268 NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 
GESNERA PICTA. 
This fine new species is in profuse bloom at the Royal Gardens of 
Kew, and a considerable number are in a successive state of culture for 
blooming through winter up to next summer. So of the Gesnera ze- 
brina. ‘The flowers of the former species are of more brilliant colours 
than the latter. Every greenhouse or sitting-room should be orna- 
mented with them from this time to next April. We never saw them 
grown so well as at the Kew Gardens. They are first grown in pans 
about six inches deep, in leaf-mould, anda portion of loam, with a rather 
liberal sprinkling of pieces of charcoal init. After attaining the height 
of six or eight inches, they are potted (carefully keeping all the ball 
possible) into large-sized pots, well drained, and into a compost as 
above, with about equal parts of leaf-mould and loam. In the stove at 
Kew we have seen specimens near four feet high, having a spike of 
bloom more than two feet long. The Achimenes picta is treated in a 
similar manner, and with proportionate success. They are fine winter 
ornaments, 
Troma@a. 
Tn the stove at Messrs. Rollisson’s nursery, of Tooting, where it has 
recently bloomed very freely. It was sent from Java. ”'The flowers in 
form very much resemble the Petunia, ofa rich crimson-violet with a 
white margin. Each blossom is two inches across. 
MeETROSIDEROS FLORIDA.—COPIOUS-FLOWERING. 
This charming plant is a native of the dense forests of New Zealand, 
and bloomed in this country for the first time last summer, in the green- 
house at the Royal Gardens of Kew. It is a handsome shrub, leaves 
shining green, oval, about an inch and a-half long. The flowers are 
produced in large terminal corymbous heads, of a brilliant red colour, 
It is very pr obable this fine plant would flourish in the open air in Devon 
and Cornwall, and the south and west of Ireland. Jt deserves a place 
in every oreenhouse or conservatory, and to be tried in the open air 
wherever likely to succeed. (Figured in Bot. Mag. 4471.) 
NYMPH#ZA AMPLA.— BROAD-LEAVED WATER LILY. 
This interesting species requires to be grown in the stove, or warm 
greenhouse. ‘The leaves are very large, a purplish-green above, and a 
purplish-red below. ‘The flowers rise above the water, and are white, 
nearly six inches across. ‘The stamens are numerous, and of a bright 
yellow, contrasting nicely with the white petals. (Figured in Bot. Mag. 
4469.) 
Oncipium RigBYANUM. 
This handsome flowering species was purchased by Mr. Henderson, of 
Pine Apple-place Nursery, at a sale of the nursery stock of the late Mr. 
Rigby of Brompton. ‘The flower scape is a foot long, branching, bear- 
ing a profusion of flowers, of a lemon-yellow colour varied with dark 
brown marbled spots. The labellum is of a brighter yellow, also 
spotted. It is a very neat species, well meriting cultivation. Each 
blossom is nearly two inches across. (Figured-in Pax. Mag. Bot.) 
