AND THEIE CULTUEE. 131 



various forms of this plant, the finest of all is L. Eximium } Court, 

 Spae Mon., 14 ; Flore des Serres, t. 283-4. L. Jama-juri, Siebold et 

 De Vriese, Tuinbow Flora, i., 319, t. 11. L. Eximium Wilsoni,!iort. 

 Angl., is of taller growth, and has broader leaves and larger flowers,. 

 8 or 9 inches long. L. Takesima and L. Abchasicum, Hort., are forms- 

 of Longiflorum. 



is dilated at the spot where the lobes begin, and in consequence of this arrangement the- 

 flower is moderately open. The flower of Longiflorum enlarges gradually and regularly 

 from below upwards. The flower is more open than in Takesima, and shorter, and its. 

 six divisions are more widely spreading, the three outer ones are even appreciably 

 revolute. In Eximium the tube is more nearly cylindrical, throughout its length ^ 

 the aperture of the flower is oblique, and its six divisions are longer, narrower, 

 thinner, and completely revolute. The dimensions of the flowers also serve to 

 characterise the varieties. The flower of Longiflorum Takesima is 165 millimetres. 

 (6| inches, about) in length, while the tube of the flower from the base to the 

 origin of the lobes measures 95 millimetres (nearly 4 inches). The flower of 

 Longiflorum (var. Grandiflorum, and hence larger than in the type) measures- 

 140 millimetres in length about 5^ inches, of which the tube from the base to the 

 origin of the lobe measures about half (2 inches) ; nevertheless, the diameter of the- 

 flower from tip to tip of the lobes is appreciably wider than in Longiflorum, Takesima. 

 Lastly, the flower of Eximium has a total length of 180 millimetres (more than 7 inches),, 

 of which 100 (4rj inches, about) are taken up by the tube. M. Lemaire has remarked 

 ("Flore des Serres," iii., pi. 282, 284) that the filaments of the stamens are of unequal 

 length in Eximium, while they are equal in Longiflorum, as they are also, according to. 

 M. Duchartre's experience, in Longiflorum Takcsima. 



To sum up, Eximium is characterised ~by its horizontal flower, which is longest of the- 

 three ; by its narrow tube, but slightly dilated above ; its wide and oblique limb, its 

 oblong revolute lobes, and its unequal filaments. 



Longiflorum has its flowers placed obliquely on the stalk, and almost erect ; its, 

 flower is the shortest and the most widely expanded of the three ; its lobes are wide, the 

 three outer ones appreciably revolute. 



Longiflorum Takesima has the flower obliquely inserted on the stalk, but less so- 

 than in the case of the last mentioned, intermediate in absolute length between the two 

 others, the least widely expanded of the three, manifestly dilated at the throat, more or 

 less tinged with violet externally, and with wide spreading (not revolute) lobes. As, 

 to the stem and leaves of these plants, the differences are so slight that no useful 

 characters can be obtained from them. Nevertheless, it may be remarked that the leaves. 

 of Longiflorum are broader, shorter, and thicker, and more fleshy than those of the other 

 two ; while those of Takesima are the longest and narrowest, and usually 3-nerved. 



M. Duchartre was originally of opinion that Eximium was a distinct species, but 

 he no longer holds that view with the same confidence, and, moreover, he considers the 

 two other forms as varieties of one species. Eximium has a strong and agreeable- 

 perfume, like that of orange blossom, and according to M. Leichtlin it may be dis- 

 tinguished from all the varieties of Longiflorum by its more compact habit (?) its shorter, 

 more nearly sesile leaves (?), and generally by the great size of its snow-white flowers 

 (nearly 8 inches long). Baker. 



Having for some years past been familiar with all these varieties of the Longiflorum 

 group, we differentiate them as follows. 



( Pliilippincnse, with tall slender stem, foliage narrow, frequent and 

 (a). acutely pointed, perianth 8 inches long, externally green tinted, tube 



With Purple ' l n S> funnel-shaped ; disc broad, widely expanded, highly revolute ; 

 . , , , L \ habit slender, flower latge. 



Takesima (Jama-jmi of Siebold), dwarf habit, foliage broad, 

 \ perianth chocolate tinted externally, 5 6 inches long, tube bell-shaped, 

 L disc expanded, slightly revolute. 



