258 Notices of new and beautiful Plants. 



CCXI. Scrophularinccc. 



RHODOCHI'TON. Zuccarini. 

 volubilo. Zuc. Twining red-cloak. A climbing herbaceous plant; flowering 

 all summer ; color of the flowers deep red ; propagated by seeds and cuttino-s; 

 a native of Mexico. Bot. Reg. t. 175.5. 



This desirable and magnificent climbing plant has been figured, 

 within the last six months, in five periodicals that have come under 

 our observation ; first, in Sweet's British Flower Garden, then the 

 Botanical Magazine, next, Paxton's Magazine of Botany, afterward 

 the Floricultural Cabinet, and lastly, in the Botanical Register. 

 This desire to give a figure at the earliest opportunity is evidence 

 that it has great claims to beauty. 



It was first introduced to England fi-om the Berlin Garden late in 

 1833, by Messrs. Low & Co. of the Clapton Nursery, and has since 

 been extensively spread through the nurseries and gardens in Bri- 

 tain. It was originally raised in the Botanic garden at Munich, from 

 seeds collected in Mexico, and was the next year distributed to other 

 gardens ; an account of it was soon after published in the Transac- 

 tions of the Prussian Horticultural Society, a figure given of it, and 

 its mode of treatment mentioned. This is as follows : — 



" It is a climber, and may be applied to cover the walls in con- 

 servatories, as well as in the open ground during summer. It pre- 

 sents a really surprising aspect, when the outer walls of a green- 

 house are covered with a screen formed by its numerous branches, 

 tinged with red, and loaded with the most beautiful purplish-black 

 flowers, hanging down from the red calyxes. Out of every axil, to 

 the most remote part of the twigs, a flower takes its origin, hanging 

 down from a long stalk, which like the under side of the leaves and 

 branches, is colored red. There can be no doubt, that it is, of all the 

 known climbing plants with which we cover our walls during sum- 

 mer, the most remarkable and beautiful, and ought to be particularly 

 reconnnended, as it is easily cultivated, and flowers so freely. Its 

 propagation is by seeds and cuttings ; the seeds are sown in March 

 or April, that the young plants may become strong enough in time 

 for planting in the open ground, where they are to remain during the 

 whole summer, until frost sets in ; if these plants are to be preserved, 

 they should be potted off and put in a conservatory, where they 

 prosper in a temperature from 43 deg. to 48 deg. Fahr. They are 

 also easily propagated by cuttings." — (Bot. Reg., Ajjril.) 



We have no doubt it would require the same treatment in our cli- 

 mate as the Lophospermum — to which genus Mr. D. Don has refer- 

 red this plant. Dr. Hooker and Professor Lindley, however, adhere 

 to Professor Zuccarinis' first name, R. voKibile. The foliage is simi- 

 lar to Lophospermum, as well as the flowers ; but the Rhodochiton 

 has a red calyx. We hope to see it introduced. 



Lophospermum erubescens is a lovely climber, and entitled to a 



