PAXTON'S FLOWER GARDEN. 



127 



Angk^cum monodon. A small pink-flowered African epiphyte, with distichous leaves. 

 Flowered with M. Pescatore of Paris. (Fig. 176, much magnified.) 



A. monodon ; subacaule, foliis distichis oblongis oblique bilobis, racemis angustis multifloris, bracteis minimis 

 membranaceis rotundatis cucullatis, se- 

 tundo basi dente solitario aucto calcare 

 This ctuious little sj>ecies was ob- 

 tore, from whom we received a specimen, 

 and small reddish flowers, smelling some- 

 Its specific name refers to the presence of 

 lip in front of the opening into the 

 cut, which represents a flower six times 



ATACCIA CltlSTATA. Klintll. 



Tacca Eafflesiana Jack.) A clingy- 

 Malacca. Belongs to the TNatu- 

 duced by the Eoyal Botanic 



Both Endlicher and Kunth, though 

 Ataccia for the entire-leaved species of 

 propriety of the separation. I am in- 

 recent specimens of the original Tacca, on the value of the distinctions : but, judging from the figures and dried 

 specimens, the difference is more in habit than in essential character. Tacca has multifid leaves and tuberous roots, and 

 may be considered an annual plant. Eutaccia has entire leaves, a short subterraneous conical stem or caudex, quite different 

 from the tubers of the former. There is no difficulty, therefore, in recognising the respective genera. 



A. cristata, the subject here figured, has been long cultivated in the stove of the Royal Gardens of Kew, under the 

 name of Tacca integrifolia Gawl., and is a native of the Malay Islands and Archipelago. Tacca aspera Roxb. (T. inte- 

 grifolia Gawl. in Bot. Mag. t. 1488, and of Roxb. Coromandel plants, vol. hi. t. 257), from Chittagong, may be known by 

 the short scape or flower-stalk, which, as well as the petioles, are scabrous. Tacca Javis Roxb., from Silhet Gualpara, 

 and Chappedong (Wall.) and Assam, is easily recognised by the four sessile uniform leaves of the involucre, and small 

 and slender habit. Tacca lancecefolia Zoll. {Ataccia Kth.), is probably a variety of the latter. — All these are Indian : 

 but I possess another and distinct species from Demerara, South America, with a creeping rhizoma! There are few 

 more remarkable-looking plants in cultivation than our Ataccia cristata. Root a few coarse fibres, issuing from a short 

 underground, conical, descending caudex or rhizoma, marked with the rings or scars of fallen leaves, and here and there 

 throwing out small tubers or gemmse. Leaves three or four, all from this short caudex. Petioles semiterete, smooth: 

 the blade oblong, acuminate, dark purple-green, penninerved, nerves mostly prominent beneath. Scape about as long as 

 the leaves, erect, stout, angled, dark purple, smooth: terminated by a large, dark purple, four-leaved, membranaceous 

 involucre: the two outer leaflets opposite, sessile, ovato-acuminate, striated, patent, two inner placed side by side, erect, 

 very large, greenish, striated, reticulated, edged with purple; the shape broadly ovate, acute, but tapering into a long, 

 nai'row, deep purple base. Peduncles numerous, dark purple, about two inches long, terminated each by a single flower 

 and forming a drooping unilateral umbel: these floral peduncles are accompanied by several (external) long, tapering, 

 filiform sterile ones, six inches long, which spread out in their lower portion, while the rest of the tendril-like 

 peduncle droops. Perianth dark purple: the tube turbinate, six-angled, for the greater part united with the ovary; the 

 limb sexpartite, suddenly reflexed; the segments or lobes in two series, outer smaller, the inner larger, all ovato-rotundate, 

 acute, striated, the rim of the mouth forming a crenated ring. Stamens six, within the mouth of the tube: filament broad, 

 the margin lamellate and plaited, the back cohering with the perianth; anther cuculla'e, two-celled: pollen globose. 

 Ovary adherent with the calyx tube, one-celled, having three longitudinal, furrowed, parietal placentee, bearing several 

 ovules. Style short, conical, six-furrowed. Stigma of three, broad obcordate, green, reflexed, plaited lobes; the edges of 

 the plaits ciliated. This singular tropical plant is of easy cultivation. It grows and flowers freely in a moist, warm 

 stove. A mixture of light loam and peat-soil suits it, and, being a native of moist places, it requires a copious supply of 

 water. It increases freely by offsets, which ai*e produced from the sides of the erect rhizome-like caudex; these offsets, 

 when separated, root readily in small pots placed in a close moist atmosphere.— Bot. Mag., t. 4589. 



Philadelphia Satsumi. Sielold. A hardy deciduous shrub, with white flowers. "Native 

 of Japan. Belongs to the Order of Syringas. Blossoms in July. (Fig. 177.) 



We have failed to discover in what work this plant has received the name by which it has been sent to this country. It 

 is nearly allied to Ph. laxus ; but seems to be distinct from that and all other American species. It forms a very graceful 

 bush, with a good foliage of a dark green colour, with the upper leaves very long, narrow and undivided. The foliaqe is 

 slightly hairy on the underside, the lower leaves oval-lanceolate, acuminate, with a few shallow very acute serratures. 



palis petalisque ovatis acutis, labello subro- 

 crasso clavato breviore. 



tained from Gabon, in Africa, by M. Pesci,- 

 It has roundish, oblong, distichous leaves, 

 thing like the seeds of a horse-chestnut, 

 a small erect tooth which stands on the 

 spur, as is shown in the accompanying 

 larger than natural. 



[alias Tacca cristata Jack j alias 

 flowered tuberous stove-plant from 

 ral Order of Taccads. Intro- 

 Garden, Kew. 



they follow Presl in adopting this genus 

 Tacca, yet express their doubts as to the 

 competent to pronounce, through a want of 



