Lagerstromia
(named after Magnus Lagerstrom, of Gottenberg, 1696-1759, a friend of Linnaeus). ORD. Lythrarieae. A genus containing about fourteen species of very handsome stove or greenhouse trees or shrubs, natives of tropical and sub-tropical Eastern Asia. Flowers on axillary peduncles, generally constituting panicles or racemes at the tops of the branches. Leaves opposite, entire. Only one or two species are in cultivation; these succeed in a compost of equal parts peat and loam. Throughout the winter months, the only attention needed consists in giving just sufficient water to prevent the soil getting dust-dry. As the spring advances, both the quantity of water and the amount of heat should be increased. Propagated, in spring, by cuttings of small, firm, side shoots, placed in bottom heat.
L. Flos-reginae (Queen's flower).* fl. of a beautiful rose-colour in the morning, growing deeper through the day, until they become purple in the evening, large, from 2in. to 3in. in diameter; petals orbicular, undulated, on short claws; panicle terminal. l. oblong, glabrous, dark green. h. 50ft. to 60ft. Malay to China, 1792. Stove. SYN. L. Reginae. (B. F. S. 29.) L. indica (Indian).* fl. bright pink, large, very handsome; petals curled, on long claws; panicle many-flowered, terminal. Summer. l. roundish-ovate, acute, glabrous. Branchlets acutely tetragonal, nearly four-winged. h. 6ft. to 10ft. China, 1816. Stove or greenhouse. (B. M. 405.) L. i. alba (white). fl. pure white, in which particular alone this variety differs from the type, and to which it forms a very pleasing contrast. China. L. Reginae (Queen's). A synonym of L. Flos-reginae.