PAXTON'S FLO WEE GARDEN. 



103 



with its scorpioid spikes of large yellow flowers, with five deep purple, well-defined spots at the throat. These spots, 

 however, in the cultivated plant, are sometimes obsolete — plants were raised in the Kew Gardens from seeds sent by 

 Dr. Fischer, of St. Petersburg Root fusiform, woody, throwing up two or more erect, leafy, herbaceous stems, about a 

 span or more high, downy, with short hair. Leaves spreading, somewhat hoary, soft, all sessile ; those from the roots, 

 large, obovate, oblong ; from the stem, obovate-lanceolate, all rather obtuse and becoming smaller upwards. The stems 

 terminate in a branched, scorpioid, leafy spike of large yellow flowers. Calyx, cylindrical, hairy, cut almost to 

 the base into five, erect, linear, obtuse segments. Corolla between funnel and salver- shaped; the mouth spreading; 

 the tube nearly twice as long as the calyx, hairy within ; the limb cut into five nearly equal, rounded lobes, 

 having a dark orbicular purple spot at the re-entering angle of each pair of lobes. Style shorter than the tube. 

 —Bot. Mag., t. 4409. 



Notwithstanding the number of aliases under which this plant is already known, it is still unsatisfactorily named. 

 It cannot with any propriety be placed in the same genus with Amebia cornuta, whose style divides into 4 arms at the 

 point, and which has 5 converging scales on the tube of the corolla near the base. It would rather seem to be an 

 Alkanna, near A. Grceca. At least it is identical in genus with Alk. hirsutissima from the Euphrates. We forbear, 

 however, from disturbing the name, not possessing materials or leisure for investigating the different oriental species 

 assembled by M. Alphonse De Candolle under the names of Amebia and Alkanna. It was found in Persia by 

 Major Willock, and we have recently remarked it among dried plants from the neighbourhood of Trebizond. 

 The specimens from the former gentleman are nearly 18 inches high and loaded with flowers. M. Planchon, who 

 has republished this plant in the "Flore des Serres," doubts its being an Amebia, but throws no light upon its 

 true {renus. 



Echinopsis cristata. Salm Di/cJc. {alias Echinocactus obrepandus Salm Dj/cfc.) A 

 beautiful white, or purple-flowered plant, belonging to the order of Indian Pigs (Cactacese) . Native 

 of Bolivia. 



No less remarkable for the large size of its flowers than for 

 Mr. Bridges on his return from 

 fine species of Cactacece then first 

 individual which blossomed, pro- 

 '.'ollowing year (1847) bore white 

 Chili, and, like its Mexican allies, 

 leaf-mould and a few nodules of 

 of keeping the soil open ; it is also 

 In winter, water must be given 

 should be dry : the temperature 

 very cold weather it may be 

 perature be maintained 

 season advances, the 

 the full influence of 

 of the sun ; and during 

 be benefited by frequent 

 which should be done 

 however, necessary to 

 becoming saturated, for 

 continue in a wet state 

 Magazine, t. 4521. 



Hedychitjm CHRYSOLETJCUM. 

 baceous Gingerwort (Zingiberacea), with 

 Native of India. Blossomed at Kew in the 



Very handsome, and deliciously scented ; 

 the disk ; anther and filament deep orange. 

 fiavescens {H. rtavum, Bot. Mag. t. 2378) and 

 is at once distinguished by its glabrous leaves, 

 the much larger and broader lateral segments, 

 segments of the perianth with the rich orange 

 Magazine, t. 451b. 



the deeplydobed ribs of the stem ; purchased of 

 Bolivia, where he had gathered them and other 

 known in our gardens, in 1844. In 1846, the 

 duced purple flowers ; that which bloomed the 

 ones. This showy Bchinopsis is a native of 

 thrives if potted in light loam with a little 

 lime-rubbish. The latter are for the purpose 

 necessary that the pot should be well drained, 

 very sparingly and the atmosphere of the house 

 need not exceed 50° during the night, and in 

 allowed to fall 10° lower, provided a higher tem- 

 during the day. As the 

 plants should receive 

 the increasing warmth 

 hot weather they will 

 syringing over head, 

 in the evening : it is, 

 guard against the soil 

 the soft fibrous roots suffer if they 

 for any length of time. — Botanical 



Hooker. A showy stove her- 

 large white and yellow flowers, 

 autumn of 1849. (Fig. 74.) 



flowers pure white, bright orange in 

 It is nearly allied to Hedychium 

 H. spicatum. From the former it 

 from both by the larger flowers and 

 and by the pure white of the inner 

 colour of the disk or centre. — Botanical 



