138 
GLEANINGS AND ORIGINAL MEMORANDA. 
stem is sometimes 10 feet high and throws out numerous lateral off-shoots; the red stems and branches distinguish it 
immediately. The small but numerous flowers are greenish yellow and are borne on reddish pedicels. A mass of this plant 
produces a fine effect in gardens. It comes up in May and its stem dies in October. The root lives through the winter 
without either care or covering. It prefers a light soil. It can bear the hardest frosts. M. de Vriese has published an 
excellent drawing as well as an analysis of it ; he says it 
is only to be found at present in M. Von Siebold's garden 
at Leyden. M. Von. Siebold declares that this plant is 
very fit for fixing loose sand, and it would be both interest- 
ing and useful to see what it is good for in this respect, 
especially as M. Von Siebold has seen it employed for the 
purpose throughout Japan." 
Although unknown to botanists this plant has been cul- 
tivated in the garden of the Horticultural Society for a 
quarter of a century. It originally came from China as 
Houttuynia cordata ; and for many years grew in an arti- 
ficial swamp, where it formed a very handsome bush during 
the summer. It has since been found to thrive perfectly in 
dry garden ground. During the period of its cultivation it 
has only flowered once, and then imperfectly. From a speci- 
men at that time preserved the annexed cut has been pre- 
pared. Where very handsome massive foliage is desired 
during summer only, this plant is of the greatest value, as 
for instance in forming rapidly a temporary screen, or in 
making a back ground to gaudy flowers with bad foliage. 
But as it dies to the ground with the first frost it makes a 
gap which may be unsightly. 
that it would run by the root sufficiently to hold together 
blowing sand, in the manner suggested by Dr. V. Siebold. 
We should not have thought 
186. Calochortus pallidus. 
A 
tender bulbous plant from Mexico, belonging to the Lilyworts. Flowers 
dirty bro\vn, with a deep triangular spot at the base of each petal. 
(Kg- 91.) 
grassj 
brown flowers, 
middle. The 
Neither sepals nor petals have any gland or depression in the 
•als are shorter than the petals, firmer, without anv hairs. The 
I — 7 ^~ 7 " - J 
petals areobovate, tapering to the base, rounded at the point, covered on the m 
with a beard of hairs and fringed at the edge. Annates de Gand, t. 225. 
187. Calanthe Mascca. Lindley. A beautiful terrestrial Orchid, 
with purple flowers. Native of various parts of India. Introduced 
prior to 1843. 
Native of India ;— according to Dr. Lindley, of « Nepal, Bengal, Ceylon, and probably Java." It blossomed 
in 1842 with Messrs. Rollison, at Tooting, but, though a handsome and really striking plant, it had never been 
figured. Our fine tuft of the plant at Kew, which blossomed in July and August, was derived from Mr. Clowes 
collections. 
Leaves large, herbaceous, oblong-lanceolate, tapering below, acuminated, plaited and striated. Scape erect, a foot and 
a half high, generally shorter than the leaves, terete, glabrous, terminated by a many-flowered raceme with handsome purp e 
* Bracts large, subulato-lanceolate, membranaceous : the upper ones coloured. Sepals and petals similar, oblong, 
spreading LintbrPA-nntH-^ A**n m****!** . i. 4 - — i i~i i: ui~„™ c .,kf«i rt o+o ;r»f^rmpdiate one broadly su 
flowers. 
acuminate 
cuneate ! 
point: t 
base 
This 
terrestrial 
It thrives in turfy peat 
tr ^ mmmma V4 *uom. kju uccuuni oi us son nesny roots aunenng to wie »iuco v>* *»*- y~"? — 
<*> use a shallow wide-mouthed pot, in order to avoid tearing the roots by frequent shiftings. In summer it may 
