414 



Garden and Forest. 



[OCTOEER 24, 1S88. 



This very fine plant is g-enerally acknowledged to be one of 

 the Ijest of tlie genus, the exquisite lip l>eing "excelled only by 

 C. callistoglossa, a hybrid also of L. purpiira/a. C. Exonieiisis 

 has always been in great demand, and it commands very higli 

 prices, but it will never become at all common unless new 

 plants are raised from seed. Much care is required to keep 

 this species in good health for any length of time, and when 

 the plants attain any great size they seem to become exhauste(J, 

 and require to be broken up into small pieces and started again 

 in small pots. The usual Cattleya treatment will suit it, Init 

 it should be in the coolest part of the house. 



Phalanopsis Lowii. — This is a very distinct type of Phahe- 

 nopsis. It is found growing on bare rocks in Moulmein, ex- 

 posed to the full sun and subjected to extreme rains in the 

 growing season, and so dry at other times as to cause it to 

 lose its leaves. But in cultivation the plants never attain the 

 strength and vigor to withstand such treatment, therefore 

 every effort should be made to retain the leaves through the 

 winter. This species grows very freely, producing abundance 

 of roots. These seldom adhere to the block f)r basket, but 

 spread in all directions, being often erect, consequently scarcely 

 any potting material is required. It should have abundance of 

 water at all times and the warmest and lightest part of the 

 house. The flower spike is about one foot long, purplish, and 

 bears five to ten round, light-rose flowers, one and a half 

 inches across. The lip is narrow, of a deep rich pm-ple. The 

 column is very peculiar in shape, being bent downwards and 

 prolonged into a proboscis-like appendage. PJialanopsis 

 amcthystina is also in flower. This plant is seldom seen, but 

 the flowers are very pretty, and also interesting as l>eing the 

 smallest of the whole genus. It grows freely on blocks or in 

 baskets with sphagnum moss. 



Mesospinidiiiin viilcaniiuiii. — This attractix'C Orchid is now 

 properly placed among the Odontoglossums. It is well worthy 

 of cultivation, bearing slender, erect racemes of bright, rosy 

 flowers, twenty to thirty in number, and afiout two inches 

 across. The ovate, compressed bulbs have two stout, erect 

 leaves, about six inches long. This plant is often seen in poor 

 condition. Coming from the cool regions of Peru, it requires 

 the same treatment as the Odontoglossums, especiallv as 

 regards water, which should lie given in abundance. 



Keiwood, N. Y. F. Go!d?-ing. 



Lirlia dcgans. — .Some of the choicest and most lieauliful 

 varieties of this fine Lselia are now forming a very attractive 

 group in the collection of Mr. F. L. Ames, of North Easton, 

 Massachusetts. The plants are in a high state of cultivation. 

 The most striking of them is a well-flowered example of the ex- 

 tremely rare and showy Lalia clegans pi-asiafa, having pro- 

 duced, from three stout growths, twenty-one handsome blos- 

 soms of great substance, size and color, and one of the finest 

 forms we have seen. One spike was very remarkable, having 

 l.)orne as many as nine fully expanded flowers of considerable 

 dimensions, the two others bearing six flowers on each. In 

 color this variety is ciuite distinct from the ordinary type, hav- 

 ing dull magenta-rose colored sepals and petals, with a broad, 

 flat lip of a deep magenta-purple, which is very striking. It 

 also eniits a very powerful fragrance. Another very scarce 

 variety is specially noticeable, named L. elegans Turiieri, 

 which is represented liy a splendid, well-flowered specimen. 

 This variety proves itself to be an excellent companion to the 

 former, developing its blossoms at the same season of the 

 year. One of the handsomest of all has just passed flowering, 

 called Lalia euspatha. This is supposed to be a natural 

 hybrid between L. clegans and L. ptcrpurata. It differs some- 

 what in shape of flower, the color of its sepals and petals 

 being of a fine rose, while the lip is a rich velvety purple. All 

 the above varieties should receive the same treatment as 

 Lcclia elegans, with ample light and air while making their new 

 growths. For years to come this Laflia will be one of the 

 rarest of the genus, as it is rapidly becoming extinct in its 

 native country, only very small plants being procurable, and 

 that only affer diligent search. A. D. 



Jersey City. 



Plant Notes. 



Syringa ])ubesceiis. 



