70 
FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
- NEW AND BEAUTIFUL PLANTS FIGURED IN THE LEADING BOTANICAL PERIODICALS 
FOR MARCH. 
Aca'cia platy'ptera. According to the figure and description here given, " this beautiful 
Acacia compensates for the absence of leaves in the quantity and rich yellow colour of its heads 
of flowers ;" which is a feature quite new to us, as the specimens we have seen produced their 
blossoms very sparingly. The branches of the plant are something like those of A. alata, but 
have very much broader leafy wing-like margins, and the flowers issue numerously from short 
lateral shoots. The specimen figured was "sent from Oakfield, Cheltenham, by Mrs. Wray, 
who had obtained seeds of it from the Swan River settlement." Bot. Mag. 3933. 
Catase^tum abru'ptum. a curious species, which blossomed in the Glasnevin Botanic Garden 
in September, 1841, and again in October of the same year, having been received there by 
Mr. Moore from Brazil, through the favour of Dr. Gogarty. " At first sight a very great 
similarity will be recognised between this and C. luridum. It is possible it may be a variety ; at 
the same time, the greater depression of the whole perianth, and the diff'erent form of the lip, are 
obvious peculiarities. In C. luridum the two side lobes of the lip run down gradually into the 
apex or middle lobe, which is also considerably prolonged and reflexed. In our plant the side 
lobes are very distinct and abrupt, presenting a vertical edge towards the middle lobe or apex, 
which is, moreover, very short. In other respects the description of one will serve for that of 
the other." It is not at all handsomer than C. luridum. Bot. Mag. 3929. 
Cypripe^dium earba'^tum. This is a beautiful plant, with delicately-painted flowers, and 
pleasingly mottled leaves. It is a native of the Straits of Malacca, where Cuming found it on 
Mount Ophir. Messrs. Loddiges are the only persons who have flowered it," and with these 
gentlemen it has been in bloom at almost all seasons, some flowers being, likewise, now opened. 
" The purple hairy shining warts, which border the upper edge of its petals, distinguish it 
immediately from C. venustum and purpuratum,^^ which are most like it. The upper petal is of 
a pale greenish white hue, most elegantly streaked with pink and bright green. It succeeds with 
the same treatment as C. venustum and insigne. Bot. Reg. 17. 
Cynoglo'ssum ANCHUSof des. More like an Anchusa or a Pulmonaria in appearance than a 
Cynoglossum ; but its fruit determines it to belong to the latter genus. Although not very orna- 
mental, it is an interesting hardy perennial, derived "from seeds received from the East India 
Company, said to have been collected either in Cashmere or Thibet, and presented to the Horti- 
cultural Society," in whose garden it bloomed in May, 1841. The species has large lanceolate 
leaves, and spreading panicles of drooping flowers, which are pink while in the bud, and blue 
after expansion. It is described as " growing well in i-ich garden soil, and flowering freely in 
July and August. It is easily increased from seeds, sown in the ordinary way ; but the plants 
will not flower before the second season." Bot. Reg. 14. 
Gastrochi'lus pulche'rrima. If this drawing be correct, the plant in the nurseries, under 
the name of G. pulcherrimus, must be another species, for the lip of the flower is depicted as 
having a rich sanguineous spot, with two white streaks " in the middle, whereas that which we 
have previously noticed and figured is streaked and stained faintly with light pink. It is a fine stove 
perennial, and " native of Rangoon, in the East Indies, where it flowers in August." Bot. Mag. 3930. 
Maxilla^ria crue'nta. Nearly allied to M. aromatica, of which we have before considered it 
a very fine variety. Dr. Lindley observes, however, that " the following circumstances will 
readily distinguish it. The leaves are broader ; the flowers are four times as large when in health, 
the lip has quite a different form, with a deep crimson blotch at its base, and is not half the length 
of the sepals ; the middle lobe is rounded not unguiculate, and has only a small tubercle in the 
middle, instead of the large concave appendage that occurs in M. aromatica.^' The flowers are 
of a rich orange colour, with a beautiful lip, which is deep reddish-brown at the base, and spotted 
or stained with blood-colour towards the extremity. It was introduced from Guatemala by 
Mr. Skinner. At Carclew, the seat of Sir C. Lemon, Bart., "one of the flower-stalks bore two 
blossoms, a very unusual circumstance among the species with this habit." Bot. Reg. 13. 
