46 
FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
Centropo v gon fastuo\sum. An extremely handsome Lobeliaceous plant has been received, 
with this title, at the nursery of Messrs. Rollisson, Tooting, from a continental establishment. 
It has been kept in a house with a temperature ranging between the stove and greenhouse, but 
will doubtless be found to endure the latter without detracting from its ornamental aspect, and 
may probably acquire additional vigour from it. When full-grown it appears to attain a height 
varying from a foot and a half to two feet and a half, the stems assuming a slightly flexuose cha- 
racter. The whole of the plant has a smooth shining appearance, if we except a trifling pubes- 
cence which is found on the petioles and extreme young shoots. The leaves are usually about 
five or six inches long, of a lengthened ovate form, with a rounded base and an acute apex, and 
remotely toothed on the margins. Their fine green colour and lucid appearance are high recom- 
mendations. The flowers issue from the axils of the leaves, but are confined to the upper 
portion of the stem ; and through their superior size, fine rose-colour, and immediate proximity 
to each other, they contribute a considerable amount of show. The corolla is tubular, curved, 
and somewhat flattened at the sides, with a two-lipped limb, the upper lip consisting of two con- 
volutely refiexed segments, and the lower of three, two of which are falcate with their points 
approaching the intermediate one. It is a perennial plant, of an herbaceous or suffruticose habit, 
and as a large bush will be a conspicuous object. 
Dendro'bium Kingia'num. Several specimens of this neat little plant have been flowering for 
some time at the Hackney Nursery. The pseudo-bulbous stems are about four or five inches in 
length, closely clustered together in large masses, and have a broad base gradually tapering 
towards the top, which is surmounted by two'or three fine dark green oblong leaves. The flower- 
stalk springs from amongst the foliage, and supports a few small loosely arranged blossoms with 
pale purplish sepals and petals, and a lip beautifully marked with a sanguineous hue. It is a 
recent acquisition, and though not equal in size or beauty to many of its congeners, is, never- 
theless, invested with considerable interest. 
Epiphy'llum Ru'ckeri. This appellation has been given to a plant in the possession of Messrs. 
Rollisson, of Tooting. It is, undoubtedly, nothing more than an improved variety of E. truncatum, 
and exactly accords with that species in every respect except the colour of the flowers, which 
display a combination similar to those of Cereus speciosissimus — a rich violet merging into 
a fine crimson. We understand it has been in private collections for ten or twelve years, but 
not having come into the London market till lately, has only had a limited ^circulation. It 
has probably been obtained by fertilizing with some such species as Cereus reptans. 
E v ria profu^sa. We cannot claim a very showy character for this species, but there is a 
peculiar neatness and elegance about it, that is scarcely less interesting. The stem is in the form 
of a lengthened sphere, prettily striated, and on the upper part furnished with ample foliage of a 
pleasing order. The blossoms are borne in racemes nine or ten inches long, and are exceedingly 
numerous, but minute, and yield a very agreeable fragrance. It is a product of Manilla, and has 
been flowering recently in the collection of S. Rucker, Esq., at Wandsworth. 
Habrotha'mnus purpu v reus. This plant does not appear to answer expectation. In every 
instance that has come under our notice where flowers have been obtained at all, they have been 
insignificant in comparison with other organs, — a fault that meets with no compensation either in 
their quantity or colour. The latter is a pale, watery purple. A possibility remains, however, 
that it may eventually be somewhat improved, but we can hardly hope to see it attain a mediocrity 
of attractiveness. It has bloomed at Messrs. Rollisson' s, and Messrs. Knight and Perry's 
establishments. 
Physia'nthus aurico'mus. The flowers of this beautiful stove-climber are so much like those 
of the Stephanotis Jloribunda, both in general contour and colour, that at first sight, if viewed 
apart from the plant, they might easily be mistaken for them. They are collected into tolerably 
large clusters, supported on short peduncles which spring from the axils of the leaves. The 
diameter is about an inch and a half from the tip of one segment to the tip of the opposite one, 
but as these are considerably refiexed, they appear somewhat less. They yield a grateful 
fragrance, which is usually more powerful in the evening. When well managed it grows quickly, 
producing fine healthy stems clothed with leaves of an obovate form with an acute termination. 
The flowers are most profusely displayed during the autumn months, and individually last for a 
considerable period. At Mr. Knight's Nursery, a plant flowered a short time ago. 
