266 NOTES ON NEW OR EABE PLANTS. 



Bessera miniata. The lesser Bessera. — A handsome bulbous 

 plant, introduced by M. Louis Van Houtte from Mexico. The flowers 

 are white and scarlet, produced in umbels. It is nearly hardy, and 

 only requires the protection of a cold frame. It belongs to tlie 

 Lily worts. 



Calamintha mimuloides. The mimulus-like Calamintiia. — 

 A hardy half-shrubby herbaceous plant, a native of California, from 

 whence it was introduced by the Horticultural Society. The flowers 

 are produced in August and September, from the axils of the upper 

 leaves, and are about two inches long, of an orange-yellow. The plant 

 grows about a foot and a lialf high. The leaves are a pretty deep 

 green. 



Calanthe Masuca. Purple-flowered. — A terrestrial orchideons 

 plant from India, which has been known in some collections as Bletia 

 Masucn. The flower scape rises about half a yard high, bearing a long 

 spike of flowers. Sepals and petals a lilac-purple, and the labellum a 

 very deep purple. Each flower is about three inches across. (Figured 

 in Bot. Mag., 4541.) 



Catasetum fimbriatum. The fringed Catasetum. — An orchid 

 of no great beauty or interest, the labellum, or lip, being of a dirty 

 white, deeply fringed. The sepals and petals are speckled with red. 

 Native place unknown. 



Cattleya labiata. Varieties of the Ruby-lipped — 



L C. labiata Candida. White Raby-Upped. — This very handsome 

 variety is in the noble collection of orchids at Sion House Gardens. 

 Sepals narrow, three inches long, white ; petals broad, tliree inches 

 long, white, with a tinge of sulphur ; labellum, tube one inch and a 

 half long, white ; lip two inches across, curled and wavy ; lower part 

 orange and crimson, then lilac spotted with red, and a white margin. 

 These fine flowers are very beautiful, and the plants worthy a place in 

 every collection. 



2. C. labiata jncta. Tlie Blotched. — Sepals broad, about three 

 inches long, of a rosy-purple colour ; petals as long, and two inches 

 broad, of a similar colour, blotched with rosy-crimson ; the tube of tlie 

 labellum is of the same colours outside, an inch and a half long ; lip 

 near two inches across, crisped and wavy ; one portion of the margin 

 is a bright yellow, and the remainder a lilac-purple, spotted with red. 

 The centre portion of the flower is of a cinnamon-red colour. It is a 

 fine species, well meriting a jilace in every collection. (Figured in 

 Paxt07i's Flower Garden.) 



CoNOCLiNiUM ianthinum. Tiie PURPLE CoNOCLiNiUM. — A native 

 of Brazil, introduced by M. Alexander Verschaffelt. This is a stove 

 Iierbaceous plant of great beauty, with heads of flowers six inches 

 across, of a violet colour, and possesses the fragrance of honey. It will 

 require to be grown in a moist stove, and to be kept from the attacks 

 of the red spider, &c. 



Cychnoches pescatorei. — A stove orcliid, a native of New 



