58 



PAXTON'S FLOWER GARDEN. 



diffusa of Ker, and tbe plant afterwards published under the name of prostrata, in the Botanical Cabinet, yet we find 

 specimens bearing in gardens both names, and not uncommonly with both names misapplied. The accompanying 

 figure represents a piece of a very vigorous plant growing, as it should grow, when cultivated properly. 



In Van Diemen's Land there is another species like this, and probably in our gardens, viz., the A. silicul&formis of 

 Cunningham, a much smaller plant, with very smooth, almost shining, phyllodes, which never become wrinkled, and 

 are not more than half the size of those of A. diffusa. 



Acacia urophylla. Bentham. [alias Acacia srailacifolia Fielding, Sertum Plantarum, 

 t. 3. (1843).) A handsome greenhouse shrub, with pale yellow balls of flowers. Native of Swan 

 River Colony. Flowers in January and February. 



" Would that all the species of the vast group of phyllodineous Acacice were as easily denned as this. The phyllodla 

 are here of a very peculiar character, generally broad ovate, subfalcate, almost spinescently acuminated, with longitudinal 

 and transverse nerves, as in Sniilax, whence the appropriate name of Mr. Fielding. The plant was raised from seeds, 

 sent in 1843, by Mr. Drummond, from the Swan River Colony. It flowers in January and February." — Bot. 3fag., t. 4573. 

 (According to Preiss among mud and stones in shady places, among the mountains continuing Darlings range, not far 

 from the head-waters of the Swan ; and also in damp shady places on the river Canning, flowering in the cold season.) 



It is described as a moderate-sized shrub, with angular branches, and the young phyllodes pubescent. Phyllodes 

 obliquely ovate, slightly falcate, drawn into a slender setaceous point, hairy or glabrous, the upper edge obscurely crenate, 

 the two surfaces marked with three nearly equidistant nerves, united by transverse ones, tapering at the base more or 

 less gradually into a rather short footstalk, which bears a conspicuous gland at its summit above. Stipules two, 

 minute, subulate, red, spinescent. Peduncles two to five from one axil, each much shorter than the leaf, longer than the 

 petiole, each bearing a single head of pale yellow flowers, acute lobes. 



Querctjs agrifolta. Nee. A hardy evergreen oak from California. Introduced by 

 the Horticultural Society. 



A few miserable living plants of this species were sent home by Hartweg from California, and grew in the Society's 

 Garden. Nuttall, who knew it in its native country, has the following remarks :— 



«S This species, almost the only one which attains the magnitude of a tree in Upper California, is abundantly dispersed 

 over the plain on which St. Barbara is situated, and, being evergreen, forms a conspicuous and predominant feature in 

 the vegetation of this remote and singular part of the Western world. It appears more sparingly around Monterey, and 

 scarcely extends on the north as far as the line of the Oregon territory. It attains the height of about 40 or 50 feet, with 

 a diameter rarely exceeding 18 inches ; the bark is nearly as rough as in the Red Oak. The wood, hard and brittle and 

 reddish, is used only for purposes of fuel, or the coarse construction of log-cabins. 



" As an ornamental tree for the south of Europe or the wanner States of the Union, we may recommend this species. 

 It forms a roundish summit, aud spreads but little till it attains a considerable age. As a hedge it would form a very 

 close shelter, and the leaves, evergreen and nearly as prickly as a holly, would render it almost impervious to most 

 animals. The leaves vary from roundish ovate to elliptic, and are of a thick rigid consistence ; the serratures are 

 quite sharp ; the young shoots are covered more or less with stellate hairs, and for some time tufts of this kind of down 

 remain on the under side of the midrib of the leaves, which are, however, at length perfectly smooth, and of a dark-green 

 above, often tinged with brownish yellow beneath. The staminiferous flowers are very abundant, and rather conspicuous; 

 the racemes the length of 3 or 4 inches ; the flowers with a conspicuous calyx and 8 or 10 stamens ; the female or fruit- 

 bearing flowers are usually in pairs in the axils, or juncture of the leaf with the stem, and sessile, or without stalks. The 

 cup of the acorn is hemispherical, and furnished with loose brownish scales • the acorn, much longer than the cup, is 

 ovate and pointed. We do not recollect to have seen this tree properly associated with any other, except occasionally the 

 Platanics racemosa ; their shade is hostile to almost every kind of undergrowth. By Persoon this species is said to have 

 been found on the eastern coast of North America, while Pursh attributes it to the north-west coast, about Nootka Sound. 

 It does not, however, extend even to the territory of Oregon, as far as my observation goes." Nee says, " I have only 

 seen branches collected at Monterey and Nootka. The leaves of the young plants are perfectly smooth when first 

 developed, of a thin consistence, with numerous slender sharp dentures beneath ; they are of a brownish yellow colour, 

 and appear smooth and shining." The long narrow acorns, almost conical, are a remarkable feature in the species.- 

 Joumal of the Horticultural Society, vol. vi., p. 157. 



Chysis aurea. Lindleij. A stove epiphyte belonging to Orchids, with rich golden yellow 

 flowers. Native of Equatorial America, Flowers in January. 



From the collection of Messrs. Lucombe and Pince, of Exeter, by whom it was purchased at one of Mr. Stevens's 

 sales of Columbian Orchidere, in 1850, as the "Red Bull's-mouth." The specimen figured in the Bot. Mag. t. 4576, 

 under the name of Ch. aurea, var. maculata, Sir W. Hooker was at first disposed to consider a distinct species from C. aurea, 

 kevis, or bractescens, but a further investigation led him to the conclusion that it was rather a highly coloured variety of 

 C. aurea, to which he observes that « C. bractescens is very nearly allied, nor do I find the chief distinction which 



