FKOM THE SOCIETY'S GAEDEN. 67 



which they are considerably shorter. Their calyx appears to 

 consist of 1 narrow green leaves, imbricated at their base, but 

 the number varies to 8 ; they form a complete broken whorl, and 

 may be understood to consist in part of bracts which stand close 

 to the true sepals, and become blended with them ; of these the 

 3 exterior are both broader and longer than the others. The 

 corolla is tubular, 2-lipped, with the upper lip broad, ovate, 

 blunt, and notched, while the lower is composed of 3 smaller divi- 

 sions placed nearly on the same plane ; in this respect however 

 the flower varies, some of the specimens having 4 lobes in the 

 lower lip. The usual number of stamens is 4, of which 2 are 

 perfect and next the upper lip, and 2 stunted, of the same 

 length but more slender, and belonging to the lower lip ; when 

 an additional lobe appears in the lower lip of the corolla it is 

 accompanied by an additional sterile stamen. The perfect 

 anthers are constructed in an unusual manner ; at the end of the 

 filament is a large globular green gland, which eventually 

 shrinks up ; upon this green gland are planted 2 lobes of lui- 

 equal length, bursting longitudinally. The style and stigma too 

 are of a singular form, the former gradually widening and flat- 

 tening upwards till it ends in a thin broad plate which curves 

 forward and forms a stigma on its anterior edge. 



This species has been treated as a stove plant, but will pro- 

 bably prove hardy enough to stand in a greenhouse. It appears 

 to grow freely in almost any sort of soil, especially sandy peat. 

 In summer an ample supply of water is necessary, and shading in 

 sunny weather. In consequence of its being subject to damp 

 off in winter, it will require to be kept rather dry for a few 

 weeks. It is very easily multiplied from cuttings in the usual 

 way. Should this species flower abundantly, it will be a good 

 addition to our stove plants. 



Sept. 8, 1845. 



8. Brassica Chinensis, Linn. 



Received from Mr. Fortune, Nov. 23, 1844, as the 

 Shanghai oil plant. It is grown over the whole 

 country round that city for oil. 



Stems slightly glaucous, two or three feet high, not much 

 branched, quite smooth. Lower leaves on long stalks, cordate- 

 ovate, slightly running down the petiole ; upper leaves am- 

 plexicaul ; all of them blunt, and perfectly undivided. Flowers 

 bright yellow. Calyx smooth, erect. Pods 2^ inches long, 

 arranged in racemes 1 \ foot long, rather compressed ; valves 

 with many longitudinal meshes for the veins, and a slightly 



F 2 



