NEW AND BARS PLANTS. 185 



attached at *hort distances along the" circumference of a vertical wheel, 

 which was made to perform more than one hundred and fifty revolutions in 

 a minute. In a few days the seeds began to germinate. In their growth, 

 the plumule of each tended towards the axis of (he wheel, the radicle in the 

 contrary direction. In this case, owing to the vertical rotation of the wheel, 

 the influence of gravity is neutralised ; in its place a centrifugal force was 

 substituted, by which the growing seed was influenced exactly as before by 

 gravity. 



In another experiment, beans similarly prepared were attached to the cir- 

 cumference of an horizontal wheel, which was then set in rapid motion ; the 

 result was not less conclusive than in the former instance ; the plumule of 

 each seed was observed to grow in a direction upwards and inwards, which 

 the radicle tended downwards and outwards, that is to say. in the diagonal 

 the two forces, by both of which, according to the hypothesis, it should have 

 been blindly influenced. From these and similar instances, it appears rea- 

 sonable to conclude, that the vital endowments are limited to two ; namely 

 irritability, and some modification of chemical affinity. What an innume- 

 rable interval between their mode of existence and that of animals! 



LIST OF NEW AND RARE PLANTS, 



Noticed since our last. 



I. BOLBOPHYLLUM COCOINfJM. The Cocoa nxU Balbophyllum. 



[Bot, Reg. 1964. 



ORCHIDACEA. GYNANDRIA MONOANDRIA. 



This species of Orchideae was introduced into this country from Sierra 

 Leone by Messrs. Lodiges. It was discovered upon the Cocoa-nut Palm, 

 It has bloomed in the collections of Messrs. Lodiges, and Mr. Bateman at 

 Knypersley. The petals are very narrow, serrated, of a pale flesh colour. 

 The flowers are produced on a spike about six inches long. 



2. CHRYSOSTEMA TRIPTERIS. Three-leaved. [Bot. Mag. 3583. 



SYNOMONYM. COREOPSIS TRIFTBRIS. COMPOSITE. SYNGENESIA FRUSTRANEA. 



This plant is an old inhabitant of this country, but not generally to be 

 met with. It is nevertheless very ornamental for the flower border. It 

 grows to about two feet high, blooms profusely. The flowers are of a light 

 lively golden colour, having a purple disk. They continue in bloom from 

 July to the end of the season. The plant may be procured at the public 

 nursery and floral establishmets. Chrysostema, from chrutos gold; and sttmma, 

 a crown; referring to the colour of the flowers. 



3. EPIDENDRUM NOCTURNUM ; var. latifolium [Bot. Reg. 1961 



BROAD-LEAVED NIGHT SMELLING EPIDENDRUM, ORCHIDACEA. GYNANDRIA 



MONANDRIA. 



The present variety has larger flowers than the original species, as well 

 as the general habit of the plant being more robust. It has bloomed in the 

 collection of the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth. The blossoms are 

 highly fragrant at night. The sepals are of a greenish yellow, and the la- 

 bellum of a yellowish white. 



4. ENCHARDIUM CONCINNUM. Neat. [Bot. Reg. 1962. 



ONOGRARIA. TETRANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 



This annual plant bears some resemblance to the Clarkia pulchella, but 

 not so handsome. It is, however, a 'neat and pretty flowering plant. Tbo 

 Vol. V. X 



