figured in the London Plor. and Bat. Magazines. 417 



POINSE'TTM pulcherrima Orah. 



This splendid plant is figured in the Bot. Magazine for June, 

 t. 3493. The same correspondent, quoted under Euphor- 

 bia fulgens, states that the plant he saw in Germany and men- 

 tioned in his communication, is the E. heterophylla Karw. the 

 same as that figured as Poinsettia pulcherrima. If this is true, it 

 must have been introduced into Germany about the same time 

 that it was brought to this country; as living plants, drawings, 

 and dried specimens, of both this and Euphorbia fulgens, were 

 received by that writer in May, 1835, from his brother in Vienna. 

 It is somewhat singular, however, that plants have not found their 

 way into English collections before this, or that some information 

 respecting the existence of such in the continental gardens has not 

 been made known before. We shall expect to see, in a future 

 number of the Gard. Mag., more information respecting this 

 plant. (Gard. Mag. for Aug., p. 390.) 



Dicotyledonous, Monopetalous, Plants. 



OENT\A'JVA qninqueflora ' mUd. 

 St/iwnyme .- Gentidrea amarelloides. Mich. Piirsh. 



I was kindly presented by a friend with some fine specimens 

 of this elegant and rare gentiana, which were gathered in Sheffield, 

 in this state, a few days ago. Growing to the height of about two 

 feet, and bearing, on its quadrangular stem, successive verticils 

 of delicate blue flowers, by twos, threes, and fives, it formed an 

 elegant contrast with the decaying foliage of the year. It is 

 greatly to be wished that this, with the inimitable fringed-corollaed 

 species, G. crinita, could be introduced and cultivated in our gar- 

 dens. How delightfully would their charming flowers appear 

 amidst the purple and naked corolla of the Colchicum autumnale, 

 and Crocus serotinus, and, nov/ and then, a precocious phlox, 

 tempted, by the balmy air and gladsome sun, to expand a ievf blos- 

 soms intended for the next spring. Geniidna saponaria, is, how- 

 ever, to be recommended as a fine and certain autumnal flower, 

 thriving with great vigor in a moist and cool border, and even 

 accommodating itself to the exigencies of its situation. When 

 suffered to stand in the same place for several years, it assumes 

 a strong and vigorous aspect, and becomes literally crowded with 

 flowers. This species does not expand: the corolla is contract- 

 ed at the apex. G. crinita, on the contrary, opens regularly on 

 the approach of the sun's rays, and welcomes its genial beams 

 by the exhibition of its rare beauty. 



This last mentioned species may be found in seed at this sea- 

 son of the year. It is sometimes a rare, and again at other times 

 a common plant, in the sphagnous swamps at Cambridge. Per- 

 haps some of your correspondents or readers who have reared 



VOL. II. NO. XI. 63 



