~ 
must be a good deal of variation, for the colours represented a 
in “ Flora Danica” are a muddy rose, whilst the description, 
referring of course to the wild plant, states that the outer 
petals are rosy, or white tinged with rose, the intermediate 
intensely rosy, the innermost with the filaments and tips — 
of the stigma deep red-brown. Now on first flowering in — 
1878 of the Kew plant I remarked the muddiness of the 
colouring, and it was not till later that flowers of the bright 
hue given in the plate have appeared. May we not, then, - 
expect that by cultivation and selection still more vivid ~ 
hues shall be obtained ? 
For the introduction of this beautiful plant into culti- 
vation, horticulturists are indebted to M. Froebel, of Zurich, 
an amateur who by his ability, zeal, and energy in the 
introduction of interesting hardy plants, no less than by ~ 
his liberality in distributing them, has laid the gardening 
world under very heavy obligations. He finds that the — 4 
plant comes quite true from seed, and is of vigorous — 
growth, perfectly hardy (as was to be expected), and that | 
it flowers eight or ten days before the white form of the— 
species; it is also a very free flowerer. The Kew specimen | 
which was presented by Prof. Agardh, of Lund, in 1876, 
has bloomed in June for several years, and a succession of Be 
flowers appears for several weeks.—J. D. H. 
Fig. 1, Flower of outer series; 2, of middle, and 3, of inner series; 4, vertical 
section of ovary :—of the natural size. 
