28o 



FLORA AND SYLVA, 



flowers are so nearly identical with it 

 in structure that some authors have 

 classed them together under the name 

 Ch eiranth odendron . 



REHMANNIA ANGULATA * 

 If hitherto uncommon, the Rehmannias 

 are notunknowntogardens, though the 

 new kind shown in our plate has created 

 fresh interest in the group to which it 

 belongs. They are all perennial herbs 

 from the Far East, of the easiest culture, 

 whether in the greenhouse or the open 

 border, flowering freely through a long 

 season. The oldest species, Reh ma nnt 'a 

 chinensis, has been introduced at seve- 

 ral periods since its discovery in 1835, 

 but its lack of colour has resulted in 

 speedy neglect. The Rock Rehmannia 

 (R. rupestris), though a prettier plant, 

 has never been in general cultivation, 

 and two other species, described by bo- 

 tanists, have not yet been introduced. 



The new plant, Rehmamiia a?tgu- 

 lata, aroused conflict of opinion at the 

 outset, being regarded by some as an 

 improved form of R. chine?isis\ autho- 

 rities are now agreed in considering it 

 as a distinct species for which we are in- 

 debted to Messrs. Veitch. Their collec- 

 tor in the Far East, Mr. E. H. Wilson, 

 has made valuable finds within recent 

 years, and this new Rehmannia is one 

 of his gains. Too tender for the open 

 border, it is well fitted to brighten the 

 greenhouse during summer with its tall, 

 erect spikes of 2 to 3 feet, bearing a suc- 

 cession of flowers from the base upwards 

 over a period of many weeks. As is com- 

 mon with plants raised from seed, there 

 is some variation as to colour, and seed- 



lings of bright tone such as that drawn 

 by our artist are superior to the paler 

 shades which sometimes occur. It gained 

 an award of merit from the Royal Hor- 

 ticultural Society in April of last year, 

 and has been shown on many occasions 

 since in proof of its long season of use- 

 fulness. One of its best features is the ease 

 with which it may be grown in pots so 

 small as to be readily concealed, while 

 the tall stems display the blossoms to 

 the fullest advantage. It thrives in any 

 light fertile soil, developing quickly 

 from seed, and is best grown quite cool 

 to prevent the spike — naturally long in 

 the joints — from becoming ungainly. 



We complete our note with a rapid 

 review of the other known species,which 

 include : — 



Rehmannia chinensis.—k. free-growing pe- 

 rennial, vigorous as a Pentsternon, which it 

 somewhat resembles in habit. Its long yellow 

 roots are so nearly hardy as to pass a mild winter 

 in the open with some protection from frost, 

 but being apt to perish in severe seasons a re- 

 serve should be kept in a cold frame. Its oval 

 leaves, growing in a low tuft, are thick, fleshy, 

 and deeply toothed, hairy all over and redden- 

 ing in the sun. The spreading tubular flowers 



! are of large size, appearing in May and borne 

 in drooping clusters upon short erect stems ; 

 their colour is reddish-yellow, paling to dull 

 yellow, and spotted with deep violet in the 

 throat. The plant may be grown for the green- 

 house in early spring, or for the border and 

 rock-garden during summer, when it blooms 

 freely, producing fertile seed from which a 



■ stock may be maintained. It is also easily in- 

 creased from offsets or cuttings of the fleshy 

 root, which soon become established in small 

 pots. Discovered and introduced from northern 

 China in 1835 it has several times disappeared 

 and again come into cultivation, sometimes 

 under the name of R. glutinosa. Its lack of fa- 

 vour — spite of large flowers and graceful habit 

 — is due to its dull colour, seedlings being often 



* With coloured plate from a drawing by H. G. Moon, at Chelsea. 



