ABSTRACTS. 



539 



Coleus thyrsoideus. By Ch. Pynaert {Rev. Hort. Beige, t. xxvii. 

 p. 205, September 1901. Col. pL). — Nat. ord. Lahiake. The species is 

 remarkable for the large dark-blue flowers, which continue without 

 intermission for three months. It is a native of Nyassa, Central Africa. 



G. H. 



Colorado, Notes, &c., on Plants of. By Aven Nelson (Bot. Gaz. 

 vol. xxxi. p. 894, No. G). — Zygadenus color adoensis, Rydb. ; Cheiranthus, 

 sp. ; Clematis Scottii, Porter; Saxifraga rhomboidea austrina, n. var. ; 

 Parosela Porteri, n. sp. ; Petalosteinon imhescem, n. sp. ; Gentiana 

 Moseleyi, n. sp. ; Polemonmm Archibaldce, n. sp. ; Monarda Nuttallii, 

 n. sp, ; M. Bamaleyi, n. sp. ; Oonopsis monocepliala, n. sp. ; Kupatorium 

 atromontcmum, n. sp. ; Coleosanthus congestus, n. sp. ; Kuhnia Fitz- 

 patrichi, n. sp. ; K. Gooddingi, n. sp. ; K. Hitchcocki, n. sp. ; K. reticulata, 

 n. sp. ; Lacinaria alaia, n. sp. ; L. ligulistylis, n. sp. ; four new species 

 of Arnica. — G. H. 



Colorado Potato Beetle. By F. Martin Dimcan (Gard. Mag. 2,500, 

 p. 626 ; 28/9 1901). — An interesting note, accompanied by an illustration 

 of this beetle, which recently reappeared in England after an absence of 

 some years. The appearance and habits of this insect cannot be too well 

 known among those who are engaged in the imported Potato trade. In 

 No. 2,497, p. 576, a supplementary account is given of the Colorado 

 beetle, together with eight illustrations of beetles of similar appearance, 

 which ma^' be mistaken for the true Potato Beetle. — W. G. 



Colour-change in Spring: Plants. (' Ueber den Polychroismus der 

 Friihlingspfianzen '). Von W. Talie-w {Beih. Bot. Cent. bd. x. ht. 8, 

 pp. 562-564). — Pulmonaria officinalis, L., and Orobus vernus, L., change 

 from a more or less red colour to blue in the oldest condition. Anemone 

 raniinciiloides, L., is yellow in Europe, bat in the Urals its varieties show 

 an extraordinary number of colours — blue, pale blue or white, pink to 

 white, yellow to pale yellow and white, or even occasionally mixed colours ; 

 sometimes the upper side of the petals is red and the lower yellow. 

 Anemone _/;a^e;is shows similar variation. Iris pumila, in Southern 

 Russia, varies from violet-red, dark blue, to yellow or almost white ; 

 Tulipa Gesneriana, L., from deep-red to yellow and white. 2Iyosotis 

 amoena, Primula acaulis, Matthiola odoratissima, and Crocus variegatus 

 show similar variations in Russia. — G. F. S.-E. 



Commercial Plants, their Introduction, Selection, and 



Improvement. By Jared G. Smith {U.S.A. Dep. Agr. 1900, p. 181).— 

 The advantages are shown which have been obtained by the introduction 

 and selection from various sources of different strains of the same com- 

 mercial plants.— C'. W\ D. 



Congo, Ornamental Plants of the. By L. (ientil {Bev. Hart. 

 Beige, t. xxvii. p. 147, No. 7, July 1901). — After comparing the forest 

 flora with that of Brazil, which has generally finer foliage and Howers, 

 the author alludes to several plants from the Congo of horticultural value, 

 as Platycerium angolense, Crinum Laurent ii, Cyathea angoleusis, Bhijjsaiis 



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