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NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS.

This very lovely hardy aanual is deemed the best of those discovered by Mr. Hartweg.

The plant is of similar growth to the well known Nemophila insignis, and he considers its specific title, speciosa, not so appropriate to its character as maculata; he therefore rejected the former. It is a lovely hardy annual, and deemed the best, of the many excellent ones, which Mr. Hartweg has discovered. Its habit is very similar to the well known Nemophila insignis, blooms as freely, and flourishes with the same kind of treatment. In order to have it bloom in spring, and the early part of summer, the seed must be sown in autumn. If the situation and soil be of a dry character the plants will endure the winter quite well, but if the situation be a damp one, and the soil wet, then sow in small pots, protect them in the severe parts of winter, and turn them out entire into the open ground early in March. To have a fine bloom from midsummer to autumn sow the seeds in the bed or border about the end of April, or early in May. When the soil is very rich, it tends to the production of occasional flowers not defined in colour like our figure, but veined or striped with violet; in every case, however, it is pretty, and merits a situation in every flower garden.

NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS.

ALLAMANDA AUBLETIA-AUBLETT'S ALLAMANDA.

Apocyna. Pentandria Monogynia.

This very handsome flowering species has bloomed the past season in the fine collection of Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, and Co., of Exeter. Its nearest affinity is to A. Schottii, but when they are seen growing near together, the habit, foliage, and flowers, are very different. It is a weak, but scarcely a climbing shrub, it however requires a support. Seeds of it were sent from Brazil, and plants raised by Mr. Staunton. It requires to be grown in a stove, or warm greenhouse, and with proper treatment it blooms very profusely. The flowers are as large as those of A. Schottii, of a beautiful light yellow colour, and make a fine show. The plant ought to be in every collection, and throughout the summer would be one of its most attractive ornaments.

ASCLEPIAS DOUGLASSII-DOUGLAS' ASCLEPIDEÆ.

Douglas discovered this species on the west side of the Rocky Mountains. It has bloomed in the open border in the nursery of Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, and Co. It is an upright herbaceous plant, half a yard high. The flowers are borne in umbels, crowned, a reddishpurple tinged with green. It blooms throughout the summer.

CHIRONIA GLUTINOSA-GLUTINOUS CHIRON.

Gentianacea. Pentandria Monogynia.

Seeds of this plant were sent from Australia to the Hull Botanic Garden. It is a neat growing, shrubby, greenhouse plant, evergreen, bushy, and from two to three feet high, blooming very freely. The

NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS.

3

flowers are large, each near two inches across, and of a fine rosy red in their early stage, but when declining they have a pretty lilac tinge. It blooms for a very long season and is very showy, highly meriting a place in the greenhouse. It flourishes in a compost of equal parts of well rotted leaf mould, peat, and loam.

DENDROBIUM FARMERII-MR. FARMER'S.

Orchidacea. Gynandria Monandria.

This very beautiful species was sent from the Calcutta Botanic Garden to W. F. G. Farmer, Esq., of Nonsuch Park, near Cheam, in Surrey. It is not a robust growing plant, but of medium habit, and the lovely blossoms are numerously borne on racemes. The sepals are spreading, of a delicate rose colour. Petals larger, of a pale primrose colour. Labellum, a pale straw colour, with a deep yellow blotch. Each flower is about two inches across. It merits a place in every collection.

DIPLADENIA ECROPHYLLA-TAPER-POINTED.

Apocyneæ. Pentandria Monogynia.

Seeds of this beautiful species were received by Messrs. Veitch, of Exeter, the plant having been discovered on the Organ Mountains, Brazil, and is, consequently, a stove plant. It is a handsome bushy shrub, blooming freely. The flowers are produced in drooping racemes. Each blossom is bell-shaped; the tube is nearly two inches long, of a tawny-yellow colour. The limb is formed of five sections, of a pretty salmon-rose. It well merits a place in the hot-house.

GLADIOLUS BRENCHLEYENSIS.

This is a very handsome showy variety, of a rich scarlet colour. It deserves a place in every flower garden, being of a strongish habit, and bearing long spikes of flowers; they are strikingly ornamental.

HOYA CUNNINGHAMII.

Introduced into this country by Messrs. Veitch, of Exeter, in whose collection it has recently bloomed. It is of a creeping, or climbing habit, the flowers being produced in corymbous heads, about twenty blossoms in each, they are cream-coloured, with a purplish corona in the centre, and are powerfully fragrant.

