118 
FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
with ovate-glabrous leaves, and its flowers are produced in close spikes. The specific name is 
strikingly appropriate, for all its energies are expended in flowering. 
Muss^'nda fro'ndosa. This is a singular and interesting stove plant, but not of recent intro- 
duction to the country. It resembles M. macrophylla in having those curious white bracts ; its 
flowers are also very similar to those of that species. The plant, however, is altogether much smaller 
and far more interesting in appearance. The long-petioled glabrous leaves strikingly contrast 
with the white bracts, which are similar in size. 
Nordmann'ia cordifo'lia. The Messrs. Low had flowering, in the winter season, a plant 
bearing this name. It is a hardy herbaceous plant, with tender green leaves, and producing a close 
panicle, six inches high, of watery blue flowers, the corolla of which reflexes in a curious manner 
as soon as it becomes expanded. We observed the same thing in flower at Pine-apple Place about 
the same time. 
Onci'dium phymatochi'lum. From the delightful collection of the Rev. J. Clowes, of 
Broughton Hall, Manchester, a plant of this species was sent to the recent Exhibition at Chiswick. 
It is the first which has disclosed flowers in this country. It is a species of recent introduction, 
and attracted at the Exhibition a good deal of attention, as much on account of its singular 
appearance as from its novelty. The plant consists of large flat pseudo-bulbs and leathery oblong 
leaves ; the one in question had two large panicles of singular Brassia-hke flowers, which have a 
yellow lip. The individual blossoms are as much like those of some small-flowering Brassia as 
can be imagined. Nothing is much more familiar to our ears than the exclamation of strangers 
on first beholding Orchid flowers — " How like some insect ! " &c. The resemblance of the mass of 
flowers borne by the plant of which we write, to insects floating in the air was complete, espe- 
cially when viewed a little distance off. The slender branching of the panicles, compared with the 
flowers, was the cause of their being so. 
Oncid'ium con'color. The Messrs. Loddiges have several plants of this beautiful Oncidium 
flowering ; it is a remarkable species, very unlike the generality of Oncidiums. It has rather 
small pseudo-bulbs, which are surmounted by a pair of rather narrow leaves. The flower-spike 
rises from the base of the pseudo-bulbs, bearing numerous flowers, which are wholly of the most 
pellucid yellow. The upper sepals and petals are ovate. The lower sepal is forked, large, and 
extending beneath the very long, broad, brilliant, yellow lip, which it approaches in a manner so 
as almost to appear as if it were supporting it. 
Rho'dostemma garde'nioides. The Messrs. Veitch had this plant at the last Chiswick 
Exhibition. It is an open-branched shrub, with oval leaves, and bearing freely clusters of whitish 
long-tubed flowers, which are of short duration only. We have observed it in several of the 
London nurseries through the past winter season. 
Tetrathe^ca verticila v ta. This is a most beautiful little greenhouse plant, of slender growth, 
having whorls of small linear leaves thickly studded along its branches ; at their axils the flowers 
are produced in great profusion on short peduncles. The flowers principally consist of a flat 
circular corolla, which is bright-blue purple, deepest at the base of the petals. The subject of 
this notice was sent to the last meeting of the Horticultural Society in Regent Street, by the 
Messrs. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place. The Messrs. Low, of Clapton, flowered plants of it in the 
beginning of this year ; but their plants, from being in a warm house, did not produce their 
blossoms of the fine hue of the one above spoken of. 
Thunber'gia Fry'eri. This is a beautiful variety of this genus, growing freely, and flowers 
in the greatest profusion. Its flowers, smaller than some other varieties, are brilliant pale orange 
with a greenish white throat. 
Thunber'gia chry'sops. We cannot refrain from noticing this plant as it recently appeared 
at the Royal Botanic Society's Exhibition, from Mr. Gaines, Nurseryman, Battersea. It was 
growing in a rather small pot, and trained to a fan-shaped trellis. It literally was studded 
all over with bloom-buds, though few flowers were expanded upon it. But those out were 
remarkably fine, and the plant was luxuriant, and the picture of health. It had apparently been 
favoured with bottom-heat. Our object in thus mentioning it, is because it so seldom is found in 
such a condition. Its appearance proves that it is equally as fine a thing as we have represented 
it, and also shows what can be done by skilful management. 
