42 THE FLORIST. 



with white flowers three inches in diameter, is in flower here with 

 Ixora Griffithii, which is one of the hest of the genus, inasmuch as 

 it is a valuable shrub for winter flowering. Plants of it, about two 

 feet high, have from five to seven large corymbose heads of beautiful 

 reddish orange-coloured flowers. A magnificent specimen of Gloxinia 

 discolor, eighteen inches in diameter, is just beginning to expand its 

 blossoms, and will shortly be very attractive. Aphelandra pulcher- 

 rima is a showy-flowering evergreen stove shrub. Numerous plants 

 of it here are dispersed through the stoves, giving them a gay appear- 

 ance. Its leaves are of a medium size, from six inches to a foot long, 

 and the flowers are deep red. It is a useful species for winter, though 

 it is not so showy as A. Cristata. 



In the Heath-house a few kinds are beginning to expand their 

 flowers. Of these we may notice E. viridescens, Triumphans, Hye- 

 malis, Linnaeoides, Pellucida, and Willmoreana, all of which are at 

 present gay. But the principal feature here is the Epacrises, which 

 are decidedly the most beautiful things in the garden at this season. 

 No collection, however small, should be without them, as they are 

 easily cultivated, and produce flowers very abundantly, which being 

 of various shades of colour, are exceedingly attractive. The follow- 

 ing is a list of species (or hybrids) at present in flower here : 



Epacris grandiflora. 



,, impressa. 

 „ „ alba. 



„ „ recurva. 



„ ,, camea. 



,, Willmoreana. 



„ miniata. 



,, magnifica. 



„ hyacinthiflora. 



„ Fairbairni. 



,, nivalis. 



„ variabilis. 

 „ ,, rubra. 



,, campanulata. 

 „ ,, carnea. 



Epacris campanulata elegans. 



,, splendida. 



„ fulgens. 



,, formosa. 



,, elegantissima. 



,, delicata. 



,, alba. 



„ ,, penduliflora. 



,, coccinea. 



„ Tauntoniensis. 



,, densiflora. 

 „ „ incarnata. 



,, ocbroleuca. 



„ purpurescens. 

 ,, ,, alba. 



The fine collection of Acacias in one of the large greenhouses is 

 as usual shewing well for flowering, and in the course of another 

 month will be in perfection. A plant of Luculia gratissima, about 

 eight feet high, cultivated in a large tub, is now flowering profusely. 

 This very beautiful shrub is one of the best in cultivation ; but to 

 bring it to perfection it requires the temperature of an intermediate 

 or warm greenhouse. In the Camellia-house the plants are look- 

 ing very healthy, thickly set with bloom-buds, and many of the kinds 

 are now in flower. 



Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. J. Houlston. 



