PAXTON'S FLO WEE GAEDEN. 



131 



formed by the consolidation of the free scales of the cone into a solid fleshy mass of a depressed form and very irregular 

 surface, owing to many of the scales being abortive, and crushed by those whose seeds are able to swell ; while the 

 ends of the whole retain their original form somewhat, are free, rather spiny, and constitute so many tough, sharp 

 tubercles. The seed (fig. 5) is a pale brown, shining, ovate, brittle nut, with two very slight elevated lines, and a large 

 irregular hilum ; at the base it is invested with a short, thin, ragged membrane, which is the outer integument in its 

 final condition. The nucleus lies half free in the interior, the fungous apex having shrivelled up and disappeared. 

 Since this was written, Sir W. Hooker has placed in my hands a sketch of the anatomy of the female flowers of Saxe- 

 Gothtea, by Mr. B. Clarke, who describes the ovule thus : — ■" Its ovule has the same structure as that of Gnetum, as 

 described by Mr. Griffith, viz. : it has three integuments ; the internal protrudes, and forms a sort of stigma, not so 

 obvious as in Gnetum ; the external has constantly a fissure on its posterior, or rather inferior surface, which, however, 

 does not close as in Gnetum when the ovule advances in growth, nor yet become succulent. Mr. Griffith describes the 

 fissure in the external integument of Gnetum as constantly posterior ; and if the ovules of the strobilus were erect, they 

 would agree with Gnetum in this particular. 



Explanation of the Cuts.— A, a branch with male and female flowers, natural size; B, various details of the 

 fructification, more or less magnified ; 1, a spike of male flowers ; 2, a male or anther apart ; 3, a scale seen from the 

 inside with the inverted ovule, showing the fungous foramen protruding beyond the primine (outer integument) ; 

 4, a ripe fruit ; 5, a seed, showing the two slight elevations upon the surface, and the remains of the ragged primine at 

 the base. — Journal of Hort. Soc, vol. vi. 



Celmisia spectabilis. A very distinct and handsome plant, from New Zealand, 

 introduced by Mr. Veitch, with whom it bloomed in the summer of 1882. The large 

 daisy-like flowers white, slightly tinged with lilac, and having a yellow disk, are very 

 effective. It will, no doubt, require treating as a greenhouse plant, although it is said 

 in some cases to be found in the Alpine regions of the country at a elevation of as 

 much as 5,000 feet. 



Rootstock woody, short or long, often as thick as the thumb, obliquely descending. Leaves numerous, strict, 

 erect, five to seven inches long by one-half to one inch broad, coriaceous, ensiform, elliptic-lanceolate or linear- 

 oblong, obtuse or acute, quite entire or obscurely serrulate, dark green above with parallel impressed nerves and 

 a few silky hairs, beneath densely clothed with matted buff or straw-coloured wool ; base narrowed, then dilated 

 into a broad sheathing laxly silky-woolly tumid sheath, two to four inches long. Scapes several, stout, stiff, 

 erect, longer than the leaves, clothed with silky white wool. Head two inches in diameter ; involucre obconic, 

 scales very narrow, woolly. Ray-flowers very numerous, revolute, white or pale lilac. Disk-flowers yellow. 

 Achenes narrowly ellipsoid, compressed, smooth and glabrous; pappus hairs very unequal.— Botanical Magazine, 

 6653. 



Nepenthes coccinea. This is another of the beautiful new American hybrid varieties 

 acquired by Mr. B. S. Williams, of Hollo way. It is a very handsome variety, and 

 undoubtedly a great acquisition on account of its colour, which, so far as appearance 

 o-oes, will be equal, if not superior, to N. sanguinea, whilst the pitchers are much 

 handsomer in form than that variety, being flask-shaped after the way of the well- 

 known N. Rafflesiana j they are of medium size, six or seven inches long, andj of pro- 

 portionate diameter; in colour crimson-red spotted with yellow; wings moderate in 

 size, and furnished with the usual prominent teeth; the rim, or mouth, of the pitcher 

 is beautifully marked with black and red alternately. 



Phal^inopsis fasciata. H. G. Reichenbach, f. Time was when the beautiful Moth 

 Orchids in cultivation were confined to very few species, and for many years it appeared 

 as if there would be no addition to them; but now new kinds, very distinct in their 

 general character, are continually making their appearance. It is to be hoped that 

 these later comers will not share the fate of so many thousands of the older kinds 

 that have been introduced before them, through the mistaken treatment of over-excitement 

 in a sweltering atmosphere, with insufficient air, and above all a too high temperature in 



