ee a a ee 7" m 
COMPANION 
TO THE 
BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. 
I eenwns* 
Notice of Mr. Drummonn’s discovery of three remarkable plants 
in South-West Australia. 
We have much interesting matter to lay before our readers from 
the correspondence of Mr. Drummond ; but at this time we must 
content ourselves with a brief extract from one of his letters 
written from Cape Riche, Jan. 10, 1847, while on an extensive 
botanical journey from Swan River to King George’s Sound. 
“ T determined,” he says, “‘ to enjoy another view from the top 
of Mongerup. I hid our supply of flour and pork as well as I 
could, in case of a visit from the natives: I had now to bring 
water from the native well. Starting at five o'clock, I reached 
the highest summit of the hill by eleven. I ascended by the N.E. 
angle, and at about the height of 2,000 feet I found, first making 
its appearance, a splendid Banksia, with leaves more than nine 
inches long, and about five wide, irregularly jagged and sinuated 
like those of an English Oak. To this noble shrub I have given the 
specific name of Hookeri. From the remains of the flowers, they 
appear to have been scarlet. I had scarcely time to make myself 
acquainted with this fine Banksia, when I found another ex- 
ceedingly interesting and beautiful plant, a species of Genithyllis, 
growing to the size of, and having a considerable resemblance in 
habit and foliage to Beaufortia decussata, but with the inflorescence 
inclosed by beautiful bracts, white, and variegated with crimson 
veins ; these bracts are as elegantly formed as the petals of the 
finest tulip, and are almost as large, hanging in a bell-shaped 
form from the ends of the slender branches. 1 thought I could 
never gather enough of this charming plant; and I procured 
abundance of perfect seeds. As one is obliged to employ the 
hands as well, and almost as often, as the feet, in ascending 
or descending these very steep hills, I had gone very lightly 
equipped: I was therefore compelled to use my shirt and 
neck-handkerchief (making the shirt into a bag), to bring down 
a supply of Banksia cones. Securing the load so as not to im- 
