258 NOTICES OF CERTAIN ORNAMENTAL PLANTS 



the ascent is so very gradual, that the change of climate and of 

 vegetation in ascending is almost imperceptible, and is only 

 detected by careful observation. If, however, on the other 

 hand, we cross a range of considerable elevation, and descend 

 on its northern side into another valley, the transition is often 

 ver)' striking ; and if the chain be sufiiciently elevatefl to intercept 

 the greater part of the rain, the contrast between its two sides 

 is perfectly astonishing. When the transition is thus complete, 

 the traveller leaves dense forests and common Himalayan vege- 

 tation on the one side, to find on the other a dry, barren, burnt 

 ujD soil, with scattered Astragali, Boraginese, and Cruciferae, of 

 forms quite characteristic of the flora of Siberia. Such is tlie 

 vegetation of Tibet, which may be reached eitlier suddenly by 

 crossing a lofty pass, or gradually by ascending the Indus, the 

 Chenab, tlie Sutlej, the Ganges, and many other of the Hima- 

 layan rivers. This arid vegetation is met on the Sutlej ^ low 

 as 10,000 feet above the level of the sea, and is therefore in no 

 way dependent upon mere altitude. 



XXIII. — Notices of certain Ornamental Plants lately intro- 

 duced into Enyland. By Professor Lindley. 



I. SAXE-GOTH^A CONSPICUA. (Figs. A. and B.) 



Generic Character. Genus Coniferarum monoicum. — Fi,. 

 MASC. Antlierce spicatae, 2-loculares, apice acuminatse re- 

 flexse. — Fl. fcem. Strobilus imbricatus, e squamis acumi- 

 natis liberis infra medium monospermis. Ovulum inver- 

 sum, in fovea squamse semi-immersvun ; tunica prima laxa, 

 ventre fissa, secundd foramine pervio, nucleo apice spongioso 

 protruso. Galbulus carnosus, e squamis mucronatis, apice 

 liberis, squarrosis, omnino connatis, plurimis abortientibus. 

 Semen nucamentaceum, leviter triangulare, basi tunicas 

 primse merabranacese fissae reliquiis vestitum. — Arbor sem- 

 pervirens, Taxi facie; foliis linearibus, plants, apiculatis, 

 suhtiis lined duplici pallida nofatis. 



This remarkable plant, to which His Royal Highness Prince 

 Albert has been pleased to permit one of his titles to be given, and 

 which will probably rank among the most highly valued of our 

 hai-dy evergreen trees, is a native of the mountains of Patagonia, 

 where it was found by Mr. William Lobb, forming a beautiful 

 tree 30 feet high. In the nursery of Messrs. Veitch, of Exeter, 



