40 



PAXTON'S FLO WEE GARDEN. 



A correspondent well acquainted with the practical results obtained by muling says that — 

 tc If Rhododendron Chamcecistus were to breed with Menziesia ccerulea, the mule would 

 differ from Bryanthus erectus, as will be evident from comparing the three/'' We have 

 taken some pains to institute a fair comparison between them, and the result is that 

 we believe the plant to be a mule, probably deriving its parentage in part from the 

 Cistus Rhododendron, and in part from some sort of Phyllodoce. It is not, however, 

 to the Blue Phyllodoce that we should refer it, but rather to the Crowberry Phyllodoce, 

 published by Dr. Graham in the Botanical Magazine under the name of Menziesia 

 empetrifolia, afterwards altered by Sir W. Hooker to M. Grahamii. At first sight, 

 indeed, one would say that the Upright Bryanth was the same plant — leaves, manner 

 of flowering, manner of growth being almost identical. But the flowers of this plant 

 are twice too large ; their sepals are very sharp-pointed instead of being blunt ; and; 

 above all, the corolla has no tube whatever, but expands regularly from the base upwards 

 into its peculiar bell-shaped form. In this respect it seems to answer to the character 

 of a Bryanth, to the lawful species of which we do not possess any access; and is at 

 variance with all the Phyllodoces, which, the Crowberry Phyllodoce included, have a 

 distinct separation, by means of a contraction, between the tube and the limb. 



We therefore conclude that this Bryanth may be a cross between the Cistus 

 Rhododendron and the Blue Phyllodoce, owing its larger flowers, with the more delicate 

 colour, to the influence of the former. 



