Sprengélia incarnàta,, the only species, a very pretty plant, allied to Epàcris; small foliage, long, accuminate; flowers small, pink, bearded, and in close spikes; grows freely, delighting in shade. The pots must be well drained, and the plants, when dormant, watered sparingly, for if they get sodden about the roots, they very seldom recover.
Stylidíums, six species of pretty litte plants, with small linear leaves, and remarkable for the singular elasticity of the style or column, which, when the flower is newly expanded, lays to one side, and on being touched with a pin starts with violence to the opposite side. S. graminifòlium, S. fruticòsum, S. laricifòlium, and S. adnàtum, are all free flowering; flowers in spikes, very small; colour light and dark pink; blooms from April to July. S. adnàtum is half herbaceous, and should, when growing, be kept nigh the glass, or it will be drawn, and the flowers become of a pale colour. They are all of easy cultivation.
Styphèlias, seven species of very showy flowers, with mucronate leaves; corolla in a long tubular form, having several bundles of hairs in it; segments reflex and bearded. S. tubiflòra, crimson, S. triflòra, crimson and green; S. adscéndens, and S. longifòlia, are beautiful species. They grow freely, and should be well drained, as too much water is very hurtful to them. In summer they ought not to be much exposed to the hot sun, or the foliage will become brown.
Salpiglóssis, four species of fine herbaceous Green-house plants, natives of Chili. The flowers are tubular and campanulate. S. pícta, flowers white and blue painted; S. atropurpùrea, flowers dark purple, and S. isnuàta, flowers crimson, are superb, and if planted in the garden during summer will flower profusely. They must be lifted in October, and taken under protection.
Tagètes lùcida is found in many of our collections. The leaves are simple, oblong, and finely serrated. When rubbed by the hand, they have an agreeable fragrance; the flowers are syngenesious, small, and in terminale bunches. It is herbaceous; and when about an inch grown should be divided and potted into five inch pots. Repot it again about the first of June. It keeps in flower from July to November.
Testudinària, Elephant's foot, or Hottentot's bread, two species remarkable for their appearance. The root or bulb, if it may be so called, is of a conical shape, and divided into transverse sections. Those of one foot diameter are computed to be 150 years of age. It is a climbing herbaceous plant, with entire reniforme leaves of no beauty; flowers small; colour green. The pots must be well drained, for when the plant is inactive it is in danger of suffering from moisture, and ought not to get any water. T. Elephántiphes and T. montàna are the species, natives of the Cape of Good Hope, and require the warmest part of the house.
Táxus nucífera, is the only species that requires protection, and bears a small acorn; flowers are trifling; an evergreen, with ovate, lanceolate foliage, thickly set on the wood; will grow in any situation. There is a plant in our collections known as T. chinénsis or T. elongáta, which is Podocárpus elongàtus. It has lanceolate leaves, erect growing, and very hardy; flowers mœonacious, and of no estimation except to the curious.
Telopèa speciosíssimus, is the only species, and was once called Embóthrium speciosíssimus. It is now called Telopèa in allusion to the brilliant crimson flowers, which from their great size are seen at a large distance, and which render it one of the most conspicuous productions of New South Wales. The leaves are oblong, deeply toothed, veiny, and smooth; wood strong; flower ovate, connate, and terminale, and of considerable duration. There ought to be a specimen of it in every collection. The pots must be well drained, and the plant in the extreme heat of summer not too much exposed to the sun.
Templetònia, a very pretty genus, containing only two species. T. retùsa is an erect growing shrub, with wedge-shaped green leaves. T. gláuca, leaves glacuous, blunt, and a little apiculate; flowers of both scarlet. They are leguminose plants of free growth, and should be well drained; blooming from April to June.
Tristànias, seven species of evergreen shrubs. Several of them require to be very large before they flower. T. neriifòlia is a very neat little plant, and flowers abundantly; colour yellow; shape star-like, and in clusters; leaves lanceolate and opposite. T. conférta, white flowers in spikes, leaves alternate. T. suavèolens, sweet-scented; flowers yellow. They are all of very easy culture.