APKIL. 73 



LoxG-FLOWERED OxYANTHUs (0. tubiflorus), a moderate-sized tropical ever- 

 green shrub, of apparently no great beauty. It of course requires a warm stove. 



The Coccus-bearing Gum-tree (Eucalyptus coccifera). This is a native of 

 Van Dieman's Land, and requires a conservative wall in this country. At 

 Exeter, however, it succeeds as a standard, — one of which, about twenty feet 

 high, may be eeen in Messrs. Veitch's Nursery. It flowers beautifully, and is 

 very ornamental. 



Mr. Gunn's Olearia (0. Gunniavia), another plant from Van Dieman's 

 Land, which will brave the cold of England, when trained against a wall. It is 

 an evergreen shrub, with white Aster-like flowers, having yellow centres. 



The following notices are supplied from Kew : 



Eriopsis rutidobulbon. This beautiful flowering Orchid is one of the best 

 of the tribe, and is a valuable acquisition to any collection. It is rather a scarce 

 plant in cultivation, owing to its being but little imported. It is most suitable for 

 the warmest division of the Orchid-house, where it grows freely ; it has a stiff 

 habit, and is about two feet high. From the base of each pseudo-bulb arises one 

 or two flower-stems, each, from one to two feet long, or more, bearing from thirty 

 to fifty flowers each, which are of a good moderate size. The sepals and petals 

 are brown, lip brown and white with a few dark spots, and column green ; such 

 a contrast of colours, especially as the brown is of two or three shades, has a verv 

 striking and lively appearance. This plant was introduced to the Royal Botanic 

 Gardens, Kew (where it is at present flowering in great perfection), from New 

 Grenada, a few years ago. 



Nematanthus longipes. This straggling -growing evergreen stove-plant, 

 with the habit of an ^Eschynanthes, is not a new or rare plant among collections, 

 though it is seldom found with many flowere upon it, beingrather a shv bloomer; 

 but with a great deal of surface-room, and a rather light situation, in an ordinarv 

 stove-atmosphere, it becomes very showy when in flower. It is growing at Kew 

 on the trunk of a tree, treated as an Orchid, where it climbs up to the height of 

 seven or eight feet, and forms a large spreading plant, growing freely and flower- 

 ing copiously. The flowers being pendulous and of a bright red have a charming 

 appearance ; this mode of treatment appears to suit it far better than Avhen cul- 

 tivated on a pan or basket, as the foliage and flowers are of a better colour. It 

 is at present in flower at Kew, and has been in that condition for several weeks 

 past. 



'Centrosolenia picta. This is one of those interesting plants whose foliage 

 is the chief portion of its beauty, owing to its being of various colours. It is an 

 herbaceous stove-plant, belonging to Gesnerads, of a creeping habit, and rooting at 

 the joints. It is a suitable kind for rockwork, or is easily managed in broad 

 shallow pans, as it requires chiefly surface-room. The leaves are rugose, verv 

 hairy, with the upper surface of a yellowish green down the centre, brownish next 

 the margin, and purplish beneath. The flowers are white, streaked and spotted 

 in the inside of the tube with bright lake ; they are produced freely from the 

 axils of the leaves, and are of a good moderate size. This is rather a scarce and 

 new plant in cultivation ; it was introduced to Kew, about two years ago, from 

 South America. 



Cyrtopodium punctatum. Few Orchids are more attractive when in flower 

 than this species. It is a tall robust-growing terrestrial kind, which produces, 

 flowers in the absence of leaves. In cultivation, it requires a rather high tem- 

 perature, with abundance of moisture while growing ; and when at rest, it may 

 be kept about 50° temperature and dry, so as not to shrivel. The flower-stems 

 are erect, and are produced from the base of the pseudo-bulbs, springing up with 

 the young growth, and attaining the height of three feet or more, forming large 

 panicles. Both flowers and branches have a large spotted tract at their base, 

 which has a very conspicuous appearance. Two fine specimens of it are at 

 present in flower at Kew. 



Amherstia nobilis. This exceedingly beautiful flowering evergreen stove- 

 tree (of which a woodcut and description are given at page 80 of the Florist 

 for 1851,) is at present in flower at Kew. The plant is about seven feet high, 

 much branched, and about seven feet in diameter. 



Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. J. Houlston. 



