V 



1852.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 67 



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^ "Seeing this remarkable flower mentioned in your last number, I £) 

 conceived that a short account of it would not be out of place. The cjs 

 following description, perhaps by Dr. Arnold tnmself, is quoted in a > 

 letter of Sir T. S. Kafrles to a noble English lady : 



' The Sumatran name of this plant Petimum Sikinili, or DevilV- 

 Siri (bethe) box. It is a native of the forest, particularly those of 

 Passumah Uln Manna. This gigantic flower is parasite on the lower 

 stems and roots of the Cissus angustifolia of Box. It appears at first 

 in the form of a small round knob, which gradually increases in size ; 

 the flower bud is invested by numerous membranaceous sheaths, 

 which surround it in successive layers and expand as the bud enlarges, 

 until -at length they form a cup around its base. These sheaths or 

 braces are large, round, concave, of a firm membranaceous consistency, 

 and of a brown color: the bud before expansion is depressive, round, 

 with five obtuse angles, nearly a foot in diameter and of a dusky red. 

 The flower when fully expanded is, in point of size, the wonder of the 

 vegetable kingdom ; the breadth across from the top of the one petal 

 to the top of the other, is three feet. The cup may be estimated to 

 contain twelve pints ; the weight of the whole is from twelve to fifteen 

 pounds. The inside of the cup is of intense purple, and more or less 

 densely yellow; and soft, flexible spines of the same color. Towards 

 the mouth it is marked wiih numerous depressed spots of the purest 

 white, contrasting strongly with the purple of the surrounding sub- 

 stance, which is considerably elevated on the lower side. 



The petals are of a brick red, with numerous pustular spots of a 

 lighter color. The whole substance of the flower is not less than half 

 an inch thick, and of a firm, fleshy consistence. It soon after expan- 

 sion begins to give out a smell of decaying animal matter. The fruit 

 never bursts, but the wnole plant gradually rots away, and the seeds 

 mix with the putrid mass. It seems to be a flower unknown to most 

 of the natives, as well as to naturalists ; its colors red, yellow and pur- 

 ple, and most brilliant. The chemical composition being fungous, it 

 would not keep ; and we had not enough spirit to preserve a whole 

 flower.' " 



A draft for one thousand dollars has been received by George P. 

 Burnham, of Boston, from one of his New Orleans correspondents, in 

 payment for a splendid lot of "Cochin China," "Red Shanghai," and 

 " White Shanghai " fowls, sent out by the Crescent City, by Mr. B., 

 from his imported stock. This is getting up the steam to some pur- 

 pose. Mr. Burnham's sales, for large samples from his imported Chi- 

 nese fowls, have reached over $4000 since the last November show in 

 n Boston — averaging upwards of $20 a week. He has received as high 

 /a^as $50 for a single pair of his " Cochin Chinas. 1 ' Q\ 



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