568 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



Acalyphas, New Hybrid. By H. A. Sandhack (Die Gartemu. lviii. 

 p. 685 ; Nov. 7, 1908). — At the time when Acalypha Sandcriana (or 

 better A. hispida) and A. Godseffiana were introduced it was pointed out 

 that they were good subjects for hybridization, and a few years would see 

 a number of very distinct forms ; however, such were not obtained 

 until nine years later. The raiser tells us the crossing was easier than 

 the germination of the seeds, and he only succeeded in raising seedlings 

 during the summer of 1907 ; and even in the very young state the 

 seedlings showed signs of being different from the parents. When a year 

 later the plants flowered, only the best were kept. The following are the 

 most distinct : — 



A. Camphauseniana, very vigorous, but graceful ; leaves 30 cm. long 

 and 20 cm. broad, dark green with light-coloured veins and cream-tinted 

 margin. The greatest beauty is, however, in the magnificent catkin-like 

 inflorescences, at first greenish- white, later rose, changing to orange. 



A. Beissneriana is of quite different habit from the former, very 

 vigorous and compact in growth, with broad, short foliage. The flowers 

 are whitish at first, later rose to carmine. It is hoped, as it is rather 

 hardy, to use A. Beissneriana for summer bedding. 



A. Johniana is rather small in comparison with the foregoing, of 

 freely branching habit ; colour of flowers (no staminate flowers have been 

 produced) like that in A. Camphauseniana. 



A. Hcsdoerfferiana. — This is one of the most distinct, partaking in 

 the characters of all three of the foregoing. The dense flowers are bright 

 green at first, changing to yellow. 



A. Wagneriana. — In habit very much like A. Johniana, but with 

 white-edged foliage, and the inflorescences about 50 cm. long and less 

 branching than the former. 



A. Sandhackiana. — Resembles A. Beissneriana ; of compact, vigorous 

 habit, with smaller, longer leaves, edged with cream. The numerous 

 inflorescences are 15 to 20 cm., of a pretty rose colour. Extraordinarily 

 floriferous. — G. R. 



Aechmea nudicaulis. By J. H. Hart (Bull. Bot. Dep. Trin. 

 No. 54, p. 197 ; April 1907). - Quantitative analyses of this Bromeliaceous 

 epiphyte, and of the liquid contained in the cup formed by the leaves, 

 -bowing it contains nearly 21 per cent, of organic matter, and the liquid 

 constantly overflowing during rains, must add much of manurial value 

 to the soil : 8*62 tons of the plant were removed from one large 

 Samoan tree. — E. A. B. 



Ag-ave macroacantha and Allied Eu-agaves. By W. Trelease 



(Bep. Miss. Bot. Gard. 1907, pp. 281-25G ; 17 plates).— A detailed 



