7] 6 REPORTS OF THE FLORAL COMMITTEE, 



white, intermixed with others of grayish-green, the centre of the 

 leaf being of a clear deep green. It was awarded a Fiest-Class 

 Certificate. 



Begonia sp., from Santa Martha:— from Mr. J. Salter, 

 F.R.H.S., Hammersmith. This plant, which was Commended, 

 was remarkable for the size of its leaves, which measm-ed upwards 

 of 24 inches in length and 19 inches across, and were eminently 

 suggestive of the popular name of this genus, "elephant's ear." 

 They were green with a shining surface, and obscurely angular- 

 lobed at the edge. The plant was of herbaceous habit. It was 

 thought that its remarkably bold fohage, unlike anything usually 

 seen in this heterogeneous and extensive family, entitled it to 

 some mark of approbation. The plant was not in flower. 



Graptophyllum versicolor :— from Messrs. Veitch & Son. 

 A new form of caricature plant, which received Commenda- 

 tion. It differs from the old graptophyllum liortense, chiefly 

 in having the younger parts of the stems and the leaves tinted 

 with red, which gives a pinkish-creamy colour to the fantastic 

 pallid blotches which form the peculiar markings of the leaves. 

 It had been received from India. 



Sonerila margaritacea : — from Messrs Veitch & Son. Of 

 this beautiful and now familiar stove plant, Messrs. Veitch sent 

 three admirably grown groups, each filling out a good-sized 

 earthenware " basket " or flower stand with their slender spreading 

 branches, all furnished with gaily-marked leaves and neat rose- 

 coloured blossoms. For the excellent cultivation displayed by 

 these specimens, a Special Ceetificate was granted. The 

 plants consisted of three distinct varieties, named : — splendens, 

 in which the leaves were light green marked with numerous 

 small pearly- white spots ; superba, with dark green leaves and 

 fewer but larger spots ; and alba, of an intermediate green tint, 



abundant. Though considerably different in aspect, they were 

 each remarkably beautiful. 



Other plants of this character present on the occasion were : — 

 Wigandia caracasana :— from Messrs. Veitch & Son. An old 

 fashioned stove plant, which has latterly been used during summer 

 in the gardens of Paris, where in such seasons as the past it 

 succeeds well, its very large bluntly oblong bicrenated rugose 

 leaves producing a fine effect. It is of course planted for its 

 foliage only, which under the mode of treatment acquires a large 

 size. The flowers, when produced as they are in the hothouse. 