PIMELEA HENDERSONII.

In giving the descriptions of the finest plants exhibited at the Horticultural Society's shows, &c., held the last season, we remarked upon the beauty of this lovely kind. The flowers are produced in profusion, of a bright rosy-red colour. The plant is of the habit of P. decussata, some of the bushy plants exhibited being about three feet high, and almost as much across. It is a valuable acquisition for the greenhouse.

PLEROMA KUNTHIANUM-PROFESSOR KUNTH'S PLEROMA.

Melastomacea. Decandria Monogynia.

It was discovered by Mr. Gardner, when travelling in Brazil, who sent seeds of it to the Glasgow Botanic Garden, and Mr. Murray has

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NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS.

forwarded a plant to the Royal Gardens of Kew, where it has bloomed. It is an upright growing shrub, branching liberally, and blooming freely. The flowers are large, a separate one being about two and a half inches across, of a rich deep purple-red colour, and the fine red anthers give it a pretty effect. It well deserves a place in the stove.

POTENTILLA MENZIESII-MR. MENZIES' CINQUefoil.

This beautiful variety was raised by Mr. Menzies, gardener to H. Edwards, Esq., of Hope House, near Halifax, Yorkshire. The flowers are of a brilliant crimson colour inside, and the outside a buff yellow, with a crimson margin. It deserves to be in every flower garden, forming a bush three feet high, and blooming profusely, is highly ornamental.

SWAINSONIA GREYANA-GREY'S SWAINSONIA.

Leguminosa. Diadelphia Decandria.

Seeds of it were sent from South Australia. It is a half-shrubby plant, growing about two feet high. The pretty pea-shaped flowers are produced in racemes about a foot long, of a handsome lavender-purple, with a pure white centre. Each blossom is about an inch across. It flourishes well in the open border in summer, but requires protection in a cool greenhouse during winter.

AT THE ROYAL GARDENS of Kew.

In the Greenhouse.

CHEIRANTHUS MUTABILIS.--This is a lively flowering greenhouse shrubby plant, the flowers are in form like a single stock, produced in long spikes; at first they are white, and gradually change till they become a pretty purple. As it blooms freely through the winter, it is a useful plant for the greenhouse or sitting-room.

The following Epacrises were also in fine bloom, and produced a very cheering appearance :

EPACRIS LIMATUS.-The tube is an inch long, a bright pink, with the end a pure white. The contrast is exceedingly beautiful. It ought to be in every greenhouse.

EPACRIS SANGUINEA.-Tube an inch long, of a deep blood-red. It is very handsome, and its deep rich colour renders it highly ornamental. It should be in every collection.

EPACRIS CAMPANULATA RUBRA.-The flowers are bell-shaped, half an inch long, a pretty rosy-red colour.

EPACRIS CAMPANULATA ROSEA.-The flowers are bell-shaped, half an inch long, and of a beautiful delicate rose colour. It ought to be in every greenhouse.

EPACRIS NIVEA.-Flowers bell-shaped, half an inch long, white. Neat and pretty.

EPACRIS MINIATA.-Tube one inch long, a light scarlet, with the end pure white.

NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS.

5

EPACRIS HYACINTHIFLORA.-Tube wide, nearly an inch long, a beautiful bright blush colour. Very handsome.

EPACRIS ALBA COMPACTA.-Tube about three-quarters of an inch long, widish, a pure white. Very beautiful, and borne in profusion. EPACRIS ONOSMAFLORA.-Flower bell-shaped, near half an inch long, white tinged with green. The plant is of stiff growing habit. EPACRIS OBTUSIFOLIA.- -Leaves short and stiff. Flowers broad, mouth funnel form, white, with a rose tinge.

EPACRIS IMPRESSA.-Tube three parts of an inch long, and a bright flesh colour. Very pretty.

All the Acacias are neat and handsome flowering plants, many of them delightfully fragrant too. Those which bloom in the autumn and winter seasons are especially valuable. In the splendid collection here, the following are now (December 15th) in bloom, and display a light and pleasing appearance, also richly perfume the house. The whole of them merit a place in every greenhouse or conservatory. By proper attention, the plants are readily formed into bushy specimens, and thus suited to very limited houses. They may be procured at a very reasonable price.

