430 TKANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. lix. 



III. On Plants in the Plant Houses. By E. L. 

 Harrow. 



The plants in the houses of the Eoyal Botanic Garden 

 have during the month of April made considerable growth 

 in the fine weather experienced. Flowering and foliage 

 plants have generally a more bright appearance with the 

 developing new foliage. The new houses are rapidly 

 assuming a more established and furnished appearance. 

 Additions have been made to the collections of orchids, 

 cacti, and stove plants, which will increase their interest 

 largely. The raising of seed received from home and 

 colonial gardens is always a work of some importance in a 

 Botanic Garden, and of those which have germinated may 

 be mentioned Roridula Gorgonias,, Planch, received through 

 the Eoyal Gardens, Kew, during the early spring months. 

 Some years ago seed of Roridula dentata, L., germinated in 

 the Botanic Garden, and fine plants were raised, but they 

 unfortunately died, and no one else in the country has 

 raised the genus. It may be hoped better success will 

 attend our effort on this occasion. Eather more than one 

 hundred species have flowered since the last meeting of 

 the Society ; the following being considered worthy of 

 mention : — 



Drosophyllum Insitanicum, Link. The only species of 

 this genus of Droseracea?, is a native of Portugal, Spain, 

 and Marocco. It is a small-growing plant about a foot 

 high, with a woody stem. The linear leaves, character- 

 istically recircinate in bud, vary in length, and bear 

 numerous stalked glands, and others almost sessile, and less 

 observable. These glands are apparent upon the pedicel 

 and persistent calyx. The inflorescence is terminal, and 

 bears a large showy yellow petalled flower which is short- 

 lived, opening during the morning and closing before night. 



Petrea voluhilis, Linn. A native of Tropical America, 

 this plant belongs to the order Verbenacese, and is in habit 

 a twining shrub, with opposite coriaceous leaves. The 

 inflorescence is a short raceme of violet-coloured flowers. 

 The epicalyx is persistent, and is said to enlarge as the 

 fruit grows. The corolla is deciduous, and possesses a short 



