214 
FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
structure to the rush- leaved species, such as O. Ceholleta, is but a step." The species so formed 
constitute a distinct section of the genus, including, besides O. urophyllum, O. pulchellum, 
triqueirum, iridifoliurrif and two others. " That now figured has a graceful drooping panicle, four 
feet long, of clear yellow flowers, almost white at the back, and with a few crimson stains near 
the centre on the upper side. It was imported from Brazil by Messrs. Loddiges, and flowered 
with them in March 1841." Bot. Reg. 54. 
Otho'nna frute'scens. " A handsome and showy plant, a native of South Africa, with a 
stout stem, singularly glaucous and fleshy leaves, and copious handsome yellow flowers. It was 
grown in the Dutch gardens in the days of Commelinus, (nearly two hundred years ago,) but 
does not appear to have been cultivated in England till now, when we find it in the Birmingham 
Botanic Garden. It is a greenhouse plant, and flowers during the latter end of summer." The 
stem grows two or three feet in height and is suffruticose, and the flowers are very profuse, 
syngenesious, and rather coarse. Bot. Mag. 3967. 
Pharbi'tis ostri'na. " Referred to the genus Pharbitis, on account of its three- celled ovarj', 
with two ovules in each cell, but it has all the habit of a Batatas. It is a very beautiful climber ; 
obtained last year by Messrs. Loddiges from Cuba. The roots are large and tuberous ; the stem 
perishing every winter, but growing out rapidly in the spring to the length of twenty feet or 
more, and producing an abundance of blossoms." The leaves are three-lobed, and the peduncles 
bear from three to four flowers, which are not large, but of the finest purple hue. " All these 
fleshy-rooted Bines are of the easiest culture. They should be grown in a mixture of good sandy 
loam and leaf-mould, to which may be added a small portion of sandy peat if the loam is strong." 
Bot. Reg. 51. 
Plant's Anisanth. " This beautiful plant is a mule obtained by Mr. Plant, Nurseryman, 
Cheadle, from whom specimens were received in September 1841, with the following note : — * It 
originated here, and bloomed for the first time in 1838. It is the produce of seed from 
Anisanthus splendens and Gladiolus Colvillii, the latter, as you know, itself an hybrid. The 
present one is, as far as ray humble abilities will allow me to judge, exactly intermediate betwixt 
the two parents ; the bulb is also intermediate, being entirely wanting in that peculiar mode of 
increase which obtains in Anisanthus splendens — I mean by means of tubers, or in the manner 
of Potatoes — a fact which Sweet has taken no notice of in establishing the genus Anisanthus. 
In the practice of hybridizing we know but little yet. Would you believe that I have some seed- 
lings between Gladiolus and Amaryllis ? I have this day taken the roots up, some of Avhich 
present a most curious appearance ; neither bulbs nor scales, but something of both.' " After 
these facts, the doctrine that species of different genera will not unite their properties must be 
wholly abandoned. Bot. Reg. 53. 
NEW OR INTERESTING PLANTS RECENTLY IN FLOWER AT THE PRINCIPAL 
SUBURBAN NURSERIES. 
Ae'rides quinquevu'lnerum. This noble and lovely plant flowered splendidly with Messrs. 
Loddiges last month, bearing two or three racemes more than a foot in length, and branching in 
several places. The tendency of the racemes to branch is a novel characteristic, and the rich 
markings of the blossoms, as well as their exquisite odour, render it one of the most attractive 
of the tribe. 
Aristolo'chia hyperbo'rea. When well cultivated, this is really an extremely fine plant, 
both with respect to its foliage and flowers. It is grown in the Orchidaceous house at Messrs. 
Rollisson's, Tooting, and trained over the roof as a shade to the plants. Being itself in a light 
position, and planted out in a tolerably rich earth which is not overshadowed by other plants, it 
thrives with peculiar vigour, and has lately produced a considerable number of its extraordinary 
blossoms. These were at least eight or nine inches in length, of a strange figure, and beautifully 
streaked and blotched with deep blood-colour on a dull whitish-brown ground. Its scent is by 
no means agreeable, though it is not powerful except in a confined house. 
A spa' SI a ? An evidently new species of Aspasia has flowered in the nursery of 
Messrs. Rollisson, Tooting. It has flattish, thin, but not remarkable pseudo-bulbs, somewhat 
like those of Brassias, only smaller. The flowers are at present solitary, with narrow spotted 
sepals and petals, and a large white lip, which is purplish in the centre. 
