PAXTON'S FLOWER GARDEN. 



143 



it is a graceful drooping evergreen shrub, with the habit of Zibocedrus tetragona, to which it in fart approaches so nearly 

 when old as not to be easily distinguishable unless in fruit. When young, the leaves are very spreading, linear, acute, 

 decussate, narrowed at the base, flat, with two glaucous lines on the underside. When old they become triangular, 

 sessile, closely imbricated scales, with very little appearance of glaucousness. The female flowers are little terminal 

 stellate cones, remarkable for having the axis terminating in three soft clavate glands, or abortive scales. I have not 

 examined them very carefully, but Mr. B. Clarke, with whose notes and sketches of this plant Sir W. Hooker has also 

 favoured me, describes the fruit as consisting " of nine scales, three in a whorl. The lower three, which alternate with the 

 uppermost leaves, are barren ; the intermediate three only are fertile ; the three uppermost alternate with the fertile 

 and are flattened, but stand with their edges outwards. Each fertile scale has three erect seeds, surrounded by a broad 

 wing, and ending in a narrow neck ; the central seed is attached to the scale, the two lateral to the axil ; sometimes 

 two seeds are on the scale, and three on the axil." Saxe-Gothcca conspicua, MU-Boya patagonica, Zibocedrus 

 tetragona, and Podocarpus nubicola are, no doubt, the four most interesting Conifers for this country, after 

 Araucaria imbricata, which South America produces. — Journal of Horticultural Society, vol. vi. 



Berberis empetrifolia, var,. cuneata. A dwarf narrow-leaved evergreen bush, of 

 little beauty,, with solitary deep yellow flowers. Native of Pata- 



(Fig. 183.) 



gonia and South Chili. 



From the country lying between the Straits of Magellan and the Cordillera, 

 near Valparaiso. A little trailing bush, with stiff three-parted spines, and linear 

 pungent leaves, not unlike those of Genista anglica ; bright green, clustered, and 

 about an inch long. From their axils appear, in the month of May, a few bright 

 yellow flowers, growing singly or in pairs, on stalks shorter than the leaves. 

 This is an humble plant, suited for rock-work in a mild climate, but among 

 the less valuable of the genus. According to Dr. Hooker, it is confined to the 

 Cordillera, and characteristic of a dry climate. — Journal of Horticultural Society, 

 vol. v., p. 1. 



The specimen here represented belongs to the broad-leaved variety called 

 cuneata in the gardens. 



PHALiBNOPsis antennifera. II. G. Reiclienbacli, f. This is 

 another of the somewhat numerous additions that within the last 

 few years have been made to the previously limited, but beautiful, 

 Moth Orchids. The flowers have much the appearance in form 

 of P. Esmeralda, but are different in colour to that species. It 

 will no doubt succeed under the cultural conditions found adapted 

 to the generality of Phaltenopsids, which are a brisk heat during 

 the season of active growth, suspended near the g'lass so as 

 to get plenty of light, a daily application of water, which is 

 necessary in summer on account of the little moisture-holding 

 material their roots require to run in, a daily admission of air, 

 and a considerable time of rest in winter. It has bloomed with 

 Mr. B. S. Williams. 



The chief features are to be found in the three keels of the disk running over 

 the anterior lacinia, in the angles at the base of the column, being remarkably 

 strong ; and in the colour of the sepals and petals which is light rose, and the tips 

 of the sepals which are brick-red outside. The contrast of the orange-red striped 

 side lacinia with the middle one which is of the purest amethyst, is very pleasing. — 

 Gardener's Chronicle, N.S., vol. xviii., p. 520. 



Encephalartos villosus. This fine conservatory plant 

 comes from Natal, and in appearance is not unlike E. Ililde- 



