62 



Californian Pine, discovered by Douglas, and distributed by 

 the Horticultural Society under my name of Pinus macro- 

 carpa, is the same as P. Coulteri, a plant of which specimens 

 were brought by Dr. Coulter from the same country, but of 

 which no seeds have grown. I find, however, upon comparing 

 Mr. Lambert's specimens of P. Coulteri with those of P. ma- 

 crocarpa that this is by no means certain, and that in reality 

 the two species are probably different. The cone of P. Coul- 

 teri is twice as long as broad, namely, twelve inches by six ; 

 and its scales, which are generally directed upwards, have a 

 long, sharp, ovate, or lancet-shaped extremity, which is sud- 

 denly narrower, and always perceptibly, often considerably 

 longer than the compressed base. In Pinus macrocarpa on 

 the contrary the cone is rounder, and the scales, which are 

 always recurved, have a shorter extremity, which narrows very 

 gradually, and is usually shorter than the compressed base. 

 In Pinus Coulteri the leaves are much more short, stout, and 

 stiff than in the other, and the sheath at their base is com- 

 posed of loose distinctly imbricated scales ; in P. macrocarpa, 

 on the other hand, the scales forming the sheath are compactly 

 arranged, and their imbricated character is not perceptible at 

 first sight. They are both remarkable for the hardness and 

 heaviness of their cones ; I find jMr. Lambert's unripe cone 

 of P. Coulteri weighs 5 lbs. 12 oz. and that of P. macrocarpa 

 belonging to the Horticultural Society 4 lbs. 



The wood-cut in Mr. Loudon's Arboretum and Fruticetum 

 Byntannicum, p. 2251. fig. 2146. is a good representation of 

 P. Coulte?'i ; but the description appears to be made up in 

 part from that species and in part from P. macrocarpa. 



The true P. Coulteri seems then to be still a desideratum 

 in our gardens. 



NOTE UPON VICTORIA REGIA. 



Our readers will be glad to know that living plants of this 

 vegetable prodigy have reached Demerara in safety, and that 

 they may soon be expected in England ; Mr. Schomburgk 

 having taken measures to insure their speedy arrival. That 

 they will prove as capable of cultivation as other tropical 

 plants of the Nymphseaceous order cannot be doubted; but it 

 is also probable that it will be absolutely indispensable to 

 their health that the water in which they are grown should 



