Strobilanthes

   DESCRIPTION: S. dyerianus, 3 ft., from Burma, has attractive leaves, iridescent silver-blue and lavender above, and rosy purple beneath. It has pale-violet flowers in autumn. S. isophyllus, 2 to 3 ft., from India, has willowy leaves, and funnel-shaped, blue and white flowers in the winter. CULTURE: Same as Pseuderanthemum.

   Thunbergia

   DESCRIPTION: T. alata, a 4- to 6-ft. vine from tropical Africa, has apricot or white flowers with purple center, hence "black-eyed-susan vine." It is a tender perennial usually cultivated as an annual from seeds sown in winter or spring. After a period of heavy bloom, cut back nearly to soil. This promotes new growth and more flowers. This cutting-back procedure, combined with regular feeding and yearly repotting, can be used to keep T. alata as a perennial. Or, at the end of one flowering season, discard the plant and start anew with seeds. T. grandiflora, 10 to 15 ft., from India, is a shrubby vine with showy blue flowers in late summer. It is sometimes called "blue-sky vine." Nice for a large sun porch; trim back as necessary after flowering.

    CULTURE: Light, sunny. Temperature, average house. Humidity, 30% or more. Soil, equal parts loam, sand, and peat moss; keep evenly moist. Propagate by seeds or firm young cuttings in winter or spring.

   Aizoaceae

   Subtropical tender succulents with single, daisylike flowers. In addition to those described, these genera may be grown indoors with the same general culture: Argyroderma, Cheiridopsis, Delosperma, Dinteranthus, Erepsia, Gibbaeum, Glottiphyllum, Hymenocyclus, Mesembryanthemum, Nananthus, Ophthalmophyllum, Pleiospilos, Rhombophyllum, Titanopsis, and Tri-chodiadema. On the whole, they have no common names.

   Aptenia

   DESCRIPTION: A. cordifolia, a creeper or trailer from South Africa, has small, mealy, light-green, heart-shaped leaves. Tiny purple flowers come in spring and summer. When allowed to cascade from a hanging basket, it will reach a length of 1 to 2 ft. in one season. Sometimes called "ice plant."

   CULTURE: Light, sunny. Temperature, average house. Humidity, average house. Soil, equal parts loam, sand, and peat moss; keep evenly moist, put more so in sunny, warm weather. Propagate by stem cuttings in spring.

   Conophytum

   DESCRIPTION: Species C. aureum, C. elishae, C. giftbergensis, C. griseum, C. minutum, C. muscosipapillatum, C. truncatellum, C. wiggettae, and many others, all from South Africa, are called "living stones," "stone faces," or "cone plants." Some are pebblelike miniatures less than 1 in. tall and 1/4i in. across. They seldom exceed 4 in. Treasures for collections of individual pots, or in Lilliputian landscapes created with other succulents.

    CULTURE: AS for the related Lithops.