ĂCACIA TRINERVATA,--The leaves are narrow and an inch long. It is a handsome bushy plant. Flowers a pale yellow, delicate and pretty.

ACACIA DECIPIENS.-The leaves are of a triangular form, half an inch across. The plant forms a neat bush. Flowers sulphur colour. ACACIA ROTUNDIFOLIA.-The leaves are circular, a quarter of an inch across. It is a very neat bushy plant, the flowers are a bright yellow colour, and produced in profusion. It is very neat and beautiful.

ACACIA VESTITA.—The leaves are half an inch long. It is a very neat bushy plant. The flowers are borne in large branching spikes, and along them the blossoms are produced in short racemes of ten or twelve in each. They are a pretty light yellow colour. It is a handsome species.

ACACIA PRÆMORSA.-The leaves are short, and the plant forms a pretty bush, blooming very profusely, flowers a rich yellow. Very pretty.

ACACIA LINEATA.- -The leaves are near an inch long, narrow. The plant is bushy and neat. The flowers are produced in profusion, and of a rich golden yellow colour. It is exceedingly handsome.

ACACIA DENTIFERA. The leaves are four inches long, very narrow. It forms a neat branching bush. The flowers are a rich deep yellow colour, and the globular heads large. It is a very beautiful species.

ACACIA OVATA.-'I he leaves are oval-shaped, half an inch across. It is a very neat bushy plant. The flowers are produced in long spikes, and are a rich yellow colour. It is a very handsome species.

ACACIA LEPTOREURA.-Leaves like a thinly foliaged Pinus, about three inches long. The flowers are a deep yellow. It is singularly pretty. BOSSIEA VIRGATA.-Foliage small and neat. The pretty peashaped flowers are about half an inch across, yellow, with a bright

6

NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS.

crimson eye-like spot at the centre. It is a very interesting plant, blooming profusely, and well worth a place in every greenhouse.

POLYGALA MYRTIFOLIA. This old and well known plant was in fine bloom; its beautiful violet-purple flowers, with a feathery tuft of anthers, gave a very cheering effect. By attention to the production of side shoots, this plant can readily be kept dwarf, and when in full bloom, at such a size, is an interesting object.

HARDENBERGIA OVATA.-The plant was coiled round a circular wire frame, and in profuse bloom. The flowers are borne in spikes, each having twenty to thirty, a pretty violet, with dark velvet eye-like central spot. It is a very neat growing plant, and beautiful when in flower.

In the Stove.

BEGONIA FUCHSIOIDES.-Last spring a small plant was placed to be trained up a pillar, it has bloomed all the season, and is likely to continue through winter. It is now ten feet high, and its rich scarlet pendant, fuchsia-like flowers, produce a handsome effect. The plant blooms well in a warm greenhouse or sitting-room,

GESNERA ZEBRINA, and G. HERBERTII.-These are highly valuable plants for autumn and winter ornament. Their long (two feet) pyramidal-formed spikes, with numerous laterals of scarlet and yellow flowers are exceedingly ornamental. There are many specimens, three feet high, in profuse bloom, which now (December 15th) give the house a very gay appearance. They bloom well in a warm sitting

room.

It

ACHIMENES PICTA.-This is another very valuable ornament. is grown in what are called pot pans, about six inches deep and sixteen across. Several plants are regularly placed apart, so that they form, as a whole, a fine bush, and blooming (as they now are) so freely and vigorously, in contrast too with the pretty white veined leaves, they are highly interesting objects. The plants appear likely to bloom all

winter.

TORENIA ASIATICA.-Three of these pretty flowering plants had been trained around globe-shaped wire frames, and now were in beautiful bloom, contrasting well with the Gesnerias and Achimenes above noticed.

ANSELLIA AFRICANA.-A most noble plant of this beautiful Orchidea was in bloom, and by the end of this month will be at its best condition. There are several principal flower stems about four feet long, with numerous lateral branches, and having a profusion of flowers. A separate flower is about two inches and a half across, of a dull white slightly tinged with green, and having numerous bars and specks of a deep chocolate-velvet colour. It is a most charming specimen.

LÆLEA ANCEPS.--A splendid flowering Orchidea. Each flower is five inches across. Sepals and petals a very handsomely delicate lilacviolet. The labellum has its tube-shaped portion two inches long, a deep violet, and the lip a rich velvet, with violet margin. It is highly beautiful.