Of New Plants. 143 



Gactacece. 



DISOCA'CTUS Lindl. 



hifbrims Lindl. Two-shaped Torch Thistle. A greenhouse plant : growing two feet high; with 

 pinlv flowers ; appearing in spring •, a native of Hondiuras ; increased by cuttings ; grown in rich 

 loam and charcoal. Bot. Reg. 1S43, t. 9. 



Syn : Cereus bif6rmis Lindl. 



A new and pretty species, received with a small collection 

 from Honduras. In habit, it is between Epiphyllum and 

 Rhipsalis, having smooth, round, vvroody stems, and fleshy, 

 oblong, lanceolate leaves, tapering at both ends ; the flowers 

 are solitary, generally at the ends of the two years' old leaves, 

 drooping, and of a dark pink color. They are of short dura- 

 tion, but open in succession for a considerable time, and are 

 succeeded, in September, by an abundance of beautiful little 

 berries. " They are shaped like a very small egg — the largest 

 of them scarcely averaging the size of the common sloe — 

 with the dried remains of the flowers attached to the point 

 of each. The skin is smooth and glossy, semi-transparent, 

 and of a deep purplish crimson, with several minute scales, 

 but without any of those small spines which render the fruit 

 of the prickly pear and other cacti so troublesome. The 

 plant is of the easiest culture, and sets its fruit more readily 

 than any other species I know ; on the one at this place, I 

 counted nearly eight dozen ripe fruit, although the plant does 

 not exceed two feet in height." In this state, it is stated to 

 be as ornamental as when in bloom in the spring. Its culture 

 is the same as other kinds of cacti, and i': is readily increased 

 by cuttings. 



Dr. Lindley has appended a notice of Dr. Walper's arrange- 

 ment of the Cacti, as detailed in a work published in 1832, by 

 the Prince of Salm Dyck. It inchides 501 species. {Bot. 

 Reg., Feb.) 



Oledcece. 



STRI'NGA 



emodi IFall. Himalayan Lilac. A hardy shrub ; growing five feet high ; with while flowers ; 

 appearing in May ; a native of Kamoon ; increased by cuttings, by grafting, and by seeds ; culti - 

 vated in common soil. Bot. Reg. 1S45, t. 6. 



A hardy shrub with white flowers, " which have most the 

 appearance of Privet, but are destitute of the sweet perfume 

 of other lilacs, instead of which they have a heavy unpleasant 

 smell." It is distinguished from other lilacs, except Josikai'a. 

 by its leaves, which are very pale on the under side. It was 

 raised from seeds received by the Horticultural Society, from 



