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Ixora (Name of a Malabar Idol)
(the name of a Malabar Idol, to which the flowers of some of the species are offered). SYNS. Siderodendron, Sideroxyloides. ORD. Rubiaceae. A genus comprising about 100 species of stove evergreen shrubs or small trees, natives, for the most part, of the tropical regions of Asia and Africa, and rarely of America, Australia, and the Islands of the Pacific. Flowers scarlet, pink, or white, handsome, in terminal corymbs; corolla salver-shaped; tube long, slender. Leaves opposite, rarely ternate, verticillate, coriaceous, petiolate or sessile. Ixoras are amongst the most handsome and gorgeous of stove flowering plants. They are usually of a compact bushy habit, requiring but little training, and the foliage itself is by no means unattractive. Propagation is readily effected by cuttings: these should be short-jointed, and moderately firm, and be inserted singly in small pots, which should afterwards be plunged, in a close frame, with a bottom heat of about 80deg., and kept shaded. Roots will, as a rule, soon be emitted; the plants may then be inured to the open house, and placed in 5in. pots. If kept in a high temperature, and supplied with plenty of moisture, they soon grow. Some of the species and hybrids flower in this size, and are very attractive. A compost of fibry peat, a little leaf soil, and plenty of silver sand, is most suitable for Ixoras at all stages of their growth. It should be made rather fine for cuttings, and used in a rough state for established plants. Almost any amount of heat and moisture may be applied to these subjects in summer; but a cooler and somewhat drier atmosphere should be maintained in autumn and winter, for ripening the wood. Young plants succeed and grow freely, if plunged in a bed of fermenting material; but this should not be allowed to become very hot. A little shade from bright sunshine is advisable in summer time; but in dull weather, and at other seasons, all possible light should be admitted. I. acuminata (pointed-leaved). fl. pure white, fragrant, large; tube 1 1/2in. long; corymbs decompound, crowded, almost sessile. l. petiolate, broad-lanceolate, acuminated, smooth. h. 3ft. to 6ft. India. I. barbata (bearded). fl. in terminal sub-corymbose panicles; calyx tube reddish-green, globose; corolla tube greenish-white, 1 1/2in. long, slender, a little curved; limb pure white within; mouth encircled with a delicate fringe of hairs. July. l. elliptic-oblong, acute, penninerved, sub-coriaceous, glossy, short, petioled; stipules ovate, acuminate. h. 6ft. Andaman Islands, &c., 1823. Stove. (B. M. 4513.) I. chelsoni (Chelsea).* fl. bright orange-salmon, shaded with pink; corymbs very large, full, round. Summer. A very handsome garden hybrid, having a profuse-flowering and dwarf-branching growth.
I. coccinea (scarlet).* fl. bright red, disposed in very large heads or corymbs, which are umbellate; tube of corolla nearly 2in. long. Summer. l. sessile, cordate, oblong, acute, shining. h. 3ft. to 4ft. East Indies, 1814. An elegant plant. SYN. I. grandiflora (B. R. 154.) I. c. Bandhuca (Bandhuca). fl. deep scarlet; tube over 1in. long; corymbs contracted. Summer. h. 2ft. to 4ft. India, 1815. (B. R. 513.) I. c. superba (superb). A handsome variety, having deeper-coloured flowers, and much broader and thicker petals, than the typical species. It is also of a more vigorous growth. Java, 1846.
I. Colei (Cole's).* fl. pure white, numerously produced in large round corymbs. l. dark green, roundish. A very handsome strong, free, and robust growing garden hybrid, remaining in flower for a considerable length of time. A cross between l. coccinea and I. stricta alba.
I. concinna (neat).* fl., when first expanding, of a bright salmon-colour, gradually changing to deep salmon-pink, disposed in large and compact corymbs. An extremely handsome garden hybrid of 1882.
I. congesta (crowded). fl. bright orange, corymbose. Summer. l. broad-oblong. h. 4ft. Tenasserim, 1845. (B. M. 4325, under name of I. Griffithii.) I. decora (decorous). fl. yellow, flaked with rosy-crimson, very large, disposed in noble corymbs. A handsome and attractive garden form. 1882. I. Dixiana (Dixie's). fl. dark orange; corymbs very large. A handsome seedling form, of a good hardy constitution, and free-flowering habit. 1868. I. Duffii (Duff's). A synonym of I. macrothyrsa.
I. floribunda (abundant-flowering). fl. reddish-scarlet, disposed in large dense corymbs. An excellent garden variety, of robust growth. I. Fraseri (Fraser's).* fl. brilliant flamed salmon-colour; corolla tubes carmine-scarlet; corymbs numerous, large, terminal, globular. l. rich dark green. A most effective and beautiful garden variety, of free and vigorous growth.
