FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
213 
hybrid crosses is singular. When the bright yellow flower of the white turnip is crossed with the 
dull golden of the Swede, an intermediate colour is not obtained, but some of the mules (as to the 
colour of the flower) follow one parent, and some the other. When a blue Anagallis is crossed 
with the orange coloured, the effect is to discharge the yellow from the orange, and leave the dull 
red which was combined with it, while the blue remains in abeyance. One plant sometimes retains 
the ten stamens of the female, and sometimes they are reduced to nine, or eight, or even nearer 
to the quota of Azalea. In order to obtain a cross with the leaves more permanent, and like 
those of Rhododendron, the pollen of the fine white cross between R. Ponticum and maximum, or 
of Caucasicum, should be applied to Azalea Pontica, Sinensis, or Calendulacea. The yellow 
and coppery mules of the late Mr. Smith, of Norbiton, were obtained from that white Rhodo- 
dendron by the pollen of Sinense, and their leaves are not more durable than those of Rhododendron 
(Azalea) Lcetitice. It being desirable that no garden varieties should have adjective names, and 
be thereby confounded with species, this plant is named Lcetitice, after the Christian name of the 
Hon. Mrs. Herbert." Bot. Reg. 51. 
Chiri' ta Zeyla'nica. " Of the family of Cyrtandracece," writes Sir W. J. Hooker, « lately 
so admirably illustrated by Mr. Brown, and more fully described by De Candolle, father and son, 
very few species indeed have been in cultivation, and two of those that are at this moment 
blossoming in the Royal Gardens of Kew, do not appear to be anywhere described. Our 
knowledge of those we have will lead us to seek for more ; since, like their affinities, the 
Gesneracece (of which, indeed, Mr. Brown considers them a group or section), they are of great 
beauty and easy cultivation ; and they seem to abound in the East Indies, as the true Gesneracece 
do in the tropical parts of the New World. The generic Chirita of Hamilton (written Chirata in 
Don's ' System of Gard. and Botany'), is said to be altered from the vernacular name of one of 
the species, and of course of Indian origin. Our present species is a native of Ceylon, and was 
raised from seeds sent from that island to Mr. Henderson, the scientific gardener to Lord 
Fitzwilliam, late at Milton, now at Wentworth." It is a beautiful plant, standing about a foot 
high, clothed with ovate-acute leaves, showing the veins prominently. The flowers are of a rich 
purple colour, funnel-shaped with a spreading border, and are carried in a panicle considerably 
longer than the leaves. It flowers, also, through most of the summer months ; and is, indeed, 
one of the most desirable and engaging stove-plants in the country. Specimens have been blos- 
soming for some time in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew. Bot. Mag., 4182. 
Chlor'^ea. vire'scens. Dr. Lindley says this is " one of those beautiful terrestrial Orchids 
which, under the names of Pichiguen, Gavilu, Azuzena, Pica de Loro, &c, are most charming 
ornaments of the subalpine pastures of the Cordilleras of Chili. The present, which is one of the 
finest, has been reared by Mr. Cameron, the intelligent and skilful curator of the Botanic Garden, 
Birmingham, by whom it was exhibited at the last May exhibition in the garden of the Horticul- 
tural Society. Mr. Cameron regarded it as the Chlorcea chrysantha of Poppig, in which he is 
probably correct ; but it is also the C. vireseens, so called on account of the green veins which are 
drawn over the orange ground colour of the gaudy flowers, and the latter name being the oldest 
must be retained." It is to be hoped that some pains will be taken to procure the roots of these 
plants, now that the possibility of cultivating them has been shown. " They are as common over 
all the subalpine country between Conception and Valparaiso, as the meadow orchises here. It 
will be necessary, however, to mark their stations when in flower, and to take them up only when 
the stem and leaves are withered." Bot. Reg., 49. 
Cymbi'dium Master'sii. Obtained from the East Indies in 1841, by Messrs. Loddiges, and 
flowered in their collection last December. " It is a very distinct species, with snow-white 
flowers, sweet-scented, with the fragrance of almonds. Its erect flower-stalk, closely covered with 
long green sharp-pointed equitant imbricated sheaths, is quite unlike that of any other species. 
It was, we understand, named by the late Mr. Griffith after Mr. Masters, one of the principal 
assistants in the Botanic Garden, Calcutta." Bot. Reg., 50. 
Echinoca'ctus Leea'nus. This is a small species, but not the less beautiful on that account, 
for the handsome cream-coloured flowers are large compared with its size. It was "raised by 
Messrs. Lee, of the Hammersmith Nursery, from seeds sent from the Argentine provinces by 
Mr. Tweedie, of Buenos Ayres, in 1840." A specimen flowered in the Cactus-house of the Royal 
Botanic Gardens of Kew, last May. It may rank near E. multiflorus. Bot. Mag., 4184. 
