Hardiness of some Exotic Plants. 113 



which is now 5 feet high has stood the last three winters 

 on a south wall without sustaining the least injury, and 

 in the near-at-hand stool-ground of the Lawson Company's 

 Nurseries, it has proved equally hardy, so that this most 

 magnificent of deciduous trees may soon hecorae a favourite 

 for park and villa ground decoration. In illustrations of 

 Himalayan plants from drawings chiefly made by native 

 artists for the late J. F. Cathcart, Esq., it is figured and 

 described by Sir J. D. Hooker as growing in Sikkim and 

 Bhotan at altitudes of 8000 to 10,000 feet, with straight 

 trunks, often 80 feet high and 12 to 20 in girth, the 

 flowers varying from white to deep rose colour or almost 

 crimson, while each is from 8 to 10 inches in diameter, 

 and they are abundantly produced in April while the trees 

 are yet leafless. 



32. MoJionia gracilis. — Of this very distinct species, 

 which was introduced from North Mexico by M. Eoezl, 

 a plant which has grown on a south wall for the last 

 fourteen years is now 8 feet in height, but has never 

 flowered. Its slender stalked, light green, rigid leaves, 

 average about a foot in length by 3 inches in width, and 

 are highly suitable for table decoration. Plants that have 

 been exposed in the open ground sufi'er less or more in 

 severe winters, but have never been entirely killed. 



33. Meliantlms major. — This very old, but now rather 

 scarce inhabitant of our greenhouses, has stood the last 

 twelve w'ioters at the base of a south wall, but it was 

 killed to below the ground surface in that of 1879-80, and 

 has again put up young shoots. 



34. Mutisia decurrens. — A ten-year old plant of this very 

 peculiar and showy American climber, stood last winter 

 without suS'ering the least injury, on a southerly exposed 

 wall. It is now (12th August) 6 feet in height, and yield- 

 ing a rich display of its large, orange coloured flowers, 

 which resemble those of the well known Gazania rigens in 

 size and colour. 



35. Osmanthus illicifoUus. — An 8 feet high specimen of 

 this holly-like tree, growing on a shaded northerly exposed 

 wall border, is uninjured; and two of its variegated varieties, 

 which were more exposed to the sun, had some of their 

 leaves and shoot-points slightly hurt. 



TKA.Mi. BOT. '.iOC. Vol.. XIV. H 



