LAPAGERTA "ROSEA. 



73 



of the past season, these gentlemen inform us that the roots are uninjured, and 

 appear likely to make strong shoots in the ensuing summer; this, it must be borne 

 in mind, is in the mild climate of Devonshire. We are not aware whether the plant 

 thus exposed has yet /lowered, but other specimens in the possession of Messrs. 

 Yeitch have blossomed in perfection both in pots, and also planted out in the conser- 

 vatory border. A specimen planted against a wall at the Royal Gardens, Kew, 

 grew luxuriantly during the last summer, and late in the autumn showed flower ; 

 but it was deemed advisable to remove the plant to a cool greenhouse. For a brief 

 interval it must, therefore, remain an open question, whether the flowers will be 

 produced sufllciently early in the season to permit of their full development 

 without some protection ; but that the plant will be found hardy enough for 

 summer cultivation in the open air there is no doubt, and the experiments of 

 Messrs. Veitch are, we think conclusive, that the roots will endure the winters of 

 our southern countries. 



In the absence of more positive evidence, the character of the climate of Chili, 

 of which country it is a native, would afford us some clue to the degree of hardiness 

 possessed by this plant; but unfortunately we have no information of the precise 

 locality where it was found, whether near the coast, where frost and snow are 

 almost if not quite unknown, or at a greater elevation on the slope of the Andes. 

 All we know is, that the Lapagerici was sent to the Royal Gardens from Concep- 

 cion, though it was probably brought from the interior. Many of the Chilian 

 plants which occur at some distance above the sea-level are quite hardy : as 

 examples, we may cite some of the species of Ahtmmeria, and the beautiful 

 Lardizabah, figured in our first volume, which has borne the past winter with less 

 injury than the common Laurel. The plants of Northern Chili, and those found 

 near the coast, are more tender, and will not resist our winters. 



The Lily-like flower of this fine plant will no doubt at first suggest the idea of 

 its close relationship to the Liliacem, and if this organ alone be considered, it would 

 be difficult to distinguish it from the plants of that Order ; a glance, however, at 

 the reticulated foliage will show that it differs not only from the Lily- worts, but 

 from nearly all other endogenous plants. Our readers are aware that the two 

 great divisions of Flowering plants, i.e. the Exogens and Endogens, are charac- 

 terized, among other features, the first by their reticulated foliage, jointed to the 

 stem, or branch, as in the oak ; the second by leaves having only parellel veins, 

 and foot stalks which are not articulated, as in the Lilies and Grasses. But in 

 nature there are no abrupt transitions, and accordingly we find that these two 

 groups are closely connected with each other by Orders which share the features 

 of both. The Sarsaparilla tribe, to which the Lapageria belongs, and the Yam 

 tribe, Dioscoreacece, are of this intermediate character, forming a small group 

 having leaves with a netted venation, like those of Exogens, but with flowers 



