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Eranthemum (From eran to love and anthemon)
(from eran, to love, and anthemon, a flower; referring to the beauty of the flowers). ORD. Acanthaceae. A genus containing about thirty species of handsome stove plants, of elegant and free-flowering habit. They are found in the warmer regions of both hemispheres. Propagated by cuttings, which may be inserted at any time from March to June. Being softwooded subjects, the young shoots root readily in peaty soil, if placed in a close frame, or under a bell glass, where there is a bottom heat of 70deg. When rooted, the plants should be potted off singly in 3in. pots, in a compost of equal parts leaf mould, peat, and loam, with the addition of a little sand. If again placed in bottom heat, the plants root and grow rapidly. As they advance in size, they should be potted on, and stood near the glass, supplying an abundance of water in warm weather. This induces a stubby growth, which favours free-flowering. A side shelf in the plant stove, near the light, or a raised bed in the same structure, are good positions for bringing Eranthemums into flower. The plants may be cut back after blossoming, and kept somewhat dry for a time; they should then be potted into larger sizes for another season. Some species are cultivated chiefly for their handsome variegated foliage, and others for their floral beauty. E. atropurpureum is a fine species, with dark coloured foliage; and E. pulchellum has beautiful blue flowers, that are produced in winter and early spring. E. albo-marginatum (white-margined).* l. oblong-elliptic, 4in. to 6in. long, 2in. to 3in. broad, broadly margined with white, and irregularly suffused with grey. Polynesia, 1880.
E. Andersoni (Anderson's). fl. numerously disposed in long terminal leafless cymulose spikes or panicles; corolla with the two upper and lateral lobes pure white, and the lower segments very thickly dotted with crimson-lake and broadly margined with white. November. l. ovate-oblong. India, 1868. (B. M. 5771.) E. aspersum (sprinkled).* fl. white, spotted with purple, produced freely in short axillary clusters; lower larger lobe rich deep purple. March. l. ovate-oblong, 2in. long, dark green, veined at the margins. Solomon Isles, 1867. A handsome slender-growing species. (B. M. 5711.) E. atropurpureum (dark purple).* l. and stems dark lurid purple. Polynesia, 1875.
E. cinnabarinum (cinnabar).* fl. reddish-pink, disposed in loose panicles from the ends of the branches. l. ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, deep green. Martaban, 1880. A very handsome species. (R. G. 916.) There is a pretty variety (ocellatum) of this, having crimson flowers with a white eye (B. M. 5921).
E. Cooperi (Cooper's). fl. white, handsomely spotted with lines of small purple dots, axillary. June. l. 3in. long, 5in. wide, narrow-lanceolate, dark green; margins deeply cut. New Caledonia, 1864. A handsome sub-shrubby plant. (B. M. 5467.) E. crenulatum grandiflorum (large-flowered scolloped). fl. pinkish-lilac; racemes terminal, aggregated; corolla funnel-shaped with a very slender, almost filiform, white tube, dilated at the throat; pedicels very short, small, approximate or remote, subtended by one or two small bracts. l. rather long-petioled ovate, sometimes cordate at the base, or lanceolate, acuminate, penniveined, generally quite entire at the margin. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Moulmein, 1864. A moderate-sized glabrous shrub.
E. eldorado (El Dorado). l. yellow, mottled and veined with green. Polynesia, 1877.
E. laxiflorum (loose-flowered). fl. purplish, disposed in terminal panicles. l. ovate-oblong, tapering at both ends. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Polynesia, 1877. (B. M. 6336.) E. Moorei (Moore's). l. with a dull sap-green centre, which gradually softens off to a bright canary-yellow. It is very curious and distinct. Polynesia. E. pulchellum (pretty).* fl. of a rich bright blue, very freely produced. April. l. petiolate, broadly ovate, dark green; surface somewhat wrinkled. h. 2ft. East India, 1796. One of the prettiest of the genus for winter decoration. (A. B. R. ii. 88.) E. reticulatum (reticulated).* l. ovate-lanceolate, green, with a network of gold. Polynesia, 1875. SYN. E. Schomburgkii. (I. H. n. s. 349.) E. Schomburgkii (Schomburgk's). A synonym of E. reticulatum. E. tricolor (three-coloured). l. opposite or ternate, oblong-ovate, olive-green, blotched irregularly with greyish-purple and salmony-pink; tints more or less varied. Polynesia, 1876.
E. tuberculatum (tuberculated).* fl. pure white, nearly 1 1/2in. across. l. dense, small, oval. New Caledonia, 1863. An elegant species, branching freely into slender twigs, tuberculated. (B. M. 5405.) E. variabile (variable). l. lanceolate, with an irregular outline, 3in. to 4in. long, 1in. broad, variegated with different tints of bronzy-green, intermixed with creamy-white, crimson, and rosy-pink. 1879. A slender-growing plant, varying considerably in colour and habit. (P. M. B. xiii. 75.)