MISCELLANEOUS. 
91 
habit is neat, forms a handsome bush, and, as an 
ornamental plant, will bear comparison with any 
of its more showy allies. 
Cattleya marginata. In the nursery of Messrs. 
Rollisson, Tooting, we noticed this pretty and in- 
teresting species in bloom. It seems to prefer being 
on a log of wood, suspended near the roof of the 
house. The species differs from C. pumila, by 
having the rich crimson of the labellum edged 
with white. It is very neat and attractive, and 
deserves a place in every collection. 
Hoya spe. nov. A creeper from Java, intro- 
duced by Messrs. Rollisson, Tooting, in whose col- 
lection we have seen it flower. The species pos- 
sesses an ornamental appearance, from the leaves 
being veined with white ; the foliage is neat and 
good. The flowers are produced in clusters of 
eight or ten, of a creamy white, with a pink star- 
like form raised in the centre; the bloom is about 
three quarters of an inch across. Though not a 
showy kind of flower, for want of colour, the 
whole makes a desirable addition to this race of 
ornamental plants. 
Pelargonium, “ Gem of the Scarlets.” This 
beautiful variety of the scarlet Pelargonium we 
have seen several times during the season, and 
have found that it blooms splendidly both summer 
and winter. In habit it is the counterpart of the 
old globe, compactum, with a strong horse-shoe 
brand on the foliage. It carries a fine truss of 
bloom, which remains in perfection from four to 
six weeks. The flowers are of the most dazzling 
scarlet, with a clear white spot in the centre, and 
in form round and compact. This beautiful variety 
was awarded a certificate of merit at the J uly exhi- 
bition of the Royal Botanical Society, Regent’s 
Park, and it appears likely to become a very desir- 
able plant for winter forcing as well as for bedding 
out in summer. The stock is in the possession of 
Mr. W. P. Ayres, Brooklands Nursery, Blackheath, 
in whose collection we have repeatedly seen it in 
bloom, and always true in form and character. 
Primula spe. nov. A remarkable and beautiful 
species of Primula has recently developed its 
flowers in the collection of C. D. Derbyshire, Esq., 
Rivington, near Bolton, Lancashire, from whence 
it was forwarded to the Horticultural Rooms, in 
Regent Street, for exhibition. In habit it can 
scarcely be distinguished from our native Primula 
of the field, having bright, green glossy foliage, 
and flowers, which in shape and size, are much 
like it, yet the colour is a bright rosy purple ; this, 
allied to its being a most abundant bloomer, makes 
the plant a most deserving one for the flower-gar- 
den. We hope to be able shortly to give a figure 
of it, which no doubt will be approved of by most 
of our readers. 
Stephanotis Thouarsii. This plant we saw bloom- 
ing a short time ago in the fine collection of 
Henry Colyer, Esq., at Dartford, Kent ; but instead 
of the flowers being scarlet, as was represented by 
some parties, we find that the red or scarlet is 
entirely confined to the midrib of the leaves. The 
flower is pure white, rather larger than those of 
S. floribunda, but, as far as we could judge, in the 
winter season, quite destitute of perfume ; so that, 
though a distinct species, in a decorative point of 
view it is not so desirable or useful a plant as 
S. floribunda. It is a plant of vigorous habit, and, 
where a collection of climbers is cultivated, is one 
well worthy a place. 
Saccolabium spe. nov. Introduced from the 
hotter parts of India by Messrs. Yeitch and Son, 
Exeter, in whose collection we saw it in bloom. In 
habit it closely resembles S. Blumei, most probably 
a fine variety of that species. It has a fine scape, 
sixteen inches long, and three in diameter, the 
blooms placed so thickly on the stem as to com- 
pletely hide it. The flowers are of the medium 
size, a delicate lilac colour, very handsome and 
showy. 
Salpixantha coccinea. A species of the order 
Acanthacege, subtribe Justiciese, we noticed in flower 
recently, at Messrs. Henderson’s, Pine Apple Place, 
Edgeware Road. The plant has a beautiful habit, fine 
glossy, bright green leaves, from the axils of which 
is produced the flower stem, about six inches long, 
holding a number of thin tubular flowers about an 
inch and a half long ; the limb spreading about the 
third of an inch across. The flower resembles an 
Epacris in form, and is of a deep bright crimson 
colour. W e should prefer seeing the plant better 
established, producing its flowers naturally, before 
giving our opinion as to its value as an abundant 
bloomer. Its beautiful habit is a strong recom- 
mendation for its success. 
Zabucajo. A new esculent nut, recently im- 
ported. In the museum of the Royal Gardens, at 
Kew, may be seen some nuts or seeds under the 
name of Zabucajo. They were brought from Edin- 
burgh and Glasgow, where they are sold at the 
fruiterers’ shops, being extensively imported from 
Para to Glasgow, and are much used at table for 
the dessert. In size and shape they are not much 
unlike the so-called Brazil-nuts (seeds of Bertliolletia 
excelsa), they are equally covered by a hard coat, 
but are more irregular, and are longitudinally fur- 
rowed. They are the fruit of the Lecythis Zabucajo 
of Aublet. The seeds are said to be much eaten 
by the colonists in French Guiana, being sweet and 
delicate, and considered preferable to the almonds 
of Europe. On account of the excellency of the 
seeds, the French government, much to their credit, 
introduced the cultivation of this tree into the 
Mauritius, nearly a century ago ; and, in 1761, 
Aublet mentions that the plants were then in a 
flourishing condition. The entire fruit is, like all 
the Lecythidece, highly curious ; it is six inches 
and more long, and about four wide, of a thick 
and woody texture, opening at the top like a box, 
with a transverse lid, from the upper side of which 
lid, a woody column descends to the bottom of the 
inside of the fruit, and around this column the 
large seeds are arranged. — Hooker’s Journ. of 
Bot. 21. 
Corchorus capsularis. Time was, when hemp 
and flax yielded almost, if not altogether, the only 
vegetable fibre largely manufactured in Great 
Britain into cloth, cordage, &c. It would be inter- 
esting to give a list of the various kinds that are 
now in use, and still more interesting to speculate 
on the numerous kinds which may yet be added to 
that list from various parts of the world, the intro- 
duction of which does not appear in any way to 
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