I. fulgens (glittering).* fl. clear orange-scarlet; corymbs dense, terminal. l. on short petioles, linear-lanceolate, acuminated. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Java, &c. A most desirable species. (B. M. 4523, under name of I. salicifolia.) I. grandiflora (large-flowered). A synonym of I. stricta. I. javanica (Java).* fl. orange; corymbs dense, on long peduncles, trichotomous. Summer. l. ovate-oblong, acuminated. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Java, 1846. Very distinct and desirable. (B. M. 4586.) I. lanceolaria (lance-leaved). fl. greenish-white, rather lax, in terminal, pedunculate, trichotomously-branched corymbs. April. l. patent, often 9in. long, lanceolate, acuminate, somewhat coriaceous; nerves running parallel, and almost at right angles with midrib; stipules small, erect. h. 2ft. India, 1847. Stove. (B. M. 4399.) I. laxiflora (loose-flowered). fl. very fragrant, small, handsome, in large, terminal, singularly trichotomous panicles; calyx deep red; corolla white, tinged with pink; tube 1 1/2in. long, slender, cut to the base into four spreading segments. Summer. l., largest 9in. long, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, shortly petioled. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Upper Guinea. (B. M. 4482.) I. macrothyrsa (large-thyrsed).* fl. deep red, becoming tinged with crimson as they get older, in immense trusses. l. ample, attaining 10in. in length, beautiful deep green. South Sea Islands, 1878. A fine plant. SYN. I. Duffii (under which name it is figured in Gn. April 6, 1878). I. odorata (fragrant). fl. pure white, quickly changing to yellow-brown, deliciously fragrant, 4in. to 5in. in length, in large, terminal, much-divided panicles, 1ft. or more in diameter. May. l. fine dark green, opposite, ample, broadly-ovate or obovate-lanceolate, spreading, 6in. to 12in. long, acute or rather acuminate, entire, coriaceous; lower ones tapering to a footstalk; upper ones smaller, more ovate, sessile. h. 3ft. Madagascar, 1844. (B. M. 4191.) I. picturata (painted). A distinct and handsome hybrid between l. Williamsii and I. stricta, having leaves and growth after the style of the former, with the fine compact corymb of flowers of the latter. 1880. I. Pilgrimii (Pilgrim's).* fl. bright orange-scarlet, shaded with crimson; corymbs perfectly round, about 7in. in diameter. A hybrid from I. Williamsii, having the same fine constitution, and, like it, not requiring so much heat, by 10deg. to 15deg., as I. coccinea, and most others. It is one of the finest forms yet produced. 1880. (F. M. n. s. 428.) I. princeps (chief).* fl. buff-white, changing to a deep reddish-orange, produced in the greatest profusion. l. 6in. to 7in. long, by 2in. wide. Java. A fine exhibition species.
I. profusa (profuse). fl. rosy-salmon colour, very freely produced, densely disposed in enormous corymbs. A handsome garden variety, admirably adapted for exhibition and general decorative purposes. 1882.
I. regina (queen).* fl. rich violet-salmon colour, disposed in large dense corymbs. l. ovate, acuminate. A very handsome and distinct garden variety, not unlike I. Williamsii, but dwarfer and more compact.
I. sanguinea (bloody). fl. crimson, shaded with deep violet, numerously disposed in large corymbs. A distinct garden variety, with ample deep green foliage.
I. splendens (splendid).* fl. bright coppery-scarlet, intensely brilliant; corolla tube 1 1/2in. long; corymbs very large. l. elliptic-obtuse, 3 1/2in. long, 1 1/2in. wide. A handsome garden variety.
I. stricta (upright). fl. light orange; tube of corolla 3/4in. to 1in. long; cymes many-flowered, decompound, crowded. Summer. l. firm, oval-lanceolate, much attenuated. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Moluccas and China, 1822. (B. R. 782, under name of I. crocata.) I. s. rosea (rose-coloured). fl. pale pink, becoming reddish as they grow old, terminal, axillary, in large, round, lax, supra-decompound cymes; limb segments oblong-cuneate, acute. Summer. l. dark shining green, sub-sessile, oblong, acute, narrowed towards the base, with an obsolete sinus; under surface villous. h. 4ft. Bengal, 1819. (B. M. 2428.) I. s. rutilans (ruddy). A much-improved garden form of the type, having larger and more compact heads of fine crimson-red flower tubes, and rich orange or salmon-red lobes. It has a free and vigorous style of growth. I. s. Prince of Orange is a fine variety, with cinnabar-red flowers, raised by Messrs. Veitch and Sons. (R. G. 1015.) I. Thwaitesii (Thwaites'). fl. very compact, erect; corolla white or cream-colour, hypocrateriform; tube slender, 1 1/4in. long; limb speading, 3/4in. in diameter; corymb terminal, short-peduncled, trichotomous. May. l. sub-coriaceous, opposite, 3in. to 8in. long, 1in. to 4in. broad, broad-lanceolate, but variable, abruptly acuminate; petiole scarcely two lines long; stipules reddish. h. (in native country) 10ft. to 20ft. Ceylon, 1859. (B. M. 5197, under name of I. jucunda.) I. undulata (wavy). fl. white; tube of corolla 1/2in. long; panicle terminal, compound, having its branches corymbose at the apex. Summer. l. elliptic or lanceolate, acuminated, undulated. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Bengal, &c., 1820. I. Williamsi (Williams's).* fl. reddish-salmon, in large heads. A free-growing and profuse-flowering form, of garden origin.