360 GENERAL REVIEW. 



PLANE-LEAVED SERIES. 



C. Berkeley it (C. Verschaffeltii x C. Veitchii}. 

 C. Marshallii (C. Verschaffcltii X C. Veitchii). 

 C. Saundersii (C. Versckaffdtti x C. Veilchii}. 

 C. Dixii (C. Verschaffcltii x C. Veitchii). 



C. Ruckerii (C. Verschaffeltii x C. Gibsonii}. 

 C. Murrayii (C. Verschaffdtii x C. Gibsonii}. 



FRILLED-LEAVED SERIES. 



C. Bausei (C. Verse haffeltii x C. Veitchii). 



C. Scotii (C. Verse haffeltii x C. Gibsonii). 



C. Clarkei (C. Verse haffeltii x C. Gibsonii}. 



C. Batemanii (C. Verschaffeltii x C. Gibsonii}. 



C. Wilsonii (C. Verschaffeltii x C. Veitchii}. 



C. Reevesii (C. Verschaffeltii x C. Blumei}. 



In a few months after these varieties were distributed, Mr W. 

 Bull, Messrs E. G. Henderson & Sons, and other cultivators, 

 succeeded in raising other distinct forms ; and subsequently 

 Mr Bause originated a second series, this time with very 

 brightly-coloured foliage, one of the best, C. " Queen Victoria," 

 having bright carmine-purple leaves, bordered irregularly with 

 golden yellow (see 'Florist,' 1869, p. i). The next distinct 

 variety was C. Telfordii, a sport from C. Blumei ; and then 

 Coleuses became too common, and are now rarely grown, if we 

 except C. Verschaffeltii and an improved form of it, which are 

 found to be the best for outdoor decorative purposes. The 

 finest of all the forms yet raised, however, is C. " Duchess of 

 Edinburgh," a variety of American origin, sent out by Messrs 

 Carter & Co. in 1875. I* nas a ^ at carmine-purple crenate 

 leaf, edged with yellow, and is a decided improvement on 

 " Queen Victoria." We now wonder how it was that such 

 extraordinary prices were paid for Mr Bause's seedlings, but 

 then they were such a decided improvement on existing kinds ; 

 and although the Coleus mania is over, large sums would still 

 be paid for any distinct class of new hybrids of any less common 

 plant. In 1871, Messrs E. G. Henderson & Sons exhibited a 

 hybrid Coleus, named C. " Emperor Napoleon," which they 

 had obtained as the result of crossing C. Berkeleyii with the old 

 "Nettle Geranium" (Plectranthus fruticosus}, in order if possible 

 to obtain a race of hardier kinds. Some of the seedlings from 

 this union showed a partial return to one or other of the parent 

 plants. C. " Lady Burrell," sent out by Mr Cannell in 1874-75, 

 is one of the most distinct, the basal half of the leaf being of a 

 deep crimson maroon, while the apical half is golden yellow, 

 the line of demarcation being as clear as if painted. 



