436 Retrospective Criticism. 



Redoute, as a variety under that name: but is probably Tritonia linekta 

 of Loudon's Encyclopmdia of Plants. My G. Watsonms answers well 

 to the technical description, but does not exactly agree in color with 

 Redoute : the leaves are very singular, and it is altogether a very grace- 

 ful and desirable plant. Watsonia Meriana has flowered finely. — lb. 



JlmaryllaiCegd. — Did not one of your correspondents promise a list of 

 such species and varieties of this family as require to be kept dormant 

 for a time, to ensure flowering.^ 1 want much to see it: 1 have a very 

 pretty collection, but several are too shy of flowering for all my art — 

 especially Griff"ini« hyacintha.— Fowrs, W., September, 1836. 



Cyclamen persicum. — Two or three roots of this species of cyclamen 

 stood out, during all last winter, in the garden of Mr. S. Walker, of 

 Roxbury, without protection of any kind, other than that afforded by 

 the snow. They have thrown up vigorous leaves, and, as soon as the 

 roots get stronger, will probably flower. Mr. Walker thinks that by 

 treating .plants in this way, if they continue to endure our severe win- 

 ters, their season of flowering may be reversed, and the blossoms ap- 

 pear in early spring, instead of their usual time, when growing in pots, 

 in October and November. — Conds. 



Art. II. Retrospective Criticism. 



Scolopendrium officinclrum not a rediscovery. — On the 38^th page of 

 No. XXII. of your Magazine, Messrs. Conductors, it is observed by 

 your valuable correspondent that this rare fern had lately been rediscov- 

 ered by Prof. Torrey, at Chittengo Falls, N. Y., and that previously it 

 had not been seen by any botanist since first found and described by 

 Pursh. The accuracy of this last named and distinguished botanist had 

 therefore been questioned ; and Beck, in his " Flora of Northern and 

 Middle States," thinks it very singular that Pursh should have only ob- 

 served it in this country. I however find it in Riddell's "St/nojoses of the 

 Flora of the Western States," sp. No. 1755, as growing in shady woods 

 and rocky situations about Louisville, though quoted with a query; and 

 what is of still greater importance and puts the matter beyond doubt, 

 Nuttall, in his "Genera of N. A. Plants," tells us, that he has seen it liv- 

 ing (" v. v.") "in the western parts of the State of New York, in the 

 crevices of calcareous rocks," &c. In justice to this excellent botanist 

 and to truth, I have thought it advisable to endeavor to correct a seem- 

 ing mistake on the subject. — J. L. R. 



Quere. — What are the specific characters and distinctions by which Dr. 

 Graham's Poinsettia pulcherrima and Rafl[inesque's Pleuradenacoccinea 

 (its synonyme), is separated from the Linnsean Eu\)h6ihia? [As soon 

 as our English botanical periodicals reach us, in one of which this is fig- 

 ured, our correspondent shall be furnished with the requisite informa- 

 tion, of which at present we are as ignorant as himself. — Conds.J 



