Plate 235. 



COLCHICUM SPECIOSUM. 



This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of all the hardy bulbous flowers of the 

 waning year. Dr. J. D. Hooker, C.B., who first figured the plant (see Bot. Mag. t. 6078), 

 thus describes it : — 



" The largest known species of the genus, and a very handsome one, a native of the 

 countries bordering the Caucasus range on the south, and extending thence into Persia, if, as 

 appears to be the case, a Ghilan plant of Aucher Eloi (n. 5370) is the same species. Lede- 

 bour, in his Flora Eossica, says that it inhabits the provinces of Mingrelia, Iberia, the Suwant, 

 Lenkoran, and the south-west shores of the Caspian Sea. * * * One of its nearest allies 

 is the very broad-leaved C. bysantinum [Bot. Mag. t. 1122), which has a broader leaf, a much 

 smaller paler flower, and broad short anthers ; and is a native of Constantinople. 



" 0. speciosum has been cultivated for many years in Kew, but the specimen here figured, 

 which is much more deeply coloured than the Kew ones, was sent by Messrs. Barr and 

 Sugden, who have a fine collection of the species of this beautiful genus." 



There are several well-marked varieties, for fresh flowers of which I am indebted to Mr. P. 

 Parr, F.K.II.S. The most distinct are the following: — 



0. speciosum. Flowers bright lilac-purple, like those of C. bysantinum, but much larger. 



G. speciosum roseum. A broad petalled form, with bright rosy-lilac flowers. 



C. speciosum purpureum. Flowers dark lilac-purple, with distinct reticulations. 



C. speciosum longipetalum. A distinct form, having very long and narrow segments. 



C. speciosum striatum. Like the last, but the rosy-lilac segments are striped or splashed 

 with lilac -purple. 



Plate 236. 



ANTHURIITM ORNATUM. 



This stately aroid is well deserving of notice, not only as a handsome fine foliaged plant, 

 but as one which to noble leafage adds the charms of its conspicuous milk-white spathes. 

 Our drawing was made in Mr. B. S. "Williams' Hollo way Nursery, in September last, and by 

 no means exaggerates its beauty. The plant is a native of Santa Martha, and grows and 

 flowers freely in a moist Orchid-house or plant-stove, where it attains a height of three to 

 four feet. Seeing what has already been done in the hybridisation of aroids by Mr. Seden, 

 M. Bleu, M. Kellermann, M. Bause, and others, the present species appears worthy of a 

 place in all collections, not only for ornamental purposes, but also as a most promising seed 

 or pollen bearing parent. 



