Familiar Indian Flowers: with Coloured Plates/Russelia Juncea

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AS far as I have been able to ascertain there are only two varieties of this plant met with in India. The "Russelia Juncea,” which is depicted in the opposite plate, is certainly the most common, and becomes almost a weed during the rains, when every portion that touches the ground takes root, thereby considerably extending and increasing the size of the original bush.

It is an extremely handsome plant, being of a bushy appearance with tubular bright scarlet flowers, which grow in great profusion on its rush-like stems.

The flowers vary in length from half an inch to an inch, and have a sort of open lip at the termination.

The general appearance is very pleasing, as there are no harsh or angular stems or stalks to offend the eye; but the whole bush looks like a graceful feathery mass of a bright green hue, spangled over with the above-named brilliant tube-like flowers.

It is necessary to prune this bush well when not in blossom, or it soon gets beyond bounds.

It is propagated either by division of roots or by layers, which, as before remarked, take most easily.

This plant is often grown in hothouses in England, but its treatment there is totally different, and would never answer in this hot climate. It is usually placed in hanging baskets, from which it droops in a picturesque manner; but this treatment would be unsuccessful in India from want of sufficient moisture and depth of earth for the roots.

It is a peculiarity about this plant worthy of remark that it has no green leaves of any size or importance; the entire bush, which is about three or four feet high, consists of green reed-like stems upon which the flowers grow.

I have never been able to obtain seeds from the Russelia, though I often watched for the seed capsules to form; but it was only curiosity that prompted me to do so, as propagation is so casy in other ways. From its light and feathery, appearance this plant is a great addition to a bouquet, especially when the flowers are out in perfection.

It is a hardy plant on the whole and will grow in almost any soil, but is much i improved by irrigation.

It requires a good deal of water, but if allowed to lodge or rest among the roots they very soon rot and the plant is destroyed.

"Russelia Floribunda,” the second variety, bears yery little resemblance to the foregoing plant; the flowers are the same colour and shape, but are borne in crowded bunches along and at the head of every stem. This variety is also more constantly in blossom.

If grown in pots these plants must be often taken up and the roots divided; but they are much more suited to a border or shrubbery where there is space to show off their handsome feathery appearance. ​