66 
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
their stems and leaves. They flower, m many cases, at long 
intervals ; but, as in the case of the Echiums and Sempervivums, 
the flower-panicles when produced are usually very large and 
many-flowered. The study of the adaptation of these plants 
to their environment is one of the most interesting problems 
connected with them. 
Many Canary plants are met with under cultivation in this 
country. There are over one hundred species at present under 
cultivation at Kew. Although some of them come from consider- 
able elevation— one or two being found on the Peak of Teneriffe 
at an elevation of from 8,000 to 10,000 feet — hardly one is truly 
hardy in the neighbourhood of London. During the late severe 
weather many were killed even in cold frames. The only species 
that stood the last winter in the open air were two interesting 
Umbelliferae — viz. Ferula Linhii and Fceniculum Webbii. These 
were saved, as the stems die down after flowering, and the root- 
stocks were protected by mulching. Banunculus cortuscBfolius is 
unquestionably the handsomest of all Buttercups ; the flowers 
are 2 inches across, with a glossy yellow colour. It grows in damp 
woods at about 1,000 feet. Cheiranthus mutabilis, with variable 
flowers, is another attractive plant. Five species of Canary 
Laurineae flourish at Kew in the temperate house. These are 
Laurus canariensis, Apollonias canariensis, Phwbe Barbusana, 
Persea indica, and Ocotea fcatens. A Violet from the summit 
of the Peak, with glaucous leaves {Viola cliciranthifolia), is 
a singular species. There are eight species of Hypericums in 
the islands, some of them very handsome. Hypericum canariense 
and 11. floribunchtm are at Kew. A native Mallow (Lavatcra 
acerifolia) has white flowers with a purple centre. Visnea 
Mocanera is a handsome evergreen tree which bears its original 
Guanche name. A Catchfly from the Peak (Silcnc noctcolens) 
was killed at Kew during the recent severe weather. The Canary 
Euphorbias have at least two leafless species, Fj. canariensis and 
E. a])hylla. The others have tufts of leaves at the ends of the 
branches and succulent milky stems. E. airojmrpurea has 
branches of a deep red colour, whicli present a contrast to the 
pale glaucous hue of tlic foliage. Although geiiertiUy regarded 
as poisonous, the inner core of the stems of E. canariensis, freed 
from the iriilk and liiid, is, according to J^erthelot, eaten by 
the natives. Amongst Crassulaceic numerous reproscuta- 
