60 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
higa puldierrima. A fine specimen of the 
above we noticed in good flower and most luxuriant 
growth in the stove of Mrs. Laurence, Ealing Park, 
where it has been flowering for some time past. 
We do not remember having seen a more hand- 
some plant of the species before ; there was very 
great merit due to the cultivator, as the plant was 
in perfection of growth. 
Leptotes hicolor. We observed several hand- 
some specimens of this choice Epiphyte in beauti- 
ful condition of bloom in the nursery of Messrs. 
Eollisson, Tooting. The plants could not have 
been in a better state of cultivation. 
Oncidium sphacelatum. A showy kind of Onci- 
dium, with rich yellow flowers spotted with brown, 
we saw flowering in the Orchideous House of Mrs. 
Lawrence, Ealing Pai'k. The great merit of the 
species being the density with which its flowers 
are placed on the short branches of the scape, the 
latter being upwards of three feet long, and 
branched to the base. A similar flowering Oncid 
we likewise observed in Messrs. Kollisson's collec- 
tion at Tooting, bearing the name O. Pheipsianum. 
Phcdcenopsis rosea. Our vignette gives the 
exact size of this flower, which has recently 
developed itself in 
the collection of S. 
Rucker, Esq., Wands- 
worth. We were, as 
most of our readers 
will be, disappointed 
with the size of the 
flower, having been 
informed it would 
be the size of P. 
amabilis ; otherwise 
it is very pretty 
and interesting in colour. The lip is a rich 
deep rosy lilac, the upper part being a bright yel- 
low, spotted with red, very minutely ; the sepals 
and petals are a pale rose colour. Should the flowers 
be produced in sufficient quantity to make up for 
the want of size, it will become a favourite ; otlier- 
Avise it bears no comparison to the superb P. ama- 
bilis and P. grandiflora. 
Salvia gesnerceflora. Several specimens of this 
race we remarked coming finely into flower in the 
gardens of the Dowager Duchess of Northumber- 
land, Sion House. This species is not very gene- 
rally cultivated, owing to the nature of the plant 
not being thoroughly understood, particularly its 
period of flowering, which is during the three first 
months of the year. Mr. Iveson informed us that 
the young plants were turned out into the border 
during summer to allow full scope for growth, and 
before frost, taken up, potted, and placed in the 
greenhouse; and during January, when other 
species of Salvia are going out, this kind commences 
and continues flowering for two or three months. 
The flowers are long, a bright scarlet, and produced 
in pendant masses from the ends of the shoots. 
We take the opportunity of noticing this plant as it 
may tend to overturn the bad name it possesses, viz. 
that it will not produce flowers ; whereas it is en- 
tirely owing to the want of knowledge in the culti- 
vation respecting its natural capabilities. 
Selago instans. A mere weed in its native 
country, the Cape of Good Hope ; but here is certainly 
a plant of some interest, on account of the very great 
profusion of small delicate white blossoms which it 
continues to produce during the months of No- 
vember and December— a time when anything like 
a flower is really valuable. The plant most pro- 
bably requires but the shelter of a cold frame, as 
we understood the specimen above had been sub- 
jected to three or four degrees of frost, without 
sustaining the slightest check. The plant was in- 
troduced by the Horticultural Society, in whose col- 
lection we observed it flowering most abundantly. 
BoRNBAN Rhododendrons. Perhaps no plants 
are more gorgeous than the difibrent kinds of 
Rhododendron ; one in particular which Mr. Low 
named in compliment to Rajah Brooke. Its large 
heads of flowers are produced in abundance all the 
year round, and excel in size those of any other 
known species. They frequently consist of eighteen 
flowers, which are of all possible hues, from a pale 
and rich yellow to reddish salmon colour. When 
the sun shines upon them, these blossoms sparkle 
with the brilliancy of gold dust. Three other sorts 
have a fine inflorescence, one is crimson, another 
red, and a third of a rich tint betwixt these colours. 
BoRNBAN Fruits. The fruits of the Indian 
Islands have long been prized, the Mangosteen 
{Garcinia Mangostana), the Durion {Durio Zibe- 
thinus), and the Lansah {Lansium domesticum) are 
amongst the best. The first forms a tree three 
feet high, bearing large and handsome leaves, and 
a fruit about the size of an apple ; its bright crim- 
son skin and snowy pulp have an inviting appear- 
ance ; the flavour is highly grateful, and the trees 
bear two crops in the year. The Durion tree often 
attains more than sixty feet in height, and yields 
fruit four times in the year. To Europeans the 
peculiar and strong odour of the fruit is often re- 
pulsive, and prevents their relishing its rich flavour. 
When fresh, however, it is agreeable to both taste 
and smell. To eat it in perfection, it must be 
plucked from the tree. 
The Lansah is, perhaps, the most universally 
palatable ; the fruit is pulpy, aromatic and delicate, 
and is produced in bunches from the stem and 
branches of the tree. A small tree of the order 
Sapotacese produces a sweet subacid fruit called 
Tampui. A species of Nephelium is plentiful in 
the woods, it bears a very pleasant small fruit. 
The varieties of Mango {Mangifera), Jambos, and 
Averrhoa, are all more or less prized, the Bara- 
gan, a kind of chesnut, and the Pomegranate are 
cultivated. 
Timber Trees in Borneo. Many and valuable 
kinds of timber are produced by the magnificent 
forests. Their botanical characters are little known : 
some are useful for ship-building ; others have a 
wonderful faculty of resisting the influence of 
water, the atmosphere, and even the destructive 
white ants ; while others again produce large 
quantities of vegetable tallow. Charcoal, pot-ash, 
and pearl-ashes, are yielded by burning the timber 
of others. Ebony grows in many places, and the 
rungas is a handsome red wood, capable of receiv- 
ing a fine polish ; generally speaking there are not 
many sorts of ornamental wood in the island. 
Several scented kinds are known. 
