274 Herbert's Amarijllidacecs. 



lodging amongst the roots of the same plant of Pitcairnia, plucked off a rock 

 in Brazil ; one of %vliich objected to the heat of a stove, and the other would 

 not live through the winter without it. Candida flowers abundantly here 

 under a warm south wall, upon the first autinnnal rains after a season of 

 drought, which does not, however, at all affect its foliage ; and if they cease, 

 its blossoming will be suspended, unless it be watered, and recommence later. 

 I have an extraordinary variety (var. -i.) from Buenos Ayres, which flowers, 

 year after year, with eight segments to the flower, eight stamens, four lobes to 

 the style, and four cells to the capsule. It has a more robust scape, 1 ft. high, 

 and very conspicuous large flowers, expanding full 3 in. I have seen acci- 

 dental flowers of Gladioli with a supernumerary stamen, sepal, and petal, and 

 even with two; and a regular fertile four-celled capsule on Camellia japonica; 

 but this is the only instance I have observed of a seedling with such a variation 

 permanent. My belief is, that this plant belongs to the genus intermediate 

 between Zephyranthes and Coopena, though I will not disturb it till the fur- 

 ther species of those genera can be thoroughly examined. It differs from 

 Zephyranthes, and agrees with Cooperia, in having deformed pollen ; a point 

 which, I am persuaded, must indicate generic diversity, though we may be 

 sure that the diversity, if positive, would not be confined to such a secret 

 feature. It differs from Zephyranthes in the stamen, and from the known 

 Cooperias in the absence of a cylindrical tube, and in its expansion under 

 sunshine ; from both, in the substance of the leaf, and their permanency. 

 The erect lobes of its stigma are peculiar to itself; and it has as yet resisted 

 my repeated attempts to cross it with Zephyranthes. I suggest the name 

 Arg\ropsis, if its separation should be established on further investigation, in 

 allusion to its silvering the banks of its native river, and giving name to the 

 Argentine republic. It comes very near, however, to Z. sessilis, which forms 

 a link between it and the pedunculated species; and I can onl)' separate it as 

 a section of that genus. 



" I learned from my lamented friend Dr. Carey, that the species of Zephy- 

 ranthes which I had sent to him had multiplied proiligiously in the East 

 Indies, as well as the Hippeastra ; the former being a substitute for our 

 crocuses, the latter for our tulips, in a tropical garden ; and he was earnest in 

 his application for every species of Zephyranthes. 



" There is a little mystery in the expansion of Candida. I have seen it 

 open quite flat in warm sunshine ; but I have, nevertheless, in every cold 

 gloomy weather, with a north wind, seen its flowers standing at three fourths 

 expansion at night ; and, a few days after, when the wind was south-west, and 

 warmer, the flowers were not near so open, even in the day ; as if its exi)an- 

 sions depended on the dryness of the atmosphere." (p. 178.) 



The portion of the work on cross-bred vegetables may be 

 divided into two parts ; the first containing a history of cross 

 breeding, from the time of its origin by Koh-euter, about 1770, 

 till the author's and Mr. Knigiit's papers on the subject in the 

 Horticultural Transactions and the Philosophical Transactions ; 

 its present aspect in this country ; and the anticipations which 

 may reasonably be entertained of its future progress, both in 

 reference to its utility in guiding or correcting the arrangement 

 of the botanist and the improvement of our flower-gardens. The 

 second portion might not inaptly be called a historical and bio- 

 graphical account of all the known or re[)utcd mule plants 

 existing, or having had existence, either in this country or on 

 the Continent; wherein their derivative or reputed origin is 

 either confirmed or refuted, by tests hitherto found infallible. 

 Here, the practised hybridist will find many hitherto inexpli- 



