28 NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 



attention in the botanical world, the interest being specially increased 

 by the name (Victoria) it is privileged to bear. If it could be said, 

 in reference to the consort of His Majesty George III., that the 

 Strelitzia was peculiarly appropriated to her, because of the pa- 

 tronage which she gave to botany, by improving and embellishing the 

 Royal Gardens of Kevv, much more does the name of Victoria claim 

 to be handed down to posterity on similar grounds ; seeing that Her 

 present Majesty has been graciously pleased to make these gardens 

 available to the public enjoyment, and even to endow them with a 

 liberal provision for that especial purpose." We may add, that these 

 gardens, and the collection of plants they contain, have recently been 

 so much improved and increased, as to be far superior to any other 

 we have seen, and certainly afford a very rich treat to the immense 

 number of visitors. " Growing plants," proceeds Sir William, " of 

 the Victoria regia are in the Royal Gardens of Kew, but liave not 

 yet bloomed. Of it, however, we iiave flowering specimens, gathered 

 by Sir R. Schomburgh ; and blossoms both preserved in spirits and 

 dried, collected by Mr. Bridges. Sir R. Schomburgh detected the 

 plant in British Guiana, and observes, ' It was on the 1st of January, 

 1837, while contending with the difficulties to stem our progress up 

 the river Berbice, that we arrived at a part where the river expanded 

 and formed a currentless basin. Some object on the southern extre- 

 mity of this basin attracted my attention, and I was unable to form an 

 idea what it could be ; but, animating the crew to increase the rate of 

 their paddling, we soon came opposite the object which had raised my 

 curiosity, and, behold, a vegetable wonder! All calamities were 

 forgotten ; I was a botanist, and felt myself rewarded ! There were 

 gigantic leaves, five to six feet across, with a flat broad rim, lighter 

 green above and vivid crimson below, floating upon the water, while 

 in character witli the wonderful foliage, I saw luxuriant flowers, each 

 consisting of numerous petals, passing, in alternate tints, from pure 

 white to rose and pink. The smooth water was covered with the 

 blossoms, and as I rowed from one to another, I always found something 

 new to admire. This beautiful flower, when it first unfolds, is white 

 with a pink centre ; the colour spreads as the bloom increases in age ; 

 and, at a day old, the whole is rose-coloured. As if to add to the 

 charm of this truly noble Water Lily, it diffuses a sweet scent.' 



" Father La Cueva, a Spanish missionary in the country of the 

 wild Guarayos, an old man who had passed thirty years among savages, 

 and the celebrated botanist Haenke, who had been sent by the Spanish 

 Government to investigate the vegetable productions of Peru, were 

 together in a pirogue upon the river Mamore, one of the great tribu- 

 taries of the Amazon river, when they discovered in the marshes by 

 the side of the stream, a plant which was so surprisingly beautiful and 

 extraordinary, that Haenke, in a transport of admiration, fell on his 

 knees, and expressed aloud his sense of the power and magnificence of 

 the Creator in his works. 



" On the return of Mr. Bridges from his journey through Bolivia, 

 he found the Victoria regia in considerable abundance, and brought 

 home in 1846, seeds in wet clay, and well dried foliage ; also flowers 

 preserved in spirits. He observes, relative to it, as follows : — 



