NEW AND BEAUTIFUL PLANTS. 
191 
others, and find a congenial soil and climate, and 
which produce their seeds in profusion, and of a 
nature to be easily blown or carried about from 
place to place, are sure to naturalise themselves, 
and often, in the course of a few years, are not to 
be distinguished from those which are really 
original denizens of the clime. Besides those from 
Europe just enumerated, there are many other 
natives of distant tropical countries which are now 
rapidly spreading themselves on the island; and, 
as it is of the utmost importance to distinguish 
them from those that are truly natives, I shall here 
enumerate all those species of which I possess suffi- 
cient evidence to establish their exotic origin, and 
mention the countries from which they have been 
brought. 
The two species of Prickly Pear ( Opuntia ) which 
are now so common in dry sandy localities in the 
low country, are natives of the tropical parts of the 
continent of America, as, indeed, the whole of the 
Cactus tribe is. The beautiful rose-coloured Peri- 
winkle ( Vinca rosea), which has so completely over- 
run the cinamon gardens at Colombo, and other 
similar localities, is a native of the island of Mada- 
gascar, though it has now perfectly established 
itself in nearly all tropical countries. The climbing 
Allamanda cathartica, with its dark green leaves, 
and golden bell-shaped blossoms, is a native of the 
Guianas, and was no doubt introduced by the 
Dutch. The Lantanas, which are to be met with 
almost every where in bushy places and in hedges, 
are natives of the West Indies ; and such also is 
the case with the yellow-flowered Turnea ulmi- 
folia, which is common by roadsides about Colombo. 
The Cape Gooseberry {Physalis peruviana), now so 
common about Kambodde and Newera-Ellia, is a 
native of the mountains of Peru. The Four o’Clock 
plant {Mirabilis jalapa), common about Candy, is 
a native of Mexico and the West Indies; and the 
Ipecacuanha plant, as it is erroneously called 
(Asclepias curassavica), with its orange blossoms, 
and seeds with long silky tails, is a South 
American. Most of these must have been long 
established before the English took possession of 
the country ; but the following are well-known to 
have escaped from the botanical gardens of 
Colombo or Peradenia, during the last twenty-five 
years. The small white-flowered Passiflora foetida, 
now so common a weed everywhere, is a native of 
the West Indies and Brazil, and was only introduced 
to the island by Mr. Moon, so short a time ago as 
1824. Two species of Crotalaria — C. Bronnei, a 
native of Jamaica, and C. ineana, a native of the 
Cape of Good Hope ; the Mexican Coreopsis-like 
Cosmos cendalus ; the Peruvian blue-flowered 
Nidandra physiliodes; and the South American 
sensitive plant {Mimosa pudica), are now not only 
common weeds about Peradenia and Kandy, but 
are fast extending themselves in all directions; the 
first-mentioned species having now nearly reached 
as far as Kambodde on the Newera-Ellia road. 
Brucea sumatrana, a shrubby native of the 
Eastern islands, and an escape from the Peradenia 
Gardens, now forms part of the low jungle on the 
neighbouring Hantane range, and Buddlea ma- 
dagascarensis, a native of Madagascar, and two 
small kinds of Passionflower ( P . suberosa and 
glauca), both natives of the West Indies, are fast 
following. Ageratum conyzoides, every where a 
common weed, and one of the greatest pests of 
the coflee planter, is of American origin, though 
now thoroughly naturalised in all tropical countries. 
NEW AND BEAUTIFUL PLANTS FIGURED IN THE BOTANICAL 
PERIODICALS. 
Asystasia Scandens. Climbing Asystasia. A 
remarkable African climbing Acanthaceous plant, in- 
troduced to our stoves by Lord Derby, through the 
instrumentality of Mr. Whitfield. It flowers readily, 
and remains a long time in blossom. Its habit is 
climbing, the flowers are produced in terminal racemes, 
and are of a pale cream colour, tinged with blush. The 
plant is a native of Sierra-Leone, and requires to be 
grown in a hot and moist atmosphere. A mixture of 
loam and peat with a little leaf mould will suit it, and 
the pot placed in a little bottom heat. Dr. Lindley 
separates the species from Asystasia and calls it Henfreya 
scandens. — Bot. Mag., t. 4449. 
Dendrobium Cambridgeanum. Duke of Cam- 
bi'idge's Denck'obe. A plant of great beauty, brought 
from India to Chatsworth by Mr. Gibson, collector 
for his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, in 1837, 
and was figured in our “ Magazine of Botany,” vol. vi., 
t. 265. It grows well, suspended from the roof, growing 
on a sod of solid Sphagnum peat. — Bot. Mag., t. 4450. 
Lapageria rosea. Rose-coloured Lapageria. In 
1847, the Royal Gardens of Kew were first favoured 
with this beautiful plant, from Conception (Chili), 
through the kindness of Richard Wheelwright, Esq., an 
American gentleman. In 1848, Messrs. Veitch and 
Sons, of Exeter, imported it through their collector, Mr. 
Thomas Lobb, but neither have yet bloomed in this 
country. The flowers are large, of a rich and deep 
crimson, and the pulpy berry is prized as an eatable 
fruit, having a sweet and most agreeable flavour. Being 
a native of Chili it may be expected to be tolerably 
hardy, but it is best to treat it as a greenhouse plant. — 
Bot. Mag., t. 4447. 
Sobralia macrantha. Large-flowered Sobralia. 
This belongs to a fine genus of Orchids, having reed-like 
stems and handsome flowers, natives of tropical America, 
and the finest of all the species is the present subject, 
which was collected by Mr. Skinner, in Guatemala, and 
furnished to the Royal Gardens of Kew. It thrives best 
in the cool division of the Orchid house, the average 
winter temperature ranging between 55° and 60°, and 
should be potted in a light free soil, composed of sandy 
peat, loam, and leaf mould, with plenty of root-room and 
good drainage. — Bot. Mag., t. 4446. 
Stemonacanthus macrophyllus. Large-flowered 
Stemonaca/nthus. A handsome-flowered plant, easily 
increased by cuttings, but more desirable in a young 
Btate (when it readily blooms), than when it has attained 
a large size, for then the foliage predominates too much. 
It is a native of New Grenada, Mexico, and Jamaica, 
and was introduced in 1844 to the Royal Gardens, 
through Mr. Purdie. The plant grows three or four feet 
high, bears axillary panicles of bright scarlet flowers, and 
requires to be grown in stove heat. — Bot. Mag., t. 4448. 
