tinguished by Regel (Gartenflora, 1872, p. 238). The true 
B. cretica again, which is only a stunted form of vulgaris, 
L., is abundantly distinct from B. Thunbergti, in its three- 
partite spines, often serrated leaves, erect racemes of flowers, 
and notably in the form and colour of its pale flowers with 
large obtuse outer sepals. B. Thunbergii is indeed one of the 
most distinct species in cultivation, whether from its low 
almost tufted robust habit, or the colour of the small 
flowers, which are more red than yellow. 2 
Regel describes as another species B. Maximovican 
(Gartenfl., 1872, p. 238), differing in the leaves not bemg 
glaucous beneath, but green on both surfaces: it is reduced 
to a variety (8. Mazximoviczii) by Franchet and Savatier. 
B. Thunbergii is a native of Japan, whence we have 
examined dried specimens collected at Yokohama by Mr. 
Dickens, Dr. Maximovicz, Wright, and others. The speci- 
men figured was raised from seed sent by M. de Regel, from 
the Imperial Gardens at St. Petersburg; it flowers freely 
in April. 
Drsor. A low bush, with close strict, robust, deeply- 
‘grooved branches clothed with red-brown bark; spines 
simple, straight, half an inch long Leaves in crowded 
tufts all along the branches, half an inch to nearly one inch 
long, obovate or spathulate, quite entire, tip rounded, 
apiculate or not, nerves very indistinct. Flowers very 
numerous, small, one-fourth to one-third of an inch 1n 
diameter, drooping, solitary or in pairs on very slender 
curved pedicels which hardly exceed the leaves, rarely in 
shortly peduncled few-flowered umbels. Sepals three or 
four, equal, ovate, acute, red, half as long as the petals. 
Petals pale straw-coloured, suffused with red, outer nearly 
orbicular, inner more obovate. Ovary oblong; stigma broad, 
sessile, orbicular. Fruit a quarter of an inch long, globose, 
or broadly ellipsoid, with a sessile stigma.—J. D. H. 
Figs. 1 and 2, Flowers with three and four sepals respectively ; 3, vertical section 
of flower; 4 and 5, petals; 6, stamens; 7, ovary; 8, diagram of flower :—all enlarged, 
