296 NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 



its finely divided shining delicate foliage, have a very pretty effect. 

 It is nearly a hardy shrub, and ought to be tried in every likely garden 

 or ground. 



Peatycodon chinense. — Mr. Fortune brought this handsome 

 (Campanula) flowering plant from Chamoo, in China. Dr. Lindley 

 observes, " At first we took it for a mere variety of Platycodon grandi- 

 flora (Campanula grandiflora of some), originally from Siberia. This 

 latter species has usually but one flower at the end of the stem, or at 

 most two ; on the contrary the P. chinense always has a long raceme, 

 and will sometimes have branches. It is the finest herbaceous plant 

 Mr. Fortune sent from China to the Horticultural Society. It is 

 nearly hardy, but in cold situations requires to be kept in a cold frame 

 in winter. The flower stems rise from two to three feet high, bearing 

 a profusion of flowers. Each blossom is two inches across, of a deep 

 blue colour. The leaves are green above, but of a silvery hue beneath, 

 oval shaped, finely serrated. It deserves a place in every flower border. 

 There is a semi-double white variety, figured in the Journal of the 

 Horticultural Society. 



Potentilla ambigua. Three toothed. — Dr. Hooker found this 

 pretty species growing at Sikkim-Himalaya, in woods at an elevation 

 of from 12,000 to 13,000 feet above the level of the sea. From a 

 woody perennial root numerous stems diverge around, and they rise 

 from six to twelve inches high, frequently of a purple colour, but the 

 leaves are green. The contrast is pretty, more especially so when the 

 rich yellow flowers are full blown, each being an inch across. It is a 

 free growing plant, increasing rapidly, rooting like some of the creeping 

 Verbenas. It blooms all the summer and up to late in autumn. It is 

 in the Royal Gardens of Kew, and deserves a place in every flower 

 garden, either as a border ornament in patches, edging for a bed, or on 

 a rock work. (Figured in Bot. Mag., 4613.) 



Primula involucrata. — A native of Northern-India, a hardy 

 perennial herbaceous plant. The flower-scape rises from six to nine 

 inches high, bearing three or four white blossoms, each being about an 

 inch across, fragrant. It is a desirable plant for rockwork, not too 

 much exposed to sun. It blooms in the open border about March, but 

 earlier if kept in a cool greenhouse, or pit frame: it is in the Chiswick 

 Garden. A very pretty addition to this lovely tribe of early flowers. — 

 {Journal of Horticultural Society.) 



Sphjerostema propinquum. — Dr. Hooker found this handsome 

 somewhat climbing shrub growing at from 7,000 to 9,000 feet in 

 Sikkim-Himalaya. It is a much branching, twiggy plant, its leaves 

 being much like the common Syringa for size and form, but quite 

 smooth. It is fragrant, and the natives eat the fruit, which consists of 

 many berries, which, when ripe, resembles a long bunch of red cur- 

 rants. The flowers have fine petals, nearly an inch across, of a pale 

 yellow colour. It flourishes in the palm stove at the Royal Gardens 

 of Kew, but will succeed in a warm greenhouse. — (Figured in Magazine 

 of Botany, 4614.) 



