6 1 6 Fluriculhcral mid Botanical Notices, 



Art. II. Floricidtural and Botanical Notices of new Plants^ and 

 of old Plants of Interest, supplementary to the latest Editions of 

 the " Encyclopcedia of Plants," and of the " Hortus Britannicus." 



Curtis' s Botanical Magazine ; each monthly Number containing eight plates ; 

 3^. 6rf. coloured, 3s. plain. Edited by Dr. Hooker, King's Professor of 

 Botany in the University of Glasgow. 



Edwards's Botanical Register; each monthly Number containing eight 

 plates; 45. coloured, 3^. plain. Edited by Dr. Lindley, F.R.S., Pro- 

 fessor of Botany in the London University. 



Sweet's British Floiver-Garden ; each monthly Number containing four 

 plates ; 35. coloured, 25. 3d. plain. Edited by David Don, Esq., Libra- 

 rian to the Linnsean Society. 



Loddiges's Botanical Cabinet; each monthly Number containing ten plates ; 

 55. coloured, 2s. 6d. partly coloured. Edited by Messrs. Loddiges. 



Dicotyledonous Polypetalous Plants. 



XXIV. Malvacecs. MaWa. umbellata Cav., according to Hort. Brit., 

 introduced to Britain in 1814, and figured in the Botanical Cabinet, in 

 t. 222., is figured as a newly-introduced plant in the Bbtanical Register for 

 August, t. 1608. Mr. D. Don, who contributes the description, remarks 

 that ikfalva umbellata " is rather a coarse-looking plant ; but its many 

 elegant scarlet blossoms compensate for its less graceful habit." (^Bot. 

 Reg., Aug.) 



XL VI. Cdctecs. 



1474. OPU'NTI A. (Found wild in the country of the Opuntii, a Grecian people.) 



^ 2. Divaricatffi Haw. 

 aurantiaca Lhidl. orange-flwd. • ^ gr 3 ... O.Y. Chile 1824. C s.l.ru Bot. reg. 1606 

 Cactus aurantiacus Gillies MSS. 



" The plant from which our drawing was made is a branched dark green 

 bush. The flowers are of a clear bright yellow colour, about l|in. wide 

 when expanded, with a column of white stamens in their centre," 



" Every one knows that the spines of the Cactese are always difficult to 

 extract when they have entered the skin. If the spines are magnified, it 

 will be found that this property is owing to their being closely covered, from 

 the point downwards, with numerous barbs, which have their cutting bases 

 directed towards the base of the spine : in appearance they are vei'y like 

 the arrow-heads with several rows of barbs, such as are used by certain 

 Indian nations. 



" An interesting fact relating to the common European opuntia is men- 

 tioned by M. De CandoUe : — ' Among the practical consequences,' he 

 observes, ' that results from the facility with which the Cacteae strike from 

 cuttings, there is one which, on account of its importance, deserves to be 

 noticed : it is the manner in which the opuntia is employed to fertilise the 

 old lavas at the foot of Etna. As soon as a fissure is perceived, a branch 

 or joint of an opuntia is stuck in ; the latter pushes out roots, which are 

 nourished by the rain that collects round them, or by whatever dust or 

 remains of organic matter may have collected into a little soil. These 

 roots, once developed, insinuate themselves into the most minute crevices, 

 expand, and finally break up the lava into mere fragments. Opiuitias 

 treated in this manner produce a great deal of fruit, which is sold as a 

 refreshing fruit throughout all the towns of Sicily.' " {Bet. Reg., Aug.) 



LVI. MyrtdcccE. 



1493. EUCALY'PTUS. 



12820 omygdilina ia6. AlmonA-leaved *k\ | or 6 jl W V. D. L. 1810. L s.l Bot. mag. 3260 



This species, trained to a wall in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, has 

 there flowered. "With us," says Dr. Graham, "it is rather a slender 



