THE HARDY PAXMS OF THE HJMALAYAH. 1 75 



red, It approaches the A. canadensis, but is a much, finer plant, and larger in all its parts. We 

 oelieve the true species may be had of Messrs. Henderson of the Pine Apple Nursery. 



Berberis Nepalensis. (Berberidacex.)— Another fine species of this handsome genus of 

 evergreens, from the Himalayan. It belongs to the section with pinnated foliage, formerly 

 termed Mahonias. It is a strong growing shrub, with leaves often fifteen inches in length, 

 composed of from five to seven pairs of pale green glossy leaflets, three to four inches long, 

 with a terminal one usually rather longer. Its foliage alone would render it a great acquisi- 

 tion, but it is still more remarkable for the profusion of its deep orange-yellow flowers, which 

 are produced in long spikes, collected into fascicles at the extremities of the shoots. Like 

 the beautiful B. Danvinii, it is of the easiest propagation, by cuttings of half-ripened wood, 

 and flowers freely when only a few inches high. It is perfectly hardy in this country. 



Calceolaria violacea. ( Scrophulariacetz.)—k beautiful addition to this interesting family, 

 likely to prove quite hardy in this country, being from the South of Chili. It is of shrubby 

 habit, with evergreen foliage, and flowers of a violet blue, spotted with yellow; the form of the 

 corolla differs from that of most other species, the two lips being nearly equal in size, and 

 representing an open mouth, on which account it has been proposed to separate it from the 

 genus Calceolaria, under the name of Jovellana. It will, probably, prove of value for hybridizing, 

 its colour being very unusual in the genus, if not hitherto unknown. It will, we believe, be 

 offered for sale in the coming spring. 



Gladiolus ringens. (Iridacece.J—We are not sure that this interesting plant is altogether 

 new to this country ; but it is so little known, that, probably, many of our readers will now 

 first learn its name. Its flowers are less brilliant than those of some of the recent hybrids, 

 but they are remarkable for their singular tints. In its habit it resembles the commoner 

 species, and its flowers are fully as large ; they are of a fine greyish blue at the base, streaked 

 and spotted with reddish violet, the tips of the segments being of a much lighter shade, and 

 marked on their inner surface with a longitudinal band of deep yellow. Its blossoms have 

 the additional merit of yielding a pleasant violet-like fragrance. It appears to be a native of 

 Port Natal, and is, probably, as hardy as the common psittacinus from the same locality. There 

 can be no doubt, that, with a little attention, this plant would give rise to many new and 

 striking varieties. Mr. Carter of Holborn imported bulbs of it last season; and he may, 

 probably, be able to supply it this autumn also. 



Prunus djcana. (Rosacea:.)— A. very pretty shrub from the southern steppes of Eussia, bordering 

 on the Caucasus. It grows from four to sis or eight feet high, with long slender branches 

 covered with an ash-coloured bark, the shoots in their early stages being more or less pulveru- 

 lent. The leaves are lanceolate, toothed, and from one to two inches in length, clothed beneath 

 with a white cottony tomentum. The flowers are small, but very numerous, produced in sessile 

 pairs along the previous year's wood, of a bright pink colour, and are succeeded in summer by 

 an abundance of berries, of the colour and size of the Holly fruit. It is perfectly hardy, and 

 easily increased by seeds or layers, or it may be grafted on the more common species. Although 

 belonging to a fruit-bearing genus, it can only claim notice as an ornamental shrub. 



THE HARDY PALMS OF THE HIMALAYAH. 



The occurrence in certain geological strata of the European continent of fossil plants of the 

 Palm, and other allied forms, supposed to require for their existence a tropical temperature, has led 



