262 
FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
dark purple-brown, with the tube of the perianth obovate or ventricose, the Hmb tubular at the 
base, then two-lipped ; the upper lip more or less elongated, channelled, the lower one from a 
very contracted and channelled or cymbiform base, dilated into a very broad lamina." The present 
species, with several others, amongst which are A. galeata, and the well-known A. labiosa, 
belongs to this division. To both of these species, just mentioned, it is nearly allied. It may, 
however, be at once known from the latter by " the very narrow (not broad and cymbiform) 
base of the lower lip. From A. galeata it may be discriminated by the greater size of its leaves 
and flowers, by the different colour and marking of the perianth, and especially by the deep sinus 
of the great lamina of the lower lip. It was raised in the Glasgow Botanic Garden from seeds 
gathered near Crato, Brazil, by Mr. Gardner, in September, 1838. Plants communicated from 
Glasgow to Mr. Moore, at the Glasnevin Botanic Garden, produced their curious blossoms in the 
stove during the autumns of 1840 and 1841." It is a climbing shrub, of a luxuriant habit, and 
should be planted in a border, and the shoots trained to the rafters, to show the flowers to advan- 
tage ; it may also, however, be grown and flowered in a large pot, with the branches twisted 
round a wire trellis. It requires a stove temperature. The flowers are large and handsome, of 
a dingy yellow colour, variegated with black purple reticulations. Bot. Mag. 4120. 
Chiri'ta sine'nsis. " This charming little greenhouse plant is one of the first results of any 
importance, from the voyage to China by Mr. Fortune, on account of the Horticultui-al Society. 
It was sent home in a wooden case, and its beautiful large, lilac, foxglove-like flowers were open 
when it arrived. Those who see what this is, may judge how desirable it would be to obtain 
from India the other species of the genus, among which are some still flner. And they are all so 
easily cultivated, that they are just the things to introduce into gardens. Anybody who can grow 
a Gloxinia can manage a Chirita." It is a stove plant, and may be propagated by the leaf like a 
Gloxinia, Bot. Reg. 59. 
Echinoca'ctus Pentla'ndi. " This is a very pretty species, more remarkable for the rose-red 
colour of the flowers, than for any other striking peculiarity." It is in the Kew Gardens, but 
nothing whatever is known of its history. The plant is nearly globular, about two inches across, 
slightly depressed at the top. The ribs are distantly beset with little woolly tufts, from which 
rise six stout and somewhat curved spines about half an inch long. " The flowers are large in 
proportion to the size of the plant, and spring from the sides of the ribs, solitary, but three or 
four are expanded on one specimen at the same time." Bot. Mag. 4124. 
Gesne^ria Gardne^ri. " Discovered by Mr. Gardner on the Organ Mountains of Brazil, in 
March 1841, growing two to four feet high in rocky places ; and raised from seeds, sent over to 
Mr. Mackay, at the College Botanic Gardens, Dublin, where it produced its handsome flowers in 
July, 1844. It is very distinct from any species hitherto described, and remarkable for the thick 
and fleshy leaves, shaped not unlike those of the Elm, pale coloured, and with prominent nerves 
beneath." The species is not so handsome as many in cultivation. Bot. Mag. 4121. 
HoVea ilicifo^lia. " This is one of the less attractive species of the genus, for which we are 
indebted to Robert Mangles, Esq., who raised it from Swan River seeds, and flowered it last 
April. It cannot be the Plagiolohium ilicifolium of Sweet, if that plant is rightly described with 
a downy pod, for this has one perfectly smooth. At all events, it is most certainly a Hovea, and 
the species named by Allan Cunningham ilicifolia, as is proved by one of his specimens from 
King George's Sound. It is a greenhouse shrub, requiring the same treatment as H. Celsi.'* 
Bot. Reg. 58. 
Hydra'ngea japo'nica. " Japan seems to abound with Hydrangeas, Siebold having described 
as many as fourteen from that country. In this respect, as in many others, we have the indica- 
tion of a near relation between the flowers of Japan and North America. It does not, however, 
appear that they are very handsome ; and in this respect too, they agree with the Amei'ican 
species, with the exception of H. Otaksa, which seems to be hardly diff'erent from H. hortensis. 
The greater part of them are like this, and some are not so pretty. The most interesting among 
them are //. Belsonii, a plant with the habit of H. arborescens, but with large blue flowers ; and 
H. stellata, whose barren flowers are double, and light-blue or pink. According to Siebold, this 
H. japonica has two varieties, called BenikaJcu, with rose-coloured flowers ; and Konkaku, with 
pale-blue flowers. It does not grow more than two feet high at the most, branched from the 
very bottom. The Japanese cultivate it commonly in their gardens. It is found wild on the 
