and are heavily bracted in green. Their color is rich salmon-orange, and a well-grown plant is nearly everblooming. Exceedingly showy in terra-cotta pots.

   CULTURE: Light, semi-sunny. Temperature, average house. Humidity, 30% or more. Soil, 1 part loam, 1 part sand or Perlite, 2 parts peat moss or leaf mold; keep evenly moist. Propagate by sowing fresh seeds, or by tip cuttings; provide warmth (70-8o°F.).

   Eranthemum

   DESCRIPTION: E. nervosum, 1 to 4 ft., from India. A rare but worth-while plant bearing small, ovate, rough leaves. Its bracts of one-inch gentian-blue flowers create a breath-taking sight when they appear in midwinter.

    CULTURE: Same as Crossandra.

   Fittonia

   DESCRIPTION: F. verschaffeltii, 8 in., from Peru. Semi-upright or trailing plant with pink-veined leaves. Variety argyroneura has white-veined leaves; variety pearcei has papery, thin, olive-green leaves with carmine veins. Special uses: for terrarium gardens. CULTURE: Light, semi-sunny to semi-shady. Temperature, average house.

   Humidity, 30% or more. Soil, 1 part loam, 1 part sand or Perlite, 2 parts peat moss or leaf mold; keep evenly moist. Propagate by tip cuttings rooted in warmth and high humidity.

   Hemigraphis

   DESCRIPTION: " H. colorata, creeper, from Java. Sometimes called red or flame ivy. Smooth, glossy leaves are reddish purple in semi-sun, silver in shade. Pleasant clusters of white flowers.

   CULTURE: Same as Fittonia, except hemigraphis grows too rampantly for terrarium culture. Grow it in a pot or hanging basket.

   Hypoestes

   DESCRIPTION: H. sanguinolenta, 1 to 2 ft., from Malagasy (Madagascar). Pointed, oval, dark-green leaves spattered with pink to rose markings give this plant such common names as freckle-face and pink polka-dot. It produces terminal spikes of lavender flowers. A cultivar named 'Splash' has larger leaves more clearly variegated with rose. New growth of hypoestes is covered with fine white hairs which disappear as the leaves mature. Frequent pinching of the growing tips is necessary to keep plants compact. When given abundant sunlight, the spots take on a deeper color and the entire leaf surface will be flushed red. If grown in too much shade, hypoestes will have few "freckles."

   CULTURE: Light, sunny to semi-sunny. Temperature, average house. Humidity, 30% or more. Soil, 1 part loam, 1 part sand or Perlite, 2 parts peat moss or leaf mold; keep evenly moist. Propagate by seeds or cuttings any time. After flowering the plant may die back to the soil; keep barely moist until new growth begins. May be grown in pots, planters, baskets, or as a standard (Chapter 8).