EXTRACTS. 39 



4. Opuntia Brasiliensis ; Brazilian Prickley Pear. Icosandria, Monogynia, 

 Cacteae. The peculiar habit and mode of growth at once distinguish this 

 species. It rises with a perfectly straight, erect, slender, but firm and stiff 

 round stem, to a height of from ten to twenty, or even thirty feet, very gradu- 

 ally tapering to a point, furnished all the way up with short, mostly horizon- 

 tal or declining branches. The whole plaut resembles a straight taper pole, 

 artificially dressed up with branches. The main stem is perfectly round. The 

 flowers opeu in long succession, being abundantly produced all over the plaut 

 from the prominent parts of the edges of the terminal joints. They are of a 

 bright lemon yellow, middle-sized. The fruit is rather agreeable, juicy, with 

 a fine acid, somewhat resembling an indifferent, hard fleshed, or unripe Plum, 

 with a smell and slight flavour like the leaf stalks of Garden Rhubarb. Opun- 

 tia, from Opus, a city of Locris. 



5. Libcrtia furmosa ; beautiful Libertia. Triandria, Monogynia. Irideos. 

 This species flowered beautifully in Mr. Cunningham's Nursery, at Comely 

 Bank, Edinburgh, in May, having been received from Mr. Low, of Clapton 

 Nursery, who raised it from seeds imported from near the Southern extremity 

 of the continent of America by Mr. Anderson. Its root forms a number of 

 crowns, by which it no doubt may be propagated, and it probably will ripen 

 seeds in the greenhouse. Stem, one foot four inches high. Flowers, numerous, 

 in a capitate head, they expand in succession, white. 



6. Helianthus spcciosus. Showy Mexican Sun Flower. Syugenesia, Frus- 

 tranea. Compositae. Division, HeliantheiB. Thomas Glover, Esq. of 

 Manchester, states, Mr. Edward Leeds, of this place, who has lately com- 

 menced business as a Nurseryman aud Florist, from among a packet of seeds 

 from the Botanic GardeD, Mexico, sent by W. Higson, Esq. of Man- 

 chester, has raised several plants that are not known in this neighbourhood. 

 Only one, (the above named plant) has flowered. Only one seed vegetated, 

 and the title upon the paper was Composita speciosa, and it is said to come 

 from Jorulla. The plaut with Mr. Leeds, rose to the height of about five 

 feet, beset with branches very thickly all the way from the bottom to the top, 

 the lower ones projecting nearly horizontally from the plaut about 18 inches 

 long, the rest gradually decreasing in length up to the top, and forming a 

 complete cone, each lateral shoot producing a flower at its termination, and 

 inclining Upwards. Flowers of a deep orange, about three inches in diameter. 

 (We suppose the plant is annual. — Cond.) Helianthus, from Helios, sun j 

 authos, flower — resemblance of flowers. 



7. Cleome dentlroidcs. Tree-like Cleome. Syn. C. arborea. C. atro-pur- 

 purea. Hexaudria, Monogynia. Capparidea. Though the colour of the 

 flowers is rather singular than brilliant, this is a very striking plant, with its 

 curious caudelabarum like, flower spike, and handsome foliage. It was raised 

 from seeds imported in 1828, from the Brazils, by Mrs. Penfold, of the 

 Achada. For the first two years, this Cleome has quite the appearance of an 

 annual or biennial herbaceous plant; rising with a single erect stem, to the 

 height of from one to two or three feet, and producing, in the summer of the 

 second year, a single, terminal spike of flowers. But after this, it puts forth 

 one or two branches below the first spike, and the stem becomes more woody, 

 brown and decidedly shrubby, attaining in this state five feet high, and lasts 

 from four to five years, l-'lowers, large and singular in form, of a dark, dull, 

 atru-purpureous colour, foetid, with the very unpleasant smell of cabbage- 

 water. Cleome, from Kleio, to shut. 



Edwards's Botanical Register. Edited by John Lindlky, Esq., 

 Professor of JJotany in the London University. Coloured, 

 4s. ; plain, 3s. 



1. Amaryllis lurmesina ; Carmine Amaryllis. Mr. VV. B. Booth, gardener 

 to Sir Ciiaki.k* Ll.mon, of Carclew, in Cornwall, slates, " Boots of this pretty 



