PLANTS AND FERNS FOUND ABOUT PETROPOLIS. 



527 



Some Plants Noticed in Gardens at Lisbon and Vicinity. 



In Lisbon are many gardens carefully tended, and advantage has been 

 taken of the most favourable sCnd equable climate in Europe to naturalise 

 a number of exotics, especially amoug palms and trees. Many of these 

 have been recently imported from well-known English firms. The Jardim 

 Botanico seems to lead the way in this respect. The King's garden at 

 Cintra is one of the most charming places that I have visited, and I 

 should doubtless have made an interesting list of plants growing here had 

 it not been for a tremendous thunderstorm that cut short our visit when 

 we had only seen the lower parts of the garden. Although only lasting a 

 short time, the storm was of tropical violence, the rain bouncing up from 

 the ground to a height of four or five feet, so that we were all drenched 

 through instantaneously. 



The climate is sufficiently moist for a number of beautiful Ferns to 

 grow on walls and rocks. 



In the Jardim Botanico many plants bore their correct botanical names, 

 and it was frequented by students, so that it is evident that the cost of such 

 gardens is by no means wasted, and that considerable interest is taken by 

 the Portuguese in natural history, apart from mere decorative gardening, 

 for which the national genius is so marked. 



Narcissus Tazetta. — Flowering in February in gardens and in a wild 

 state. 



Narcissits Tazetta var. papyraceus. — Flowering in February in gardens. 

 Agapanthus umbellatus. — Hardy, in gardens at Estrella, Lisbon. 

 Musa Ensete. — Hardy, in gardens at Estrella. 



Bismarchianobilis. — This splendid palm is thriving in Lisbon gardens. 

 Washing tonia filifera. — This fine palm has also been planted in many 

 gardens. 



Lachenalia pendula. — Flowering in February in gardens at Lisbon, 

 but not quite at home, evidently. 



Streliizia spp. — Two species, one of which was almost certainly 

 S. BegincB, are hardy in Lisbon, but not in flower during my visit. 



Coniferce. — Many exotic conifers are found in gardens, and the 

 majority are flourishing wonderfully, but I had no time to examine them. 



PETROPOLIS, 



Various Plants, Ferns, &c. found in the Neighbourhood of. 



Gleichenia pubescens, H. B. K. 

 Adiantum cuneatum, Lange and Fisch. 



Asplenium Shepherdii, Spreng. — I have this under cultivation. 



Gymnogramme calomelanos, Kaulf, seems to be widely spread in South 

 America and in Central America. I have gathered it in Venezuela and 

 Jamaica. [Worsley, "Distribution of AmaryllidecB," Wesley, 95.J 



Pteris, near P. deflexa, Link. 



Nephrodium, near N. sanctum, Baker. 



Nephrodium molle, Desv. (?) 



Nephrolepis cordifolia, Presl. 