OUR illustration upon page 415 of this issue repre- 

 sents a flowering branch of this very distinct and 

 beautiful north China Lilac, which has now flowered for 

 two years in the Arnold Arboretum, having been 

 raised there fron^ seed, for which that establishment is 

 indebted to Dr. Bretschneider. Sj'ruiga ptibescc/is is one 



of the most distinct and most floriferous of all the Lilacs, 

 being literally covered here, early in June, with its short 

 panicles of small, long-tul.)ed flowers, which are pale rose- 

 colored and most deliciously fragrant. As seen in culti- 

 vation, it is a compact shrub, three to live feet high, with 

 upright, slender branches, and rather small, ovate leaves, 

 cuneate at the base, one and a half to two inches long, 

 bright green on the upper, pale on the lower surface, the 

 midrib co\ered with pubescence. .S'. piibescens is a 

 nati\-e of northern China ; it is perfectly hardy, and one of 

 the most attractive and beautiful of new introductions to 

 our shrubberies. C. S. S. 



Some Useful Plants of Southern California. 



Koinneya Coultcri. — Few will ask why this magnificent 

 flower was made after once seeing it in lull l>loom — for the 

 delight of their eyes will satisfy them. The Rcmneya Popijy 

 is one of the most regal of our native flowers, and no flower 

 yet introduced in our gardens excels it. Growing along 

 the water courses on our southern border, southward to 

 near San Onintin Bay, in Lower California, it wastes its 

 sweetness and pure white loveliness unseen and unknown, 

 except by a few. The wax-like flowers often exceed six inches 

 across, the white petals set olf" to advantage by a centre of 

 golden stamens. The stems grow from four to fifteen feet in 

 height, rising above tlie surrounding brush, and when seen 

 covering large are.-is and in full bloom the plant is not readily 

 forgotteii. Not content to occupy the fertile valleys, it seeks 

 the most secluded canons as well and often dots the hillsides, 

 climbing far up the mountain-sides away from the reach of 

 any but' the most enthusiastic botanists. It seems to delight 

 in these high, sterile locations, where it is thoroughly pro- 

 tected from the winds and is not likely to be disturbed. _ In 

 cidtivation the flowers become much larger and more wax-like, 

 and it has long been in demand in Europe, where it was very 

 early introduced. In addition to its horticultural attractions it 

 possesses strong qualities of great medicinal value, which 

 may secure for it a place in the materia medica when they 

 are more fully investigated. It has long occupietl a place 

 among the medicinal herbs of the Indians of Lower California. 



Shninondsia Californica. — This is a very common shrub in 

 the southern part of the State, extending southward in the 

 peninsula of Lower California. It was found by Dr. Veatch 

 on Cerros Island, and was figured from that locality in one of 

 the bulletins of the California Academy of Sciences. It forms 

 low, oval bushes along the sea coast, often less than a foot in 

 height when exposed to the ocean winds, and with its stiff 

 leaves and branches and dense foliage forms impenetrable 

 thickets in less exposed situations. The foliage is of a glau- 

 cous hue, blending harmoniously with the reddish soil on our 

 hills and mesas, and in sharp contrast with the dark, olive- 

 green foliage of the common Rhus, with which it is often 

 associated. It rarely attains a height of fifteen feet, with a 

 trunk diameter of four or five inches. Sometimes one stand- 

 ing alone forms a very symmetrically shaped tree, but it 

 usually forms an oval mass with its dense foliage. The Sim- 

 mondsia, as an ornamental shrub, is likely to meet with pop- 

 ular favor. Growing in fertile valleys and on barren hills, 

 along exposed sea-cliffs and on the brink of the great Colorado 

 desert, and equally tenacious of life whether in a situation of 

 perpetual sunmieror where exposed to the snows of winter, it 

 may be presumed that it will prove botli hardy and easy of 

 cultivation. The Simmondsia is a prolific bearer of an edible 

 nut resembling an acorn both in size and shape. The resem- 

 blance is still further increased by the persistent calyx which 

 forms a cup for the fruit. When ripe the outer envelope 

 s]ilits open and liberates the nut or nuts enclosed. They 

 have a pleasant flavor, and I have frequently enjoyed eating 

 them without any injurious effects. I am not aware that 

 they were eaten by the Indians, but probably they formed an 

 important article of food with them. 



Prunns ilicifclia.—1\\(t Oak-leaf Cherry is one of the char- 

 acteristic shrufis of San Diego County, and might, with nearly 

 equal appropriateness, be termed the Holly-leaved Cherry, as 

 the foliage is somewhat between that of our Shrub Oaks and 

 the Holly. It is not rare both near the sea-coast and on the 

 higher mountains bordering the sterile Colorado Basin, and 

 some seasons it proves to be a very prolific bearer. Near the 

 coast I think it is oftener barren than in the interior, but 

 it grows rather more luxuriantly in some of the sheltered and 

 fertile cafions near the ocean. As an ornamental shrub it is 

 highly appreciated, especially for hedges, and is extensively 

 planted for tliat purpose near Los Angeles, I am informed. 



