m 
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28 
GLEANINGS AND ORIGINAL MEMOEANDA. 
I 
290. ECIIINOPSIS CAJIPYLACANTHA. P/eifft 
{alias Echinocactus leucantlius Gillies; alias 
PM^ 
A. long-spined Cactus, from tlie province of Mendoza, in the state of 
Cliilir Mowerslong-tubei large, ptnk, with a grey outside. Produced at Kew. 
A fine and well-marked species, with handsome flowers, readily distinguished by the great length of the central spme 
of the areola, aiid by its taking an upward and inward curve, a direction to which the other radmtmg spmes are more or 
less incHned. It is a native of the Argentine province of Mendoza, at the eastern foot of the Andes, where it was 
discovered by the late Dr. GilUes, and introduced by him to our Gardens, with many others from that region, which we 
fear are now mostly lost to us. It flowers in the spring and summer months. Our planU are, the largest of them a 
foot high, in shape between ovate and globose, not unlike that of a pine-apple, rather acute at the top, longitudmally 
furrowed ; ridga fourteen to sixteen, considerably elevated, scarcely compressed, obtuse ; the edges shghtly tubercled or 
lobed. — Bot, Mag., t. 4567- 
29]. SiPHOCAMPYLUS HAMATUS. JFefidlancl A stove shrub, covered with white down, and 
bearing violet flowers • 
Native of Brazil. 
Belongs to Lobeliads. 
In tlie Garden at Herrenliausen. 
The stem is described as six feet liigh ; the leaves oblong-ovate or somewhat heart-shaped, with irregular callous 
teeth. Tiie flowers in short dense racemes. 
linear-lanceolate lobes, which are hooked backwards. 
is white with down. — Allgem. GaHcnzeit 1850, 138. 
Flower-stalks erect, as long as the corolla. Calyx with eight ribs and 
The tube of the corolla narrow and slender. The whole plant 
OCACTU 
HooJcer 
nuraerous 
flowers^ from Bolivia ; of mere botanical interest. 
Cereus 
habit of the plant, which we purchased from Mr. Bridges, who had brought it from Bolivia. We find nothing like it 
anywhere described, and have named it from the remarkably spirally twisted character of the stem, without, however^ 
holding ourselves responsible that this is a constant or permanent mark of distinction. It floAvered in the Cactus^house 
of the Royal Gardens, in August 1845." 
peculiarity 
conform 
A handsome tropical tree 
»wisli flowers- Native of 
subjected in this country, as allied species from Mexico. This is more especially the case with the Eckimcackm. We 
learn that they inhabit very arid and hot places, enduring extreme drought, which is very obvious from the harsh, dry, 
and often dead-like appearance they present when they arx'ive in this country. The species now figured was introduced 
with many others about six years ago, by Mr. Bridges, and on enquiring of him the nature of their places of growth, and 
what mode he would recommend as best for cidtivating them in this country, the point on which he laid the greatest 
stress was to give them no water. But we find that even harsh, dry-looking Oadem are, Uke many other dry climate 
plants, capable of assuming a freer habit of growth by good treatment ; the difference of the growth they make in this 
country, as compared with that of tlieir native country^ is so great, that the top and lower part of the same plant, if 
separated, might be taken as two distinct species. It is probable that many Cactem from dry regions, when placed under 
the influence of a climate more favourable to vegetable development, will assume a different aspect, varying according 
to tie degree of heat and moisture they receive,— Bo?. Mag.^ t. 4562. 
293. Tamarindus I^^DICA. lAnnmis. (alias T. officinalis Hooker.) 
of tlie leguminous order^ with pinnated small leaves^ and racemes of yell 
both Indies. 
Most authors mate two species of. Tamanndus, the Indian kind with long pods, and the West Indian with short 
pods : but even those who adopt this view of the subject generally raise a question of their specific identity. India is 
probably the aboriginal country of both, whence the species was introduced to Western India. Even in the East the 
Tamarinds of the Archipelago are considered the best of those of India. The Arabs called the tree « Tafnar hindeCy'^ or 
Indian Date^ from which has been derived the generic name Tamarindus. Our small Tamarind- tree, in the Royal 
Gardens, about fourteen feet high, whence our flowering specimens were taken, is probably the West Indian variety, and 
can give no idea of the general appearance of a full-grown tree, which all travellers agree in saying is one of the noblest 
objects in nature. "This most magnificent tree," says Dr. Roxburgh, "is one of the largest in India, with a most 
extensively spreading and shady head, or coma ; the bark dark-coloured and scabrous, the wood hard, very durable, and 
most beautifuny veined." Dr. MTadyen, too, observes that the tree is « very ornamental, and affords a delightful 
ahade." The inhabitants of the East, however, have a notion that it is dangerous to sleep under, and it has been 
remarked, as of our beech in Europe, that the ground beneath is always bare, and that no plant seems to thrive under 
its branches. Its flowers have Uttle beauty ix> boast ; they are insignificant and exhibit no bright colours. Our plant 
has not borne fruit, but flowers in the summer season, and generally, but not always, casts its leaves during our winter. 
Tlie extensive use of the pulpy fruits of the Tamarind is wgH known, as arc its valuable medicinal properties. In the 
