Notes and Gleanings. 3 1 1 



tion of such plants as Wigandla, Calocasia esculenta, and the different varieties 

 of tobacco. 



Canna Discolor. — This variety, which has been distributed under the 

 name of viridijlora (? irldijlora), is by far the finest plant we have for ornamental 

 planting. 



Nothing can exceed the brilliancy and delicate contrasts of the leaf-markings, 

 or the majesty and vigor of its growth. The foliage is deep green, beautifully 

 marbled and banded with dark-reddish purple ; the single leaves measuring 

 three to four feet in length, and more than twelve inches across. The leaf-stalks 

 are very deep red, contrasting well with the greenish under surface of the leaves. 



A plant set out from a thumb-pot in the latter part of May, measured, when 

 tiiken up Oct. i, nine feet in height, and twelve feet in circumference : it had 

 then shown no disposition to flower. — E. S. R., Jun. 



Ornamental Grasses. — Mr. Abbey, in "The English Journal of Horticul- 

 ture," gives the following list of ornamental grasses : — 



Pe/misetu/n longislylum, Eleusiiie caput-Mediisce, Broinus Schraderi, Briza 

 maxima^ Agrostis nebulosa, Tricholcena rosea, Lagnrus ovatus, Hordeumjubatum, 

 Brizopyncin siciiliini, A vena sterilis, Sitarix macrochceta, Paspaliiin elegans. 



George U. Skinner. — Every one interested in the culture of orchids will 

 especially regret to hear of the death of Mr. George Ure Skinner. Although 

 occupied by commercial pursuits, being one of the firm of Klee, Skinner, & Co., 

 of Guatemala, yet he found time to pursue his favorite researches in natural 

 history. His residence in Central America probably led him to the particular 

 study of orchids, with which the forests of the district abound ; and with them 

 his name is now thoroughly associated. For about thirty years, we have known 

 him engaged in their collection ; and some one of their genera should do honor 

 to his name. Cattleya Skinneri is a minor remembrance of him. One genus, 

 worthy of him, records two of his names ; but it belongs to the natural order 

 Scrophnlariacece . We refer to Uroskinneria spectabilis, thus mentioned by the 

 late Dr. Lindley : " For this beautiful plant our gardens are indebted to G. U. 

 Skinner, Esq., the most generous of merchants, the most eager of collectors, to 

 whom or to whose assistance the botany of Western Mexico and Guatemala 

 owes more than to all the travellers who have visited those regions. Nothing 

 more worthy of his name could well be found ; for the plant is very rare, very 

 showy, and now secured to our gardens : we therefore trust that verbal pedants 

 will not quarrel with the manner we have contrived to escape from the difficulty 

 of there being already a Skiiineria in the botanical field, but agree with us that 

 Ure Skinner may be fairly blended into a name which shall unmistakably record 

 the labors of one who has so signally benefited the science of florticulture." 

 He died of yellow-fever on the 9th of January at Aspinwall, Isthmus of Panama, 

 at the age of sixty-two ; and it adds painfully to the feeling for his loss to know 

 that he was journeying to Guatemala to complete arrangements for retiring from 

 the firm, preparatory to taking up his residence in England permanently. 



