1869.] NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH. 85 



flowers formed of an immense golden lip with a small orange-tinted 

 column ; quite distinct in character, and very fine and showy. 



A second-class certificate was also awarded to Messrs Veitch & Sons, 

 for Dendrobium Fytchianum, a very pretty species, with an erect habit 

 of growth, producing pure white flowers with rosy purple centres, very 

 showy and appearing to be free blooming, as a small plant had two 

 good spikes of flowers. 



Besides these there were a good quantity of Orchids present, fore- 

 most among which was a splendid example of Loelia autumnalis, from 

 S. Rucker, Esq., respecting which Mr Bateman said he had never 

 before "seen so beautiful a specimen," and he regarded it as being 

 even superior to Loelia grandiflora, which was exhibited last year by 

 Mr Anderson of Meadow Bank. Hitherto growers of this magnificent 

 species have had to contend with a tendency on the part of the flower 

 to damp ofi"; and it would seem as if this example had been grown 

 both in a drier and lower temperature than is generally allotted to it. 

 Mr Rucker also sent a glorious specimen of Epidendrum Vitellinum 

 majus, rich in rare beauty, and of especial value because of the dura- 

 bility of the flowers. Mr Bull had a plant of Cypripedium caudatum 

 in bloom, a somewhat unusual circumstance at this season of the year, 

 and it was thought not impossible to have it in bloom all the year 

 round. Mr B. S. Williams had grand specimens of Angreecum pellu- 

 cidum, having several pale-coloured racemes of flowers, a good-looking 

 plant, and finely grown ; and A. Eburneum, var. superbum, with some 

 fine spikes of bloom. 



A new and very curious-looking Richardia, named Melanoleuca, 

 from the Port-Natal district of Africa, was exhibited by Mr W. Bull, 

 and received a first-class certificate. It was scarcely in good condi- 

 tion to judge of its merits, having the appearance of being prematurely 

 forced into bloom, giving the foliage a weakly appearance. It had a 

 short recurved sulphur- coloured spathe, deep purplish black at the base, 

 and running upwards about three-quarters of an inch, and a small 

 golden spadix ; the leaves are borne on pale-green and slightly hirsute 

 stems, which are covered with small pale blotches. 



A noble and beautiful Palm, named Geonoma Seemanni, was also 

 exhibited by Mr Bull, and received a first-class certificate. It has a 

 singularly handsome habit, and cannot fail to become a first favourite 

 among these attractive plants. Mr Parker of Tooting exhibited a 

 plant of his new Ixora amabilis, which is shortly to be distributed ; 

 Mr Tanton, a plant of the notorious AUamanda Wardleiana in flower, 

 and cut flowers of the same to show its winter-blooming qualities ; and 

 Mr BuU, a flower of Lasiandra macrantha, by way of demonstrating 

 that it will bloom from March till December. 



