FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
93 
in the centre of which is an umbo or elevated tubercle, and beneath this, a pretty large, mem- 
branaceous, spreading scale." The uniformity of this character in all the flowers leads Sir W. J, 
Hooker to the conclusion that it is not a mere sport, and the species is dedicated to G. Wailes, Esq., 
of Newcastle-on-Tyne, "a most enthusiastic lover and student of natural history, and particularly 
of horticulture and botany." It was obtained by that gentleman from Honduras, through the 
kindness of G. U. Skinnei", Esq. The flowers are large, and of a green or greenish-yellow tint. 
Bot. Mag. 3937. 
Cle'thra quercifo'lia. a vei'y fine greenhouse shrub, with large evergreen oak -like foliage, 
and exceedingly copious terminal racemes of white flowers, which are larger than those of most 
species, and deliciously fragrant. It inhabits the district in the neighbourhood of Jalapa in 
Mexico, and flowered with the Honourable and Very Reverend the Dean of Manchester in March 
1841. "It is not hardier than C ariorea, and requires the same treatment, growing freely in 
any good garden soil which is rather light. It is easily increased either by layers or seeds." 
Bot. Rrg. 23. 
Coloca'sia odora^ta. More commonly known as Caladium odoratum, and being of an 
arborescent character, with noble cordate leaves, and fragrant though not richly-coloured flowers, 
it is an ornamental stove plant. It blooms annually in the stove of the Glasgow Botanic Garden, 
where " the stem or caudex is full six feet high ; the petioles springing from the top of this are not 
less than two feet long, and then bear a blade measuring three feet or more in length. It is a 
native of Pegu, and was first described by Dr. Roxburgh, and introduced to the stoves of this 
country by Lord Caernarvon, at Highclere." The blossoms are opened in March and April, and 
are included in a green hooded spathe, like those of Arum. Bot. Mag. 3935. 
Echeve^ria ro'sea. Messrs. Lee and Co., nurserymen, of Hammersmith, imported this species 
from Mexico, and having presented it to the Horticultural Society, it flowered in their garden in 
April 1841. " From E. gibbiflora its short compact inflorescence distinguishes it, as well as the 
yellow flowers with rose-coloured bracts, which render it very gay. There is, indeed, but one 
species yet described in which the corolla is yellow, and that being the old E. ccespitosa, is a quite 
different stemless plant." It should be grown in a very light greenhouse, and carefully as well 
as sparingly watered. " It strikes readily either from leaves or from cuttings." Bot. Reg. 22. 
Gloxi'nia sPECio^SA, var. macrophy'lla variega'*ta. Broad and richly- variegated leaves, with 
a peculiar luxuriance of habit, and flowers of an unusual size, and superb violet-purple hue, 
isolate this splendid variety; which "was sent to Messrs. Veitch, Mount Radford Nursery, 
Exeter, by their collector, from the Organ Mountains of Brazil. It produced the noble cluster of 
flowers represented in September of the same year, when it was exhibited at the Horticultural 
Society, and obtained the certificate of merit." The foliage is much larger than that of 
G. speciosa, " and mottled with whitish green about the veins, which considerably enhances the 
beauty of the whole object." Bot. Mag. 3934. 
Mi'na loba'ta. Take away the flowers of this beautiful plant, and no one would suspect it 
to be anything more than some common Ipomcea ; but remove the leaves, and it loses all appearance 
of the Convolvulaceous order, so unusual is it among such plants to have racemose flowers, erect, 
and arranged almost in the scorpoid manner of a Borage ; to say nothing of the uncommon form 
of the corolla, and its peculiar colour, at first rich crimson, but changing through orange to pale 
yellow as the blossoms unfold." It is a very showy annual climber, which was first brought to 
England last year by G. F. Dickson, Esq., who presented a packet of seeds to the Earl of 
Burlington. It was raised in his lordship's garden at Holker, and afterwards given to the 
Horticultural Society. Being an annual, only two or three seeds were saved, and these, it is 
feared, were too imperfectly ripened to germinate. The foliage is three-lobed, of the shape of fig- 
leaves, and the floral racemes are long and graceful, bearing the pretty blossoms only on one 
side. Bot. Reg. 24. 
Oreoda'phne bulla'ta. Formerly belonging to the old genus Laurus, from which this and 
other species have been detached. It is the " African Oak " of the Cape of Good Hope, and in the 
Cape Colony, where it is spoken of as " handsome, and resembling mahogany both in colour and 
quality; chairs, tables, and other furniture are made of it," In our greenhouses it does not 
grow higher than four or five feet, and has fine leaves, which have, at the junction of some of the 
veins on the under side, " deep pits or hollows, ciliated at their edges, and exhibiting on the upper 
