112 Notes and Gleajiinzs. 



those in the herbarium of the Royal Gardens, Kew, we find that the species is 

 hitherto undescribed ; though dried specimens collected by Gardner in Brazil, 

 not materially differing from the living plant, are in the herbarium. 



The plant is a climber, with cylindrical, smooth branches ; the leaves are 

 stalked, and digitate, or palmisect, with five smooth coriaceous lobes of a deep 

 green color on the upper surface, but paler below ; each lobe is oblong-obtuse, 

 with a very fine mucro at the apex, entire or irregularly lobed at the margin, and 

 tapering at the base into a short, channelled stalk. The size of the leaves varies 

 considerably, according to the part of the stem or branch to which they are at- 

 tached. The main leaf-stalk or petiole is cylindrical, shorter than the blade, and 

 provided about the middle with two sessile deep green glands. The stipules 

 are linear or awl-shaped, about half an inch long, and quickly fall off. The 

 flower-stalks are solitary in the axils of the leaves, cylindrical, shorter than the 

 leaf-stalks, and bear a single flower. 



The involucel consists of three broadly ovate concave bracts, of a green color, 

 very softly pubescent on both surfaces, about an inch and a half in length, and 

 provided witli a pair of glands at the base, — sometimes on one marg'n only, at 

 other times on both. The expanded flower measures about four inches in 

 diameter. 



The calyx tube (or what is so called) is about a quarter of an inch long, cy- 

 lindrical, contracted at the upper portion, concave at the base, where the stalk is 

 inserted ; the limb of the calyx is divided into five oblong-obtuse lobes, each 

 nearly two inches long, greenish on the outer surface, and provided near the 

 apex with a small projecting horn-like process, whitish on the inner surface, and 

 sprinkled with violet-colored spots, like the petals ; which latter are oblong- 

 obtuse, shorter than the calyx lobes. 



The corona consists of several rows of thread-like processes, the outermost 

 longer than the sepals, twisted and curling like ringlets (hence the name), 

 with alternate bars of purple and white at the base, but of a uniform violet hue 

 elsewhere ; the remaining rays are much shorter, thread-like, a little thickened 

 at the extremity, and of a violet or purple color ; the innermost series are bent 

 inwards, and spring from the edge of a membranous cup. The gynophore, or 

 stalk supporting the ovary, is short, encircled at the base by a membranous 

 ring, and bears above five stamens, whose filaments are confluent below into a 

 shallow cup, and a smooth, yellow, egg-shaped ovary, rather more than an inch 

 in length. The latter in its turn is surmounted by three rather long club-shaped 

 styles, spotted with purple, and terminating in large, two-lobed, yellowish 

 stigmas. 



Such is the arid description of this striking novelty. The brush of the artist 

 can alone do justice to its singularity and beauty. The plant does well under 

 Mr. Frost's care in a cool greenhouse, so that it may be safely recommended as 

 a valuable addition to the list of greenhouse-climbers. — M. T. M., in Gardat- 

 er''s Chronicle. 



About Fruit. — I am not quite sure whether fruit is always brought to us 

 as it siiould be. Pears and apples, no doubt, bear careful carriage, and, how- 



