Ixòras, a genus of fine flowering plants, and does extremely well in our collections in comparison to the state they are grown in England. The genus specifically is much confused amongst us, either from error originating with those who packed them for this country, or after they have arrived. I. purpùrea, leaves oblong, ovate, blunt; flowers crimson; it is now called I. obavàta. I. crocàta, leaves oval, lanceolate, narrowing towards the stem, smooth, underside of the leaf the nerves are very perceptible; flowers saffron coloured. I. ròsea, leaves large, regular, oblong, a little acute, very distant on the wood, centre nerve strong; flowers rose coloured in large corymbs, branching: I. Bandhùca, leaves very close to the stem, ovate, accuminate; nerves straight, middle nerve stronger than any other of the genus; flowers scarlet, corymbs crowded. I. Blánda, leaves small, lanceolate, ovate; flowers blush, cymes branching in three. I. dichotìma, leaves largest of the genus, ovate, accuminate, undulate, footstalk 3/8 of an inch long; whereas none of the leaves of the other species has footstalks of any length. It is now called I. undulàta, flowers are white. I. grandiflòra, leaves ovate, elongate, sessile; flowers in crowded corymbs, and scarlet; is called, I. coccínea in the Botanical Magazine, by which it is known in our collections, and is the same as I. strícta. I. flámmea and I. speciòsa, leaves oblong, subsessile; flowers scarlet, in round spreading dense corymbs. I. fúlgens, same as I. longifòlia and I. lanceolàta; foliage glossy; flowers scarlet. I. Pavétta, the flowers are white, and said to be sweet-scented, the leaves of all the species are opposite; there are a few other species that we are not thoroughly acquainted with, but have been thus explicit to prevent error as far as possible in this beautiful genus. They are all evergreen, low growing shrubs; the plants grow best in Jersey black sandy earth, but flower most abundantly with half loam.
Jacarándas, a genus of beautiful shrubs, containing five species, with Bignônia-like blue or purple flowers. I. mimòsifolia and I. filicifòlia are the finest. The former has blue, and the latter purple flowers; in loose branching panicles. They are evergreen, and easy of culture.
Jambòsas, about twelve species, which have been principally taken from Eugènia, and contain its finest plants, and is a splendid genus of evergreen shrubs. E. Jámbos is now Jambòsa vulgàris, which flowers and fruits freely in our Hot-houses. The fruit is about an inch in diameter, eatable, and smelling like a rose, hence called "Rose Apple." The petals of all the species are simple, and may rather be considered the calyx; the beauty of the flowers is in the many erect spreading stamens, either straw, white, rose, or green colour. J. malaccénsis, Malay Apple, is greatly esteemed for the delightful fragrance of its fruit. We frequently see J. purpuráscens, which is a native of the West Indies, going under J. m. which is an Asiatic species, with white flowers and entire oblong leaves; whereas the leaves of J. p. are small, ovate, accuminate, young shoots and leaves purple. J. macrophylla, white, and J. amplexicaùlis, green, have very large oblong, lanceolate leaves, and is of a strong woody habit. They are all easy of culture.
Jasmìnum, Jasmine, is a favourite genus of shrubs, for the exquisite fragrance of its flowers, of which none are more delightful than J. Sàmbac or Arabian Jasmine. There are two other varieties of it, J. S. múltiplex, semi-double; and J. S. trifòliatum, Double Tuscan Jasmine. The latter requires a great heat to make it grow and flower freely. We suspect there is another variety in cultivation. J. hirsùtum has cordate downy leaves; flowers many, in terminale, sessile umbels. J. paniculàtum, white, flowering in terminale panicles from March to November; leaves smooth, oval, obtusely accuminate; plant scarce. J. simplicifòlium is in our collections under the name of J. lucidum; plant spreading; leaves oblong and shining. There are several other species, all with white flowers, and generally easy of culture.
Játropha, Physic-nut, is a genus of six strong growing shrubs, natives of the West Indies. J. multifida and I. panduræfòlia have the handsomest foliage, and both have scarlet flowers; the appearance of the foliage of this genus is the only object; the flowers are small, in coarse disfigured panicles, and several of the species have not been known to flower in artificial cultivation. The seeds of J. cúrcas are often received from the West Indies; the leaves are cordate, angular, and smooth. J. manihot, now Manihot cannabìna, is the Cassada root, the juice of which, when expressed, is a strong poison. They are all easy of culture: want of strong heat in winter will make them cast their leaves, but do them no other injury.
Justícia. A few species of this genus are fine showy hot-house plants. J. coccínea has large terminale spikes of scarlet flowers, blooming from December to March, and a very desirable plant, of easy culture, and should be in every collection; it is apt to grow spindly, if not kept near the glass. I. picta, with its varieties; I. lúcida and I. formósa, are fine shrubby species. I. speciòsa is a beautiful purple flowering herbaceous plant.
Kæmpfèria, an Asiatic genus of tuberose rooted plants; none of them in our collections, except K. rotúnda; the flowers come up a few inches above the pot, without the leaves, in April and May and frequently sooner; they are purple and light blue, partially streaked and spotted; leaves large, oblong, purplish coloured beneath. The roots when dormant ought to be kept in the pot without watering, otherwise they will not flower freely. No bulbs or strong tuberose rooted plants, will flower in perfection if kept moist when they are not growing.
Lantàna, a genus of twenty species, all free flowering shrubs; the flowers are small, in round heads blooming from the axils, in yellow, orange, pink, white, and changeable colours; the plants are of such a rough straggling growth, that they are not esteemed. There are four or five species in our collections. They will not bear a strong fumigation; therefore, when the Hot-house is under that operation, they must be set down in the pathway, or other low part in the house.
Latànias. This genus contains three species of handsome palms. L. borbònica is one of the finest of the Palmæ, not growing to great magnitude; the leaves or fronds are plaited flabelliform, leaflets smooth at the edge, footstalk spiny, and the plant spreading. L. rùbra, fronds same as the former, but leaflets more divided and serrulate; footstalk unarmed; foliage reddish. L. glaucophylla, same as L. rùbra, only the foliage glaucous. They are all valuable plants, and are obtained by seed from the East Indies. They require plenty of pot room.