94 
FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
as fragrant ; they are likewise produced in great profusion. The plant which was exhibited 
by me before the Horticultural Society last autumn, and awarded a Banksian medal, remained in 
bloom quite four months ; thus rendering it a most useful and desirable plant at a season peculiarly 
distinguished by paucity of flower." Bot. Reg., 21. 
Trichosa'nthes colubriWa. Dr. Lindley writes : — "We believe that the sole possessor of 
this curious plant is Sir John Hay Williams, Bart., of Bodelwyddan, near St. Asaph. In 
growth the species resembles a cucumber, with leaves ten or twelve inches across, and varying in 
form from heart-shaped to three or five-lobed. The flowers are white, and beautifully cut into 
delicate threads, whence the botanical name Trichosanthes, which Sir James Smith translated 
Hairblossom. The fruits, which hang down from the rafters to which the vines of the plant are 
trained, resemble serpents, are six feet long, and when unripe, are singularly striped with green 
and white, which changes to a brilliant orange." Bot. Reg., 18. 
NEW OR INTERESTING PLANTS RECENTLY FLOWERED OR DESERVING OF NOTICE, IN 
THE PRINCIPAL METROPOLITAN NURSERIES AND GARDENS. 
Au'cuba japo'nica, var. Every one knows the beautiful variegated Aucuba japonica. Mr. 
Low of Clapton has plants of a striking variety of this old favourite (imported, we believe) ; its 
foliage is thrice the size of that generally borne by the common species, and has a broad band of 
whitish-gold variegation down the middle ; towards the margins they are of the usual colour. If it 
should continue to be distinguished by the novel marking above alluded to, it will make a beautiful 
shrub for the flower garden ; we are doubtful it will not ; indeed, we observed in one instance, it 
was simply producing the leaf of the common Aucuba ; possibly, grown in a dry gravelly situation, 
it might preserve its distinct features. 
Bego'nia . In one of the stoves of the nursery of the before-named gentleman, a very 
pretty species of this genus is flowering. It is from India, is one of the less strong-growing 
shrubby kinds, erect-growing, and having rather small, oblique, oval leaves, which are finely 
toothed, and their petioles, as well as the stems of the plant, reddish-blush colour. The flowers are 
borne profusely at the axils of the leaves, in small panicles, resembling those of B. nitida, but are 
smaller, and more of a blush colour. 
Cinera v ria, vars. Among an immense number of seedling Cinerarias in the Nursery of the 
Messrs. Henderson of the Wellington Road, in fine bloom, the following were exhibited at the Horti- 
cultural Society's Rooms, and received a certificate of merit : — Royal purple, Royal crimson, Isabella, 
and Beauty of St. John's Wood. The two first are fine colours, as indicated by their names ; Isabella is 
lilac and white ; and Beauty of St. John's Wood crimson and white. They are not novelties either 
as regards their colour, or the shape of their blossoms ; but are highly meritorious as bearing 
broad expansive heads of bloom, and luxuriant foliage ; indeed nearly the whole of the seedlings 
are distinguished by similar features. 
Di'sophy'lla stella'ta. Observing small plants of this pretty plant in flower at Kew the 
other day, we were reminded of beautiful specimens exhibited in the beginning of December at 
the Horticultural Society's Rooms, in Regent Street, by Moore, gardener to the Earl of Auckland. 
It a good deal resembles a Bedstraw as regards the disposal of its leaves and flowers ; the former 
are linear, produced in whorls at short distances apart along the stem, which is surmounted by a 
long spike of deep violet flowers. The plant is an annual, a native of India, inhabiting swamps, 
therefore requires heat and abundance of moisture to enable it to grow well. The plants in 
question were very fine specimens, and viewing them as flowering in winter, in conjunction with 
their colour, it is a plant of considerable importance. 
Fu'chsia . To the Horticultural Society, at a meeting in Regent Street on the 7th ult., 
the Messrs. Veitch sent a new member of this genus, a native of Peru. In general character it a 
good deal resembles Fuchsia fidgens as to habit, but it has no corolla ; its beauty therefore consists 
in its calyx, which is very long, and those on the principal plant exhibited, were a pale rose- 
colour ; a specimen bearing flowers of a darker hue was present ; the flowers are produced freely 
at the base of the young shoots. The foliage pretty, somewhat heart-shaped ; and altogether it is 
a very beautiful, and most distinct species. 
Habrotha'mnus fascicula n tus. Although we have previously noticed this fine plant, we 
