C 16] 



III. Accounts and Descriptions of the several Plants be- 

 longing to the Genus Hoya ) which are cultivated in the 

 Garden of the Horticultural Society at Chiswick. By 

 Mr. James Traill, Under-gardener in the Ornamental 

 Experimental Department. 



Read November 7, 1826. 



One species of Hoya has been cultivated in the Gardens of 

 this country upwards of twenty years, having been recom - 

 mended before it flowered by its novelty, and subsequently by 

 the great beauty of its blossoms and the facility with which 

 it is managed. Two other species were subsequently intro- 

 duced, and at a late period the Horticultural Society has had 

 the good fortune to add two more to those previously obtained. 



The object of this communication is particularly to describe 

 and make known these last, and to point out the peculiarities 

 which distinguish the different kinds. 



Linnaeus was acquainted with only one species of this 

 genus, and that from a single specimen.* His observation 

 of it does not appear to have been sufficient to induce him 



* Sir James Edward Smith having very obligingly sent this specimen from 

 the Linnaean Herbarium to Mr. Sabine for his inspection, I have had an oppor- 

 tunity of seeing it. It consists of two separate leaves and a separate umbel of 

 flowers, all so perfect, as to leave no doubt that the whole belongs to Hoya 

 carnosa, called Asclepias carnosa by Linnaeus. He received them from Mr. Bladh, 

 a Swede, who had visited Canton ; they were given by the Chinese to Mr. 

 Bladh, as belonging to the plant which produces the Gamboge in their 

 country ; but Linnaeus was not deceived by the attempted imposition. The real 

 Gamboge plant is now known to be Garcinia Cambogia. 



