BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 281 
pious bracteas, the other with the flowers fully expanded, are from the 
large plant at head-quarters here, which was a shoot from my original 
plant, but has much outgrown its parent. Iwas obliged to cut the 
- latter down, to save its life; but it is now again a fine healthy plant, 
and I hope will flower next winter. The species has a very handsome 
appearance when flowering. The one above mentioned threw out 
twelve fine panicles of blossoms (besides two which I cut off before 
the flowers burst forth), more than 3 feet in length, and they crowned 
the shrub in beautiful style, drooping like magnificent plumes, in regu- 
lar form over the large, dark, palmate leaves below. Although not a 
showy (gaudy) plant, there is something particularly striking about it." 
Plants of Greece. 
The excellent M. Theodore Heldreich, now Director of the Botanie 
Garden at Athens, announces a‘ FLoRA Graca Exsiccata,’ which he 
Prepares for sale at the price of £1. 5s. the century. A list of species 
published include many of the rarities of Sibthorpe, the novelties of 
Boissier and Heldreich and Spunner, and a collection we have our- 
selves received, show that the specimens are well preserved. We 
cannot doubt but the vegetation of so classical a country will prove 
interesting to botanists and to others. Persons wishing to subscribe, 
may address letters direct to M. Heldreich. 
Mr. Spruce’s Voyage up the Amazon and its Tributaries. 
The following is the most recent information respecting Mr. Spruce, — 
contained in a letter dated Barra do Rio Negro, March 11, 1855 :— - 
We have news from Peru, that the two Peruvian steamers made a — 
single voyage, one on the Ucayali, and the other on the Huallaga, and - 
that they are now laid up at Loreto, baking in the sun, which has 
opened the seams, and otherwise incapacitated them from making any 
further voyage, unless they fall into other hands. My plans are thus - 
disconcerted ; and had I not already got up from Pará money and mer- — 
chandise, which I calculate will cover a year's expenses in Peru, I — 
should perhaps have renounced the uüdertaking. To get from Nauta — 
to the first offshoots of the Andes, I shall have before me a voyage of e 
from one to two months, doubled up in a small canoe, and exposed - 
day and night to mosquitos. The last seventy miles will perhaps take — 
VOL. VII. 20 
