265 



situated in the median plane, and supported by two smaller 

 alternating bracteoles, and a somewhat larger outer bract, with or 

 without rudimentary male flowers in the axils of the inner bracts ; 

 mixed (bisexual cymes) like the male cymes, but with a female 

 flower in the centre. Male flowers: perianth 4-5-lobed, lobes 

 triangular-ovate, scarcely £ lin. long ; stamens 4-5, opposite the 

 perianth-lobes ; filaments inflexed in bud, rising elastically ; 

 anthers subglobose ; ovary rudimentary, minute. Female flowers : 

 perianth shortly ovoid-tubular, with a small almost truncate or 

 minutely 4-toothed orifice, | lin. long, scaberulous ; ovary sub- 

 globose ; style sublateral ; stigmas filiform, 3-3^ mm. long. Fruit 

 (immature) of the size of a pea, formed of a one-seeded achene, 

 surrounded by the fleshy enlarged perianth and supported by the 

 equally enlarged bracteoles ; embryo subglobose ; cotyledons 

 subequal, thick ; radicle incumbent. 



Of three branchlets received from Dr. Perrot, two possess only 

 male clusters, the third only female cymes with or without 

 rudiments of male flowers. Dr. Eberhardt, on the other hand, 

 says that the male and female inflorescences alternate, whilst his 

 and Dubard's description in the Gomptes Bendas, I.e., admits male 

 and mixed clusters on the same branch. 



XXXVL-MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



Amherstia nobilis — There is a good example of this handsome 

 tropical tree in the Aroid house (No. 1) at Kew where it has been 

 for at least 30 years. Until about 10 years ago it was planted m a 

 tub, but since then it has been in the open border the soil in 

 which receives a certain amount of heat from the boiler chamber 

 immediately below. This plant is 25 feet hig 1 " ~ -»»—•- <^— 

 6 inches in diameter with loosely spreading 



stem 



branches. It has 



more 



and this year it has been exceptionally floriferous, carrying 8* 

 large pendulous racemes of bright scarlet and yellow flowers 

 which were at their best early in June. Amherst lawza nrst 

 introduced from Burma into English gardens through Chatsworth 



ago 



in 1849. The Kew tree is probably about 40 years old. In 

 Burma there are trees 40 to 50 feet high and when in flower 

 they are said to be magnificent, and one of the features of the 

 Royal Botanic Garden at Calcutta is an avenue of these trees 

 The flowers are used by the Burmese in connection with their 



ceremonies 



W. W 



Agaves at Kew.-The cultivated collection of Agaves at I^w w 

 an exceptionally large one and there are nearly ahva s some o 

 <hem in flower. The tradition that A. amencana the American 

 Aloe " flowers only once in a hundred years sometimes give nse 

 to excitement in tlTe daily press when it is seen th £«™ ££"» 



''century plants," as they are P P^ re ^l^ppomted when 

 kew, with the result that many visitors are qis<*pf 



