144 COLEUS BLTJMEI. 



sidcrable advantage. The S. orlcntalis is an equally beautiful plant, supposed to be but a variety 

 of the compacta, and requires the same treatment. 



THE SIKKIM RHODODENDRONS. 



The splendid figures published by Dr. Hooker of these remarkable plants excited, in no small 

 degree, the expectations of the horticultural world, and to judge from the beauty of the few species 

 which have yet flowered in this country, these hopes will be amply fulfilled. Although 

 scarcely three years have elapsed since the seeds were distributed in this country, already six 

 species have produced their blossoms, two of them, indeed, the if. ciliatum and if. lepidoUon, bloomed 

 last season ; the remaining four, iMilhousicc, Edgworthii, glaucnm, and niveum having flowered in 

 the spring of the present year. The if. ciliatum is a comparatively dwarf species, with small neat 

 foliage fringed with hairs ; its flowers are very large in proportion to the size of the plant, and of a 

 delicate blush or rose, varying in depth on different portions of the same flower ; it will probably 

 prove quite hardy. The B. lepidotum is an exceedingly dwarf plant of less interest, its leaves 

 and stems being covered with minute peltate scales, which are not, however, peculiar to this species. 

 The if. glaucum is a far more interesting plant, with heads of moderately large rose-coloured 

 blossoms. It flowered at Kew in April of the present year, and it proves to be one of the hardiest of 

 the group. The if. niveum, so named from the snow-white tomentum with which the young 

 leaves are clothed, has flowered with Messrs. Standish and Noble, its blossoms being produced in 

 close heads ; they are moderately large, and of a very pretty purplish lilac tint. This, too, is very 

 hardy. But these are all thrown completely into the shade by the if Dalhous'm and if. Edgworthii, 

 the latter of which has flowered at the Chiswick Garden of the Horticultural Society, the former 

 at Dysart House, N. B., the seat of the Earl of Eosslyn. DaiJioiisiec has immense white flowers 

 of the substance of those of the Magnolias, and leaves about five inches long. In Edgworthii, 

 they are fully as large, of a creamy white, spotted in the throat with purple, and exhale an 

 aromatic fragrance. We are not aware whether these two last will prove hardy, but it is highly 

 probable. Ere long we hope to chronicle the expansion of the flowers of the more highly coloured 

 species. 



COLEUS BLUMEI. 

 Under the name of Plectranthus concolor picta, many of our readers may have met with this 

 singular plant at some of the Floricultural Exhibitions of the past season, where it attracted great 

 attention. It belongs to the Lipworts, and was introduced to Holland from Java in 1851, by 

 M. J. A. "Willink, an amateur Florist of Amsterdam. In its habit it resembles the Salvias, 

 especially the stronger growing species, such as gemeriflora ; the leaves are ovate, very pointed, 

 and edged with large acute teeth ; their ground colour is a pale green, but the whole of the centre 

 of the leaf is occupied by a large stain of a reddish-brown tint; in the young leaves the stain 

 is small, but in the larger ones it covers at least one-half the surface. The flowers are produced 

 in long verticillate spikes, each whorl being composed of four compound spikelets, bearing rather small 

 flowers, resembling in form an inverted Salvia blossom, the lower lip being of a boat-like shape. 

 Their colour is white and violet-blue, and although, individually, less conspicuous than those of 

 many other Lipworts, the number and length of the spikes compensate for their Email size. 

 Its leaves alone would stamp it with the greatest interest, for their coloration is quite unique 

 Its value is greatly increased by the circumstance, that it appears likely to succeed in the open 

 air during summer ; we have turned a specimen about a foot high into the borders, and, judging 

 from present appeal ances, we have no doubt that it is as hardy as many of the Salvias. Whether 

 it will flower in the open ground remains to be seen, but in any case its foliage will ensure 

 it a welcome in the borders. As a window plant it will succeed admirably, and its culture is 

 remarkably easy, cuttings rooting with great facility. 



