Jan. 1894.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDIXBUEGH. 9 7 



Barnadesia rosea, Lindl. This plant is a native of 

 South America, the exact locality being at present un- 

 known, but the plant is supposed to be spread over a wide 

 area of the Continent. Its flower heads are produced 

 upon the apex of a branch during the winter and spring 

 months ; the florets are of a bright rose colour, the base 

 of the inflorescence being covered by silvery, scaly bracts. 

 The alternate leaves, of an ovate shape, are of a bright 

 green colour. It is figured in " Botanical Magazine," 

 4232. An interesting feature of the flower heads is the 

 hardening and recurving of the calyx bristles as the fruit 

 ripens. As they bend backwards, these act as springs for 

 gradually drawing out the fruit from within the tubular 

 involucre, and expelling them for distribution. When 

 scattered, these bristles, which are hygroscopic, will no 

 doubt aid further in disseminating the fruit by hooking on 

 to passing animals and by flxing the fruits on a suitable 

 nidus for growth. 



Ahitilon insigne, Planch. Introduced from New Grenada 

 by Mr. Linden in 1851, this plant is still seldom met 

 with. It is a slight-growing, shrub-like plant, producing 

 its flowers, which hang in a drooping manner, about the 

 beginning of the year. The petals have a ground colour 

 of white, and are thickly penetrated by a rich carmine 

 venation. The stem and the under side of the large 

 alternate leaves are covered by short brown hairs. This 

 plant is sometimes known as A. igncum. 



Strdbilanthes Dyerianus, Hort. This beautifully variegated 

 foliage plant was recently introduced, being sent out by 

 Messrs. Sander & Co., of St. Alban's. Although usually 

 grown as a decorative stove plant, on account of its coloured 

 leaves, it also bears pretty blue flowers, as the specimen on 

 the table shows. 



In addition to these, specimens are exhibited of : Bill- 

 hergia Bruantii, — a pretty bromeliad, with large red bracts. 

 Calliandra hcematocephcda, Hassk., — a leguminous stove 

 plant, bearing stalked globose heads of flowers, with long 

 numerous stamens of a lovely scarlet colour, sent to Kew from 

 Mauritius in 1857. Pithecolohmm unguiscata {Inga rosea, 

 Steud.), much similar to the above, but with inflorescences 

 smaller and pinnae of leaflets more numerous and bipinnate. 



TRAXS. BOT. SOC. EDIN. VOL. XX. G 



