FROM THE SOCIETY'S GARDEN. 149 



of the shoots. He adds, that they are sweet-scented, and appear 

 in Chusan in July. The limb of the calyx is divided into four 

 smooth ovate obtuse lobes ; the tube contains eight sessile stamens, 

 arranged in two lines, and with the anthers turned inwards. The 

 ovary is covei'ed with thick hairs, oblique, one-celled, with one 

 suspended ovule, and a little emarginate scale on the upper side 

 of its base. Its style is thread-shaped, and loses itself in a su- 

 bulate stigma. 



The species is allied to Edgworthia (or Daphne) Gardneri, a 

 Nepal plant with a similar habit, from which it differs in having 

 longer and more slender flowers, larger flower-heads, and a much 

 more silky hairiness on the outside of the flower. 



It is a greenhouse or half-hardy shrub ; it grows freely in a 

 compost of three parts sandy loam, and one of turfy peat. A 

 free drainage is necessary ; for although it requires an ample 

 supply of water during the summer months, it is liable to damp 

 off" if this point is not properly attended to. For a few weeks in 

 winter very little water is required. It will probably be multi- 

 plied without difficulty from cuttings of young wood. 



Being sweet-scented and a plant of free growth, it may be ex- 

 pected to prove a useful addition to our greenhouse or half-hardy 

 plants belonging to the natural order of Daphnads.. 



Feb. 28, 1846. 



24. Azalea ovata.* 



From Chusan, where Mr. Fortune found two varieties ; 

 " the one with white, the other with pink or lilac 

 flowers ; both spotted and very beautiful." 



Among the early despatches from Mr. Fortune was received 

 a drawing of this beautiful shrub, which, according to the 

 Chinese artist, has most delicate pink flowers, of the size and 

 form of the Davurian Rhododendron, growing in clusters at the 

 end of the branches. 



The original plants did not survive the voyage ; but a packet 

 of seed has furnished an abundance of young plants, which have 

 been distributed extensively to the Fellows of the Society under 

 the name of " Azalea 274." The dried specimens received from 

 Mr. Fortune enable the species to be positively determined. 



It is entirely different in foliage from all the other Chinese 



* A ovata ; foliis ovatis nunc subcordatis petiolatis couvexis nitidis atro- 

 virentibus apice emargiuatis mucrone interjecto, floribus pentandris, pedun- 

 culis glanduloso-hispidis unifloris ex axillis supremis, sepalis ovatis imbri- 

 cantibus membranaceis glabris, corolla ad basin fere 5-partita laciuiis oblongis 

 subcordatis, filamentis hirsutis. 



