50 
SOME seedy 1s PLANTS IN BLOOM IN THE 
NSERVATORIES. 
ali CAARSI 
The large palm, P/ , to which at- 
tention has been called before’ in this JOURNAL, is again preparing 
to bloom. The large horny sheaths enclosing the inflorescence 
are pushing out from the base of one of the leaves. This has 
occurred now annually for three years, and it is to be hoped that 
it will so continue, as it is usually a shy bloomer, and the rich 
yellow of its flowers makes them a welcome addition in the palm- 
house. In the immediate neighborhood of this palm is another 
plant differing widely in appearance and belonging to another 
family, the Cycadaceae. Botanically these are much more closely 
related to the ferns than to the palms. This plant is Axcepha- 
lartos villosus, the golden-fruited kaffir-bread, a native of southern 
Africa. nly the female plant-is represented in the collection, 
but its large golden cone, now at maturity, measuring some 
eighteen inches in length and about six in diameter, makes it a 
feature of much interest and beauty.” 
In the orchid house, no. 15, is a curious variation from the 
ordinary form of &pzdendron cochleatum, which is widely spread 
in tropical America, and occurs also in the southern part of 
Florida, where the writer saw it growing in great quantities some 
months ago, forming large masses on live oaks and other trees 
in the neighborhood of Miami. Among many plants of the 
common form collected at that time one was noted which dif- 
fered largely in the color of the lip of the flower, this organ being 
a light brown instead of the deep black purple usual in this spe- 
cies. It is this plant which is now in flower, and the character 
noted in the field is again apparent. Plants of the ordinary form 
are also in bloom so that the difference can be readily appreciated. 
In no. 12, one of the temperate houses, is another orchid, and 
while common in cultivation, the beauty and delicacy of its 
masses of pure white flowers is abundant excuse for calling 
attention to it. There are a number of large plants in fine shape. 
his is Coelogyne cristata, a native of the Himalayan region. 
The thickened stems, or pseudobulbs, bear a marked resemblance 
