Plate 239. 



BOMABEA CAEDEBI. 



Bomareas generally are graceful South American Amaryllids of scandent habit, not so 

 popular in modern gardens as one could wish. Beautiful as are some of the older species, 

 we know of none which at all approaches that we now figure in graceful beauty, richness of 

 colouring, and free growth. It is one of Mr. Bull's importations from New Granada, and 

 was first exhibited early in the present year, when it was certificated as a most desirable 

 decorative plant. The plant succeeds well in a pot in a warm green-house temperature, its 

 clusters of Lapageria-like flowers being borne at the apex of trailing stems 10 or 12 feet in 

 length. These stems are produced in succession, and the result, as shown by Mr. Bull's plant, 

 is that the flowers are produced at intervals throughout the year, and that the buds expand 

 gradually, and retain their beauty for a considerable time, is an additional attraction. The 

 plant is as yet extremely rare, Mr. Bull having only two or three specimens, and one of these 

 is just now in bloom for the third time this year. 



Plate 240. 



HYBBID PENTSTEMONS. 

 1. Mrs. A. F. Barron : 2. Octaroon. 



During the autumn of the present year Messrs. Downie and Laird, of the Pinkhill 

 Nurseries, Carstorphine, near Edinburgh, sent us a box of new seedling and other Pent- 

 stemons, of which we selected the varieties above named as subjects for our present plate. 

 Our illustration does but scant justice to the size and gracefulness of the spikes as sent to 

 us ; this, however, being unavoidable, since nothing short of a folio page would do these 

 plants justice when well grown. Pentstemon Mrs. A. F. Barron is a new variety of con- 

 siderable merit, while Octaroon is well deserving of culture as one of the best of the darker 

 coloured varieties. Our plate renders further description unnecessary. 



Pentstemon s are upland plants mostly from South America, and the numerous varieties 

 now in cultivation have been derived by hybridising P. Gentianoides and P. Coboea. In 

 Germany the florists have a very showy race, obtained by hybridising P. Gentianoides and 

 P. Hartwegi, and there are now in cultivation several blue-flowered Californian species which 

 it may be in the power of a clever hybridist to improve. 



