288 A Report on New and Rare Plants, fyc. 



doubt that it is the R. gemella of Willdenow, with whose 

 description of that species it agrees in all essential particulars, 

 especially in being as it were intermediate between R. lucida 

 and Carolina, and in its leaves not being at all shining. 



Thus this little known and long lost plant may be con- 

 sidered restored to our gardens.* 



XXXVII. Menziesia polifolia. Swart*. 



Several distinct varieties of this beautiful little shrub are 

 cultivated in gardens, but have not been distinguished in any 

 work of authority. As they have all flowered except one, in 

 the Garden, in the course of the summer, they are here de- 

 scribed and distinguished. 



That which appears to be the wild form of the plant, has 

 a diffuse, branched stem, ovate stalked flat leaves, rough, 

 with scattered glandular hairs on the upper side, and inflated 

 exactly oval flowers of a bluish purple colour. This was 

 presented to the Society by Mr. William Malcolm, and 

 may be called M. polifolia vera. 



The second variety, which was presented to the Society by 

 Mr. William Fall a, of Gateshead Nursery, Newcastle- 

 upon-Tyne, is remarkable for the rich dark colour of its 

 flowers, for which reason it may be called M. polifolia atro- 

 purpurea. Its stem is upright ; leaves ovate, stalked, slightly 

 revolute at the edge, and rough with scattered glandular hairs 

 on the upper surface. The flowers are ovate, retuse at the 

 base r and of a very dark purple. 



* M. Sebinge, in M. De Candolle's Prodromus, Vol. ii. p. 605, upon the 

 authority of a specimen from Dr. Meyee, refers R. gemella to R. cinnamomea, 

 distinguishing it only as a variety of that species. But if R. gemella is to be re- 

 duced to the station of a variety only, it would be better placed under R. Carolina. 



