266 NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 



their growth. The potting is usually performed after blooming, in 

 order that the perfecting of the young wood may be promoted. In a 

 strong loam, with about one-third peat or leaf mould, they flourish 

 admirably. A gentle bottom heat, and a close moist atmosphere whilst 

 swelling the flower buds, and making new wood, are indispensable, and 

 the opposite treatment is pursued during their season of rest. 



The above mode of cultui-e is that so successfully practised with 

 those delightful fragrant species gradicans and florida, whose perfume 

 is diff'used in the bouquets in the London flower marts during the 

 spring and the early part of the summer. 



NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 



Abelia floribunda — Florid Abelia. 



Caprifoliacea. Fentandria Monogynia. 

 A native of Mexico, which requires to have a treatment between a 

 stove and a greenliouse. It is a pretty little erect shrub, growing 

 freely in sandy loam, peat, and leaf-mould. It blooms during the 

 entire summer season. The flowers are produced in numerous pendu- 

 lous clusters of two or tliree blossoms in each. They are similar in 

 form to a Trumpet Honeysuckle ; of a beautiful bright rosy-pink 

 colour. It may be procured cheap at the public nurseries, and it well 

 merits a place in every collection, being neat and handsome. (Figured 

 in Bot. lieg.) 



Chirita "Walkeri^ — Mrs. Walker's Ciiirita. 



Didt/mocarpa. Didynamia Angiospermia, (Syn. Chirita Mooni.) 

 It is a native of Ceylon, where it was discovered by Mrs. General 

 "Walker. It lias bloomed in the hothouse in the Royal Gardens of 

 Kew most of the past summer. The stem is shrubby, succulent, stout, 

 branching. Each flower is two inclies and a half long, between funnel 

 and bell shape ; a rich violet-purple ; the tube pale yellowish-white, 

 and inside the moutli has a deep yellow circle. It blooms during the 

 greater part of summer. A handsome flowering species, and deserves 

 a place in any collection. It may be procured very cheap, and its 

 pretty Foxglove-like flowers have a beautiful appearance. (Figured 

 in Bot. Mag., 4327.) 



COLUMNEA CBASSIFOLIA — ThIOK-LEAVED. 



Gesneriacea. Didi/namia Angiospermia. 



Supposed to be a native of Mexico. It is the most beautiful, as well 

 as the largest flowered of this genus. It requires the heat of the stove. 

 The plant grows about a foot high. The flowers are produced singly 

 along the stem, erect ; each blossom is tube-shaped, curved, near five 

 inches long, hairy, and a bright scarlet colour, with yellow streaks 

 in the throat. It has bloomed in the collection of the lioyal Gardens 

 of Kew. (Figured in Bot. Mag., 4330.) 



