94-4 



ARBOKETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART HI. 



plausible enough in theory, in the closet, but will not do at the potting 

 bench. The pollen of fuchsias, and, perhaps, of most plants, is capable of 

 maintaining its fertilising properties for an indefinite space of time ; and, if 

 well preserved, will be as fit for use when five years old as when newly 

 gathered : the only conditions necessary for the preservation of its fertilising 

 powers are, an absolute exemption from moisture, and to be kept in an at- 

 mosphere above the freezing point. It is supposed, by some, that the pre- 

 sence of the petals of the flower are essential to the delicate process of 

 nourishing the embryo seeds ; but this is a mistake : the service of the petals is 

 entirely at an end the moment the stigma is ready for the pollen." (Ibid.) 



The fuchsia and the pelargonium are two of the finest genera from the 

 Old World that can be introduced to ornament the gardens of Australia, and 

 more particularly those of Van Diemen's Land. 



In the following enumeration, we have chiefly adopted the names given in 

 our Hortus Britannicus, and included the additions that have been recorded 

 in recent volumes of the Gardener's Magazine. 



F. microph-gila H. B. et Kunth (Bot. Reg., 1. 1269. ; and our fig. 666.) is a native of Mexico, with 

 small, elliptic, oblong leaves, and small short flowers. It was introduced in 1828 ; grows from 4 ft. to 

 6ft. high, and produces its pinkish red flowers from June to September. It is a very hardy species. 



F. ihymifblia H. B. et Kunth (Bot. Reg., t. 1284.) is a native of Mexico, 

 with small leaves, and small red flowers, which are produced from May to 

 October. It was introduced in 1827, and grows to the height of 6 ft. 



F. rdsea Ruiz et Pav. ; F. /ycioldes Bot. Reg., t. 120., Bot. Mag., t. 1024. ; 

 is a native of Chili, with small purplish pink flowers. It was introduced 

 in 1796, and, in favourable situations, will grow to the height of 12 ft. 



F. parviflbra Lindl. Bot. Reg., t. 1048. ; F. ovata Moc. et Sesse; closely re- 

 sembles the preceding sort. It is a native of Mexico, and was introduced in 

 1824. It grows to the height of 6 ft, and flowers from May to October. 



F. arborescens Sims Bot Mag., t. 2620. ; F. amce^ia Hort; F. hamel/oirfes 

 Moc. et Sesse; F. racembsa Id., Bot. Reg., t 943.; has broad leaves, and 

 small red flowers. It is a native of Mexico ; was introduced in 1824 ; grows 

 15 ft. or 16ft. high ; and flowers in September and October. 



F. grdcilis Lindl. Bot Reg., t 849; F. decusshta Graham, Bot. Mag., 

 t 2507. ; has pubescent branches, and flowers with purple petals and bright 

 scarlet calyx. It is a native of Mexico, and was introduced in 1823 : it grows to the height of 8ft. 

 or 10 ft., and flowers from May to October. 



F. g. 2 multiftbra Lindl. Bot. Reg., t 1052., has glaucous leaves, smaller than those of the 



species. 



F. macrostemon Ruiz et Pav. (Lodd. Bot. Cab., t. 1062.) has the petals blue and spreading, not 

 convolute ; and the calyx scarlet. It is a native of Chili, in marshes ; and was introduced in 1833. It 

 grows to the height of 12 ft., and flowers from July to October. 



F. m. 2 tentlla Dec. ; F. gracilis var. tenella Lindl. Bot. Reg., t. 1052. ; has opposite leaves, 



which are smaller than those of the species. 



F. cdnica LindL Bot. Reg., t. 1062., is a native of Chili, with the corolla purple, and calyx scarlet ; 

 the leaves in whorls ; and the tube of the corolla conical, which gives a conical shape to the calyx. 

 This, which is one of the handsomest sorts of Fuchsza, was introduced in 1824. 



F. virgata Swt. has flowers somewhat resembling those of the preceding sort. It is a native of 

 Mexico, whence it was introduced into Britain in 1825, and is considered one of the hardiest species of 

 the genus. 



F. coccinea Ait. ; F. p^ndula Salisb. ; F. magellanica Lam., N. Du Ham., 1. t. 13. ; Nahusia 

 coccfnea Schneevoogt ; Skinnera coccinea Mcench ; (Bot. Mag., t. 91. ; and our Jig. 667.) is a well- 

 known species, with opposite or whprled leaves, and 

 axillary drooping flowers. The calyx is scarlet, and the 

 petals violaceous. It is a native of Chili, in marshes, 

 as far south as the Straits of Magellan. It was intro. 

 duced into Kew Gardens by Captain Firth, in 1788, 

 and was greatly admired, being the first species of the 

 genus seen in a living state in England. Soon after- 

 wards, Mr. Lee, one of the founders of the Hammer- 

 smith Nursery, obtained a plant of it ; and, having 

 soon discovered with what ease it may be multiplied, 

 he raised, as we have been informed, many hundred 

 plants, which, by showing only two or three at a time, 

 he was enabled to sell at one guinea each. 



F. apttala Ruiz et Pav. grows to the height of from 

 10ft to 12ft., and produces drooping flowers, IJin. 

 long, with red calyx. It is a native of Chili, and was 

 introduced in 1825. It flowers in September and Oc- 

 tober. 



F. discolor Lindl. Bot. Reg., t. 1805., is a native of 

 the Falkland Islands, at Port Famine ; whence it was 

 introduced in 1830. Dr. Lindley observes, that " It is 

 difficult to distinguish it from F. gracilis, and F. te- 

 iiella; yet it is decidedly different. It is remarkable 

 for its compact bushy manner of growth, its deep purple branches, its small very undulated leaves, 

 and also for being apparently more hardy than any other fuchsia yet in the gardens." For the latter 

 reason, Dr. Lindley attaches "especial importance to it ; for, by a judicious intermixture of its pollen 

 with such beautiful plants as F. c6nica, F. globdsa, and its other more tender relatives, the race 

 produced may probably be rendered capable of bearing the climate of Great Britain." (Bot. Reg. t 



