258 
NEW AND RARE PLANTS. 
CLASS II.— PLANTS WITH ONE COTYLEDON (MONOCOTYLEDONE^E). 
THE COLCHICUM TRIBE (Melanthaceat). 
Merendera caucasica. Caucasian Merendera. This pretty little half-hardy 
bulbous plant greatly resembles some of the species of Colchicum in general 
appearance, and, indeed, is very closely allied to that genus. Its foliage, however, 
is somewhat broader, and it appears to flower at a different period, as, in the 
Glasgow Botanic Garden, it blossoms in the early part of the spring. It is kept 
in a cold frame in that establishment ; but is, we believe, quite hardy in the 
latitude of London, and in the open ground would probably flower later. It is a 
native of the Caucasus and Middle Iberia, and plants of it have been introduced to 
the Glasgow Botanic Garden by Dr. Fischer. Bot. Mag. 3690. 
THE ORCHIS TRIBE {Orchidacece). 
Paxtonia rosea. Pink Paxtonia. A beautiful as well as highly curious 
orchidaceous plant, received by Messrs. Loddiges from Mr. Hugh dimming, of 
Manilla. It much resembles several species of Bletia, both in appearance and 
habit, but is essentially different from them in the structure of its flowers. These 
latter are composed of what would appear, at first sight, to be six nearly equal 
petals and sepals, three of each ; but one of these parts is described as the labellum, 
and is said to be only distinguishable as such by its position. The cylindrical 
column rises erect in the centre of the flower, and is of the same colour as the 
other parts, i.e. a beautiful rosy pink. It is a free-growing and also a free- 
flowering plant, requiring the same treatment as the genus Bletia. Bot. Reg. 60. 
Catasetum atratum. Dark-flowered Catasetum. This very handsome new 
species combines the character of the late genus Myanthus with that of Catasetum, 
and in this respect confirms the propriety of abolishing the former genus, and also 
exhibits anew the tendency of these plants to vary in character. The flowers are 
produced in long pendent racemes ; the sepals are internally of a deep brownish- 
purple colour, and the petals are prettily spotted with brown ; the labellum is 
cucullate, much denticulated, of a greenish-yellow colour, and, like the petals, 
spotted with brown. It is undoubtedly one of the most ornamental species of the 
genus, and was imported by Messrs. Loddiges from Brazil. Dr. Lindley states 
that he has been informed by Mr. Schomburgk that Catasetum and Myanthus 
produce no seed, while Monochanthus is seed -bearing ; a fact which is certainly not 
a little extraordinary. Similar information has likewise been furnished to Mr. 
Henchman, of the firm of Messrs. Low & Co., from a gentleman resident in 
Demerara ; who further aflirms, that he has raised plants from seeds of Mono^ 
chanthus which partake of the characters of both the other supposed genera. 
Bot. Reg. 63. 
