NBW AND RARE PLANTS. 



PART II. 



NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 



(Noticed since oar last.) 



233 



GESNERIA ELONGATA ; var. Gesnera elongated, var. (Bot. Mag. 



DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPBRMIA. UESNERIACBf. 



This plant was received at the Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, in September, 

 1836, from the Messrs. Young, Nurserymen, Epsom, under the name of G. 

 oblongata, perhaps by an error in the transcriber. It flowers most freely, 

 exhibits a long succession of blossoms, and is therefore very desirable in 

 cultivation. It differs from G. elongata of Humboldt in its much shorter 

 peduncles, in the more obtuse base of the leaves, in its less angular branches, 

 in the colouring of the veins and lower surface of the leaves generally, and 

 in the subulate segments of the calyx. In these respects, it more nearly 

 agrees with Gesneria mollis, but from this it differs again, and agrees with 

 G. elongata, by its four flowered umbel and much shorter pedicels, and the 

 bracteae opposite at their origin ; the length of the peduncle being interme- 

 diate between its state in these two species. There are very many forms of 

 Gesneria from the tropical parts of America, but I cannot think they ought 

 all to be considered as species. This opinion is strengthened by the figures 

 and descriptions of Humbolt, and the inspection of our present plant, which 

 leads me to suspect that it may connect together as varieties G. mollis and 

 G. elongata. 



Whole plants villous. Stem (five feet high) shrubby, much branched ; 

 branches ascending. Leaves (three to six inches long, and one and a quar- 

 ter to two and a quarter broad) opposite and decussating, petiolate, lanceo- 

 late, araminate, neatly and subequally serrated, somewhat harshly pubescent 

 and bright green above, while with soft tomcntum below. Umbels four 

 flowered, villous, shorter than the leaves; peduncle shorter than the petiole ; 

 pedicels about two thirds of the length of the peduncles ; bracteae two, 

 opposite, lanceolate, at the subdivision of the umbel. Flowers unilateral. 

 Calyx with small, spreading, ovatosubulate segments. Corolla (one inch 

 long, half an iuch across) tubular, clavato-ventricose, dilated and somewhat 

 fleshy at its base. Stem contracted, and after being dilated, again slightly 

 contracted at its mouth ; villous on the outside, glabrous within ; limb 

 spreading, lobes subequal, rounded, crenate. Stamens inserted into the base 

 ot the corrolla, and rising to the throat ; filaments pubescent ; anthers dive- 

 ricaled at the base, where the connective is dilated, cucullate and fleshy, 

 filth stamen rudiments!. Pistil pubescent; stigma minute, truncated ; style 

 bent at its base, compressed ; germen more than half imbedded in the ad- 

 hering calyx, and surrounded at its free apex with five glands. Ovules 

 numerous, and minute. 



ONCIDIUM PULVINATUM. Cushion Oncidium. (Bot. Reg. 42. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. ORCII I DACE*. 



W. Harrison, Esq., sent this charming .species from Rio Janeiro, in 1834, 

 In It. Harrison, Esq., of Aighhurgh, near Liverpool. It is equal to Oncidium 

 altissiuium in stature, producing a panicle of numerous flowers, three yard* 

 long. The flowers are one inch across of a golden yellow, marked and spot* 

 ted with blood colour. It is a very desirable species. 



Vol. VII. No. 80. jbe 



