FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
93 
PLANTS NEW OR INTERESTING, IN FLOWER IN THE PRINCIPAL SUBURBAN NURSERIES 
AND GARDENS. 
Aerides virens. This very handsome and lovely species is now exhibiting its delicate wax- 
like flowers, from two racemes, each about a foot long. The flowers are like A . odoratum in form 
and fragrance, but much handsomer in appearance, from the delicate lilac tint infused through the 
flower, a deep spot of violet placed at the tips of the petals, while the labellum is covered with 
smaller spots of a rosy colour ; its habit is less robust than A . odoratum, foliage being longer and 
narrower. The specimen is flowering at Messrs. Loddiges, Hackney. 
Bletia spe. A remarkably pretty and interesting plant, which evidently belongs to this race, 
is now in flower in the Royal Gardens, Kew. It differs from the rest of the species by its flower- 
stems being branched, so that, instead of a cluster of flowers at the top of the stem, you have a 
panicle. The stem is so light as to be scarcely able to support the weight of flowers, which are 
small, of a delicate rose colour, the lip tipped with deep crimson. We found some of the stems 
had as many as thirty-six flowers upon them. The bulb small and round ; leaves long and narrow, 
near eighteen inches long, and only an inch and a half wide. The profusion of flower and graceful 
character of its habit will make it an object of considerable attraction. The specimen has been in 
flower several weeks. 
Camellia reticulata. When a fine, though old plant, flowers in a superior manner, we hope 
we may be held excused from again bringing it before the notice of our readers. The specimen 
we wish to notice is in flower in the conservatory of Sir John Broughton, Kingston ; and, whether 
from the largeness and beautiful growth, or the number, size, and deep rose-colour of the flower 
(approaching crimson), it stands unrivalled as a specimen. The plant is about twenty years old, 
set in the border, has a short thick stem for about a foot, when it separates into three branches or 
trunks ; these again throwing laterals out close to the ground, extend to thirteen feet wide, and 
the loftiest branch would have been fifteen feet high, but that two feet were taken off last year to 
keep it from straggling. We were informed by the gardener (Mr. Redding, jun.), that he only 
allows one flower to a shoot, and had plucked nineteen hundred and fifty buds, leaving seventeen 
hundred and fifty flowers upon the plant, each flower averaging between seven and eight inches in 
diameter. Our readers may form some idea of its splendour from the immense number of 
flowers. Sir J. B. has always been noted for his choice collection of these handsome flowers, and 
any one who has been favoured with a sight of them must express their satisfaction at the truth of 
such report, whether from the luxuriance of flower or healthy condition of the plants. 
Dendrobium anosmum. This very handsome species has lately been showing its charming 
flowers in the nursery of Messrs. Loddiges, Hackney. It approaches nearest to D. macranthum 
in habit, but differing widely in its flower, being smaller, less straggling, more compact in form, 
and set closer in pairs on the bulb without foliage. The flower is of a delicate lilac colour, 
relieved by a deep crimson purple, covering the labellum, leaving only a narrow margin of pure 
white. The flower differs again, from D. macranthum, being devoid of that strong odour of rhubarb, 
which renders that species so obnoxious. 
Epacris, var. At the nursery of Messrs. Fairbairn, Clapham Rise, we saw some very 
excellent hybrid varieties, from E. impressa and E. campanulata, varying in tint from the deepest 
crimson to pure white. One variety, pale pink, has black anthers, which give it quite a novel 
appearance ; another variety expands its flowers pure white, and as it goes off becomes a rich 3 
lively pink ; seeing the plant about mid-time of its blooming, it has quite a variegated appearance. 
The habits of the whole seem to be good, and the flowers have not only colour but size to recom- 
mend them. They flower in the greatest profusion, and for a much longer period than the species. 
Justitia spe. A plant said to belong to this genus is now in flower in the Royal Gardens, 
Kew. The foliage is much like the Justitia, though larger than most of the species, and of a very 
bright, glossy, green colour. The stem, a dark purple, is two feet long, bearing for about six 
inches at the top a profusion of small scarlet flowers, set in whorls of ten or twelve thickly together. 
The flower has a small, thin tube, an inch and a half long, spreading at the point into five 
divisions about half an inch in diameter. The plant, including the flower-stem, is from three to 
four feet high. 
