32 



NEW PLANTS RECENTLY INTRODUCED INTO GARDENS. 



seated. As in the original these stand crosswise and have each 

 a minute scale at the base, from within which the flowers spring. 

 Some of these triangular spines are flattened vertically near the 

 end, and then bear small scales and rudiments of other spines. 

 Upon examining the nature of the connection between the trian- 

 gular spines and the main stem, it is found that they are true 

 expansions of the wood, and that their appearance is not due to 

 any leafy expansion of the surface of the branches. 



I believe that this case is at present without a parallel ; unless 

 indeed some of the supposed species of Cacti and similar leafless 

 plants should have been accidentally thus produced in wild 

 places ; of which we have as yet no proof. It must, however, 

 teach us to distrust mere peculiarities of external form, unattended 

 by corresponding differences in the fructification ; and must 

 throw the greatest doubt upon the original distinction of numerous 

 plants now admitted into books as species. 



To gardeners it has this further interest, that it demonstrates 

 the possibility of obtaining the most unexpected and novel 

 varieties by a patient perseverance in the task of sowing seeds; 

 and not improbably points out how some of the most striking 

 varieties of cultivated plants may have been formerly obtained. 

 The knobs of Knol Kohl, the turnip of Celeriac, and even the 

 succulent heads of the cauliflower, may very possibly have ori- 

 ginated thus and been perpetuated by art. 



V. — Memoranda concerning some new Plants recently in- 

 troduced into gardens otherwise than through the Horticul- 

 tural Society. No. 2. By John Lindley, Ph. D., F.R.S., 

 Vice-Secretary. 



15. Blandfordia flammea. 

 B. flammea ; foliis linearibus obtuse carinatis margine vix 

 scabris caule brevioribus, racemo brevi 6-7-floro, bracteis 

 ovato-lanceolatis rigidis pedunculis multo brevioribus, peri- 

 anthio inverse conico gibbis sex longe infra medium, stami- 

 nibus ad gibbos ideoque prope basim insertis. 



Native country, Australia. 



This, which is perhaps the finest of the Blandfordias, was 

 received by Messrs. Low and Co., of Clapton, from a corre- 

 spondent at Sydney, who had received it from Hunter's River. I 

 have specimens from a small swamp of sand and peat at Port 

 Stephens, where it was collected by Mr. Alexander Burnett. In 



