- 
ing Jew family, that is valued both for its foliage and for its rich purple 
flowers which greatly resemble the flowers of the Tradescantia of our 
gardens and woods. 
Elaeis guineensis, or O1L PALM, is a palm from western Africa that will 
not stand the temperature in the Palm House, and so is grown here. 
It is of exceedingly slow growth. Its flowers have the odor of anise. 
Its fruits, red in color, and borne in large clusters, yield the palm 
oil of commerce. The fresh oil is eaten like butter. Palm oil is an 
important African export, much used in making soap and candles. 
The kernel of the nut yields palm-nut oil. 
Hyophorbe Vershaffeltii and Hyophorbe amaricaulis are palms from 
Mauritius that, like the preceding species, will not stand the tempera- 
ture of the Palm House, and so must be grown here. Both are ex- 
ceptionally ornamental species. 
Medinilla magnifica, an evergreen shrub from the Philippines, belongs 
to the Melastomaceae, a family represented outside the tropics by 
but one genus, the one to which our meadow beauty belongs. This 
is one of the most gorgeous of all tropical plants. It bears coral-red 
flowers, with purple anthers and yellow filaments, in panicles a foot 
long, and pink bracts that are often as much as 4 inches long. 
Miconia magnifica (Cyanophyllum magnificum) is another member 
of the Melastomaceae. This gorgeous plant from Mexico is one of the 
most magnificent foliage plants known; and the specimen shown here 
is an unusually fine one. 
Stevensonia grandifolia, a rare palm from the Seychelles, is another 
palm that will not stand the temperature of the Palm House. It is 
a gad colored palm, with leaves edged and spotted with brilliant 
red. 
