i80 



On the Cultivation of Rare Plants. 



the original specimens of Linnaeus' Renealmia cmltata, 

 " agree precisely in the structure of their flowers, so as to be 

 " unquestionably of one genus/' I am very confident, how- 

 ever, that it will not be joined by future botanists to Alpinia 

 of Plumier, the flowers and fruit of which I have twice ex- 

 amined living; first at Kew, many years ago, and afterwards 

 in my own stove at Chapel-Allerton. Renealmia nutans is now 

 a common ornament of our stoves, yet rarely produces fruit, 

 which may, however, be obtained, with certainty, by impreg- 

 nating the stigma, and taking away the honey : and, exclusive 

 of the pride which every gardener ought to have in making 

 all the plants under his care ripen fruit, the genus of this, 

 and the two following plants nearly allied , to it, cannot be 

 determined without ripe fruit ; which I therefore invite those 

 who belong to this Society, to strive to ripen, and communi- 

 cate either to myself, or to Mr. Robert Brown, librarian to 

 the Linnean Society. It is of very little consequence who 

 the labourer is that squares the stones for a temple, if he does 

 his work well. 



Renealmia Mutica. MSS. Alpinia mutica Roxb in As. 

 Res. v. 11. p. 37. 



A plant exceedingly similar to the last, which corresponds 

 nearly with Dr. Roxburgh's description above quoted, has 

 now flowered, for three years successively, in the stove of the 

 Comtess de Vandes, at Bays water. It has not, however, 

 produced fruit, so that I cannot be quite positive about their 

 indentity : but as it is equally magnificent, and seems quite 

 unnoticed, I am glad of this occasion to make it known. 

 Mr. Fordyce, the gardener, informs me that they both 

 thrive with the same treatment. 



