BOTANICAL NOTICES OF NEW PLANTS. 



159 



COMPOSITE. 



Helichrysum macranthtjm. Benth. Large-flowered Helichrysum. Bot. Reg. N. S. t. 

 58. This is a beautiful species, bearing white flowers, delicately tipped with rose colour. It is 

 a native of the Swan River Colony, and was introduced by Captain James Mangles. It is but 

 annual. Bot. Reg. 



Stevia fascicularis. Less. Close-headed Stevia. Bot. Reg. This species is more 

 interesting to the botanist than the cultivator. It bears compact globular heads of white flowers, 

 which are sweet-scented. It is a native of Mexico, and was raised from seeds which were 

 imported by G. F. Dickson, Esq., and presented to the Horticultural Society. Bot. Reg. 



Helianthus mollis. Willd. Soft-leaved Sun Flower. Bot. Mag. t. 3689. This species 

 is not deserving of culture, except in a botanical garden. The true A. mollis of Willdenow seems 

 to be in some doubt. Sir W. J. Hooker states that it is free from hairs, whilst Decandolle, in 

 the first volume of his Compositse, asserts that the involucrum is ciliated with long hairs, and 

 that the leaves are rough above, and pubescent underneath. 



CACTEiE. 



Melocactus depressus. Hooker. Depressed Melocactus. This species was collected by 

 Mr. Gardner in the vicinity of Pernambuco, and from whence a number of species were sent to 

 W oburn Abbey, and to the Glasgow Botanic Garden. The flowers are at present not known, 

 but probably they are like the other species, small and red. After their arrival, copious seed- 

 vessels were produced, of a delicate rose colour, which rising in a circle, considerably above the 

 crown of red aculei, present an appearance perhaps more striking than the flowers. Bot. Mag. 



ALANGIACEiE. 



Marlea begonifolia. Roxb. Begonia-leaved Marlea. Bot. Reg. N. S. t. 61. This is a 

 small tree, the flowers of which possess no great beauty. It is a native of Sylhet, and the timber 

 is employed by the natives in the construction of their houses. It flowers in April, and ripens 

 its fruit in July, according to Dr. Roxburgh. 



MONOCOTYLEDONES. 

 MELANTHACEiE. 



Merendera caucasica. Beib. Caucasian Merendera. Bot. Mag. t. 3090. This is a 

 delicate little plant, a native of Caucasus, in Middle Iberia, where it blossoms very early in the 

 spring. It was sent to the Glasgow Botanic Garden by Dr. Fischer, and flowered in that 

 establishment, under the shelter of a glass frame, early in May. The colour of its flowers is 

 similar to those of the Colchicum, of which this was formerly a species. Bot. Mag. 



COMMELINACE^E. 



Tradescantia spicata. (Sp. Tiov.) Foliis altemis lanceolatis acuminatis, vaginis ciliatis; 

 floribus spicatis axillaribus glomeratis ; petalis ovatis, obtusis, calycibus pedicellisque villosis. 



Descr. — Perennial ; stem about two feet high, smooth, enlarged at the joints. Leaves 

 alternate, lanceolate, acuminate, sheathing ; sheaths ciliate. Flowers axillary, numerous, 

 12 — 15, arranged in a spike, situate within the sheaths of the leaves, from which cause the 

 sheaths have a large gibbose appearance. Sepals three, much smaller than the petals, covered 

 with villose hairs, the edges scarious, obtuse. Petals three times as large as the sepals, smooth, 

 obtuse. Pedicels about an inch long, villous. Stamens six, situate around the base of the 

 ovarium, covered with purple articulated hairs. Anthers yellow, shorter than the style, Style 



