192 3 
J. Medley Wood, Esq., A.L.S., Curator of the Natal Botanie Garden, 
in 1885, flowers annually in the Succulent House during the 
pner, The flowers are white, or pert slightly pink, and 
fragra Aster Piccolii, a new spec was raised from 3 
collected i in North China by Father Piccoli, of the Jesuit Mission, 
j ) 4, of the @ 
wi kai ras eaten e 
account of the absence of. pappus. Ephedra altissima was dra 
from material also sent by Thomas Hanbury, Esq. Its abunda 
bright-red fruits render it a striking object in the gardens at 
La Mortola. It is a native of North Africa, and is not hardy in 
Great Britain. Mussenda capsulifera is a pretty white-flowered 
species from Socotra, whence seeds were brought by the late 
Mr. G. Theodore Bent, in 1897. 
EIER TUE MMC NIRE EON DUC IME IT I S Te a 
Botanical egy m for September.—Coleus thyrsoideus is a free- 
growing species from British Central Africa, me Herbarium 
specimens ber fertile seeds were sent to Kew by A. Whyte, 
sq. F.L.S. The flowers are rather jargo, bright blae, and are 
borne in long terminal panicles. Begonia sinensis is a tuberous- 
rooted species with small pale rose-coloured flowers. See 
from which the x. plants were raised were received from 
i who collected them in Y 
Calathea picta is one Bull’s oem introductions from 
Brazil, and has been e under the name Maranta picta. 
Its leaves are dark velvety green above, ike d with Do of 
pale green, and purple below. Asparagus scandens is the 
representative of the genus figured in the Magazine. This pod 
_was introduced into England from the Cape by Mr. Francis Masson — — 
at the end of the last century. The specimen drawn was sent — 
to Kew by Mr. Leech, of the gardens at Woodhall, Dulwich. 
writhing eg is a curious species from Somaliland, where 
vered by Mrs. Lort Phillips and Miss Edith Cole, who 
a the Sat from which the drawing was made to the Botanic  . 
Garden, Cambridge. In habit it closely resembles D. arabica, — 
"E cU ‚of which a figure appeared in Hooker's Icones Plantarum, 
k 
= 
.. Flora amens 3 of vol. vii., edited by the Director, was 
published in September. It contains a further instalment of the 
elaboration of the Graminec by Dr. O, Stapf. 
Flora of Tropical Africa—Part 1 of vol. v., edited by the 
Director, was published in September. It contains the first 
instalment of the examination of the Acanthacee, a family largely 
represented in the tropics of both worlds, and but scantily in 
-temperate regions. This = been undertaken by Messrs. I. H. 
Burkill, S., and C. B. Clarke, F.R.S. The latter gentleman 
brought to bear upon the aim a unique knowledge of the Indian 
