1 873-] FLORIST FLOWERS. 409 



beautiful drawing in the Botanical Magazine was prepared. The 

 bulbs are about 2 inches long, produced closely together on a stout 

 creeping rhizome. Each pseudo-bulb bears a thick blunt leaf about 6 

 inches in length, and dark green in colour. The flowers are borne 1 

 or 2 together, and are 3 or 4 inches across, produced on a short spike 

 from the young growth, like those of LaBlia pr?estans. The sepals and 

 petals are of a clear crimson purple tint, varying to a bright rich 

 amethyst purple. The lip is purple at the base, white at the apex, 

 sujffused with rose, the throat being stained with golden yellow, and 

 there are about 7 longitudinal plates down the disc. It grows freely 

 in a shallow pan suspended close to the glass in the Cattleya house, 

 and is one of the very finest of modern introductions. 



Mesospinidium Vulcan! cum. — This is a pretty and free-flowering 

 little plant, in habit of growth resembling Odontoglossum roseum, 

 while its flowers at first sight remind one of an Epidendrum. It is a 

 native of Eastern Peru, and was found by Dr Spruce in the volcanic 

 mountains of the Upper Amazons, hence its specific name. The vivid 

 rose or rosy purple flowers are borne on a slightly branched spike 12 

 to 18 inches long, the sepals and petals being nearly an inch long in 

 well-grown specimens. It grows freely in the cool house along with 

 the Odontoglots, and is very effective about March or April. I saw a 

 fine imported plant flowering freely last spring with T. A. Titley, Esq. 

 of Leeds, and it has flowered in several other collections before and 

 since. The plant has been largely imported, and should find its way 

 into the best collections as a useful cool -growing Orchid of easy 

 culture. F. W. B. 



FIiOmST FLOWERS. 



THE CARNATION (dIANTHUS CARYOPHYLLUS). 



The early history of this flower is shrouded in mystery, there being 

 really no authentic record extant whereby we may be enlightened as 

 to when, or by whom, the improved species was first introduced into 

 Britain. While one recorder credits Germany, another Italy, as being 

 its native country, it is likewise chronicled that Gerrard received it 

 from Poland in 1597. 



The species from which the present improved varieties — in cultiva- 

 tion — originated, is said to be indigenous to England, where it has 

 been found an inhabitant of rocks and old walls. Whatever be its 

 native country is of minor importance ; sufificient that we know that it 

 has been cultivated in Europe from time immemorial, and that its 

 appreciable qualities have not degenerated, but continue yearly to im- 



