Nov. 1895.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 479 



replaced by a new crop several times in the year. The 

 solitary flowers are pendulous and axillary with an outer 

 and inner series of petals of a greenish colour. 



BigiiGnia magnifica, Bull. This is decidedly one of the 

 most gorgeous coloured of these usually showy climbing 

 plants. The flowers, produced in terminal panicles, having 

 a rich purple coloured corolla, with a yellowish throat. 

 This is the first time the .species has been recorded as 

 flowering with us, and only a few solitary flowers have this 

 year expanded. Mr. W. Bull, of Chelsea, is credited 

 with the introduction of this plant from Columbia in 1870. 



Cattlcya ScMUeriana, Echb. The flowers of this species 

 are amongst the most pretty of this section of the genus, 

 and are produced at variable times of the year, often 

 twice within the year on one plant, upon short thickish 

 pseudo-bulbs ; the spikes bearing from two to five flowers. 

 The crimson magenta lip is especially attractive. A native 

 of Brazil, this species was first flowered in the gardens of 

 Consul Schiller, of Hamburg, and is supposed by some to 

 be a natural hybrid between C. Adandicc and C. guttata. 



Ai^helandra nitens, Hook. This Columbian species, 

 which was introduced in 1867, is an erect small growing 

 plant, with large glossy purplish green ovate foliage. The 

 inflorescence is a terminal spike, the bright vermilion 

 scarlet flowers appearing from among rather large lanceo- 

 late persistent bracts. Seeds of this plant soon lose their 

 germinating power, and we have many times sown them 

 when received from foreio-n gardens with no success. When 

 sown as soon as ripe, the greater number will produce plants. 



Others of note, and some of which we are able to 

 exhibit, are : — Vitis heteropliylla, Thunb., var. liitmvlifolia, 

 Hort., remarkable for its turquoise blue berries, borne in 

 great abundance upon slender side shoots, a native of 

 China and Japan ; Rucllia macrantlia, Mart,, — a Brazilian 

 winter flowering species ; Cesimm anrantiacum, Lindl., — 

 an old introduction from Guatemala, with showy yellow 

 flowers; TihoucJdna moricandiana, Baill., — a native of 

 India and Malaya, and one of the brightest winter 

 flowering plants we have, the large flowers being deep 

 purple in colour. Should be planted out in a stove to 

 develop its beauty in perfection. 



