65 
A Hybrid Strelitzia—In the Mexican house at Kew there is now 
in flower for the first time a hybrid Strelitzia, the result of crossing 
Ll years ago S, Reginae and S. augusta, the former being the mother 
parent. The plant is 5 feet high and has 10 leaves shaped as in 
S. augusta, but the petioles are 18 inches long and the blades 
2 feet by 15 inches. The peduncle is axillary, 18 inches long; the 
spathe is horizontal as in S. Reginae, with several vertical flowers, 
which expand in slow succession and are of a pale watery-yellow 
colour, There is a wide difference between the two parents, 
S. augusta having a woody stem 12 feet or more high and distichous 
leaves of which the petioles are 6 fect and the cordate blade 3 feet 
long ; the peduncle is very short and stout, the spathe is purple and 
the flowers are white. S. Reginae has no distinct stem, but the tuft 
of leaves spring from a fleshy rootstock; the petioles are 3 feet 
long and slender, and the blades measure a foot by 4 inches; the 
S. augusta S. Reginae 8. kewensis 
Sepals length .., 64 ins. 44 ins, 4 ins. 
Pet 43 
9 ssn, Se OW 35 3? ins. 
The general appearance of the flower in S. kewensis resembles 
that of S. Reginae more closely than that of S. augusta. The 
stamens are enclosed in the fused petal-sheath in the hybrid and in 
S. Reginae but are exposed in S. augusta. The small hooded petal 
of the hybrid, however, is much more like that of S. augusta and it 
is also interesting to notice that the lilac-pink patches at the base of 
the sepals in S. augusta are also present in a similar position in the 
hybrid. 
Agave Elemeetiana—A fine example of this species has been 
flowering during the past few weeks in the succulent house. The 
spike, which reaches to the roof, is about 15 feet in length and, with 
the exception of the lower two feet, is densely crowded with flowers. 
From an estimate there would appear to be about 3,150 flowers 
on the spike. 
According to Mr, Baker this plant is a native of Mexico. It was 
introduced about 1864 and named in compliment to Mr. de Jonge 
Van Elemeet, of Overduin, in Zealand, the companion and 
biographer of General Von Jacobi and the owner of a remarkable 
collection of Agaves. It was flowered in 1867 by Mr. Saunders, 
and a coloured figure appeared in the Refugium. It is now widely 
spread in collections and flowered at Kew in 1874, 1877, and again 
in 1883. It is monocarpic, dying after flowering, like its near 
ally A. attenuata, and is a most distinct and unmistakable species. 
Presentations to the Library during 1909.—The Bentham Trustees 
have again come to the assistance of the establishment by making 
