NEW AND RARE PLANTS. 
19 
Aspasia variegata. Variegated Aspasia. An interesting and desirable 
species, a native of the tropical part of S. America. The flowers are prettily 
variegated, and in the morning deliciously sweet ; it will probably prove easy of 
cultivation, therefore should be in every collection. Bot. Reg., 1907. 
Oncidium iridifolium. Pigmy Oncidium. The most interesting species of 
Oncidium that we have seen. In the absence of the flowers, the plant might be 
mistaken for one of the Pleurothallises, so much does it resemble the species picta 
of that genus. It grows, including plant, scape, and flowers, about three inches 
high, forming a dense tuft of green foliage, from among which arise an abundance 
of flower spikes, many bearing two flowers of a yellowish colour. Dr. Lindley says, it 
seems to be common in the hotter parts of America, and it has been observed 
growing upon the branches of orange and lemon trees, constantly preferring dry 
places exposed to the sun. In the rich collection of Orchideae, at Wentworth, it 
flowered in August, 1835. Bot Reg., 1911. 
The Periodicals for December contain : — 
CLASS I PLANTS WITH TWO COTYLEDONS (DICOTYLEDONE/E), 
THE VERVAIN TRIBE ( VERBEN ACE^e). 
Verbena Lamberti ; var. rosea. Drummond's pink-flowered Vervain. A 
very pretty variety with pale pink flowers ; and, as represented in the plate, each 
flower is furnished with a striking eye in the centre, formed by a circle of rich pink 
surrounding the mouth of the nearly white tube, which renders it pleasing and con- 
spicuous. It is a hardy free-flowering highly fragrant perennial. Mr. Don 
remarks, that little difference exists between this variety and V. Drummondi, and 
V. Aubletia. Brit. Fl. Gard., 363. 
Verbena Tweedieana. Mr. Tweedie's scarlet Vervain. This species is 
said to surpass in beauty the long and justly admired species that has so long stood 
before, for brilliancy of colours, almost every other plant in the flower-garden, viz., 
V. chamcedifolia, or melindris. It is a tall upright-growing plant, producing, at 
the extremity of the strongest shoots, a dense conical-shaped head of brilliant 
crimson flowers. It was introduced by Mr. Tweedie, to the Glasnevin Botanic 
Garden, and flowered about September, 1836. It has hitherto been treated as a 
stove-plant, but it will, probably, turn out quite hardy. Bot. Mag., 3541. 
the bean tribe (leguminose^:). 
Genista monosperma. Single-seeded Genista. Dr. Lindley allows this to 
be one of the most deliciously fragrant shrubs in the world. It is difficult, he says, 
to imagine anything more delicate and grateful than the sweet odour that its tender 
and snow-white blossoms diffuse in the conservatory, in the months of May and 
June. It is found along the basin of the Mediterranean, and is described as being? 
when wild, a good deal taller than a man ; having a trunk an inch thick, and 
waving its gseen-gray leafless thread-like branches in the wind, in the most 
graceful manner. It is multiplied by seeds and cuttings, and must be treated as a 
greenhouse plant in winter. Bot. Reg., 1918. 
