316 Floricnltiiral and Botanical Notices. 



the whole of the hill sides are tinged with its beautiful lilac 

 colored blossoms, and have a very gay appearance. It flow- 

 ered in England for the first time, in the spring of 1846, and, 

 as yet, it is extremely rare. Mr. Fortune states that it grows 

 freely in a loamy, well-drained soil, and that it is readily in- 

 creased by cuttings. The Chinese name is Nu-lan-ee, and 

 the bark, like the mezereon, is acrid and poisonous. In Eng- 

 land, it has been treated as a half-hardy shrub, but as it is 

 found growing where the thermometer falls to within a few 

 degrees of zero, it may prove hardy in our dry and cool win- 

 ters. Mr, Fortune remarks that, whether hardy or not, " it 

 Avill always be a favorite amongst spring flowers in the green- 

 house, where it richly merits a place in every collection. 

 {Hort. Soc. Journal, 1847). 



11. AzaYea obtu^sa Litidl. Obtuse-leaved azalea. (En'mce«). 



A half-hardy shrob ; growing two to three feet high ; with blush-colored flowers ; appearing in 

 spring ; a native of China ; increased by cuttings ; cultivated iu peat and loam. Journal of Horl. 

 Soc. Vol. n. p. 127. 



"A distinct species" of the azalea, which Mr. Fortune 

 found growing on the sides of the green tea hills in the prov- 

 ince of Chekiang, and also on some of the islands of the 

 Chusan Archipelago, where it is called the "silver silk flow- 

 er," by the northern Chinese. There are two varieties, both 

 of which have been introduced, one with flowers of a rich 

 white color ; the other pink, and both are beautifully dotted 

 with dark spots on the under petals. The corolla in form is 

 nearly round, and not unlike i?hododendrum chamaecistus, or 

 a finely-shaped pelargonium, in appearance. Its flowers are 

 produced in great profusion in the months of April and May. 

 The habit of the plant is compact and neat, and it is alto- 

 gether a fine addition to this beautiful family. It is increased 

 like other azaleas, and grown in similar soil. {Hart. Soc. 

 Journal, 1847). 



12, Came'llia japo'nica var, Comte de Paris. The Compte 



de Paris's Camellia, (Ternstromiaccfs). 



A new and beautiful variety of the camellia, which was 

 obtained from a plant of the Duchesse d'Orlcans in the collec- 

 tion of M. Van Ghiersdale of Ghent. A single branch having 

 sported in color, it was inarched or grafted on a good stock, 



