190 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



FLORICULTURAL AND BOTANICAL NOTICES. 



Odier's New Geraniums. — This is the name given to a 

 new class of fancy geraniums, raised by M. Odier, near Paris. 

 They have acquired a great reputation among the French 

 florists, and in their present improved state are pronounced 

 the most beautiful productions ever seen. The colored rep- 

 resentations of many of them, which have been sent to us, 

 certainly appear to corroborate this opinion, and we only de- 

 sire now to see the actual blooms themselves to acknowledge 

 their superiority over all others — if their beauty has not been 

 exaggerated. These geraniums of Odier are hybrids of the 

 old diadematum, and now number some twenty or thirty va- 

 rieties, which have been raised within three or four years. 

 At the grand exhibition in Paris, last July, some of his later 

 seedlings were pronounced the most attractive objects ever 

 seen. 



We shall soon have a dozen or more of these geraniums in 

 flower, and when we have examined them we shall be able 

 more fully to speak of their merits. 



Gloxinia Wilsoni. — One of the most beautiful of the 

 numerous variety of gloxinias, now so extensive, is the G. 

 Wilsoni. In size, the flower excels any that we have seen ; 

 it is of the purest white, with the richest and deepest car- 

 mine throat, forming the most exquisite contrast of coloring. 

 The habit is exceedingly robust, with a bright green foliage 

 covered with the softest pubescence ; and its large flowers are 

 displayed in the utmost profusion. A well grown specimen 

 is one of the greatest acquisitions to any collection. 



The Achimenes and its allies. — The continental botan- 

 ists have recently divided the old group of achimenes into 

 some half a dozen or more genera, restoring the old name of 

 Trevirana to the original type, and making new genera as 

 follows : — 



Heppiella, Isoloma, Mandirola, Plectopoma, Scheerea, and 

 Tydaea. 



The Mandirolas and Tydosas embrace the most showy 

 plants, but all the genera hybridize so readily that it will soon 



