BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 491 
9. Rhododendron Metternichii, Siebold. 
10. Paulownia imperialis, Siebold. (Bignonia tomentosa, 
Th.) ; so named in compliment to Her Imperial and Royal 
Highness, the hereditary Princess of Holland. The “ Kiri” 
is one of the most magnificent vegetable productions of 
Japan. Its trunk with a diameter of 2-3 feet rises to the 
height of 30 or 40, and divides into branches, few in number, 
but thick and given out at right angles, forming a noble 
crown. The broad and large foliage is opposite, each leaf 
borne on a footsalk, heart-shaped at the base, oval and quite 
entire, or divided into three unequal lobes, the middle one 
being the longest, sharp-pointed and clothed with whitish 
down. 'The handsome and sweet scented flowers are pro- 
duced early in April, immediately after the expansion of the 
leaves, and being borne in immense spikes, they strongly 
recall those of the horse-chestnut in general aspect, while 
individually they resemble, in form, size, and purplish colour, 
the blossoms of the Fozglove. "The capsules, which ripen in 
autumn, contain a great quantity of small seeds, furnished 
with a membranous transparent wing. 
The Kiri grows so rapidly in its native country, that 
Suckers, taken off and transplanted when only 3 feet high 
had attained to 10-15 feet during the first year, and after 
three years the diameter of their stems was 4 or 5 inches. 
In France this tree has already shown itself to be hardy, 
flowering in the open air; but it must be confessed that the 
plant we possess in the Royal Botanic Gardens, presented by 
His R. H. the Prince Albert, although it is of free growth in 
à cool greenhouse, bears such herbaceous branches that we 
are fearful of exposing to our winter's frosts such tender- 
looking shoots. 
11. Prunus (Armeniaca) Mume, Siebold, (Amygdalus nana, 
Th.)—The “Mume” is dispersed throughout Japan, but 
thrives best in the northern parts, where it grows 15 or 20 
feet high, and bears much resemblance to an apricot-tree. 
Ina wild state, and when planted for hedges, its aspect is 
Only that of a thick and much branched shrub, about 12 feet 
