14 
BOTANICAL INDEX. 
[We solicit the privilege <>f publishing extracts from correspondence, of interest to the general reader. Corre- 
spondence upon Botanical subjects respectfully solicited.] 
I)e? Moines, Iowa. October 12, 1878. 
L. II. Case. Richmond, Lid. — Dear Sir : * * * * I have a L ilium auratum that 
has shown a very beautiful variegation. The edge of the leaf is a creamy-white, that 
lias remained constant for two years. The variegation resembles that on the Vincas, 
and is very pretty. But the extreme hot weather of last summer nearly “ cooked ” 
them out. except those that were planted very deep. All the bulbs that formed last 
summer are very small. * *. * * I have had fine success raising the spotted 
c alia ( Richardia aiha macula taj from seed, and as I have never seen the process recom- 
mended anywhere, 1 will give it to 3*011. When they bloom in the summer, instead 
of cutting off the flowers I allow them to run to seed. Each flower will produces 
hundred seed, and they make saleable plants the second year. ****** 
Very truly, R. L. Bi.air. 
Bordentown, X. J., November 1, 1878. 
L. B. Case. — Dear Sir : ***** I have made Water Lilies a hobby. I have 
a tank in the open air, 20 by 30 feet square, which has been a grand sight during the 
past summer. * * * * Some visitors have pronounced it equal, if not superior, 
to the Victoria Regia in point of beauty*. In the tank I have growing Xymphcea 
Deroniensis, with scarlet flowers 12 inches in diameter : V. dentata, with white flowers ; 
X. scutifolia and stellatce, with the loveliest blue flowers; V. alba, the hardy English 
variety, with broad, waxy petals and a cup-shaped flower — superior in some respects 
to iV. odorata — flowers pure white and six inches in diameter. I have also in my tank 
Xymphcea flavor, X. odorata , and X. odorata, car. obscura, with a delicate blush flower like 
Lady Hume’s Camellia. I have also in the tank Xelumbium luteum , which flowered 
last summer. I also have planted the seed in two localities in the State, and they are 
now growing — one in Salem county, the other in the Northern part of the State. 1 
imported Xelumbium speciosum three years ago, but lost it. In my tank I have 
Papyrus antiquorum, and many other choice aquatic plants. In 1877 I grew the 
Victoria Regia in the open air, with some artificial heat, and obtained a leaf four 
feet in diameter. Very respectfully, E. D. Sturtevant. 
XVMPHJSA ROSEA vs. X. OBSCERA. 
“Nymphsea odorata minor. — This is the variety named by* Pursh as rosea, to 
which name it may justly lay claim, as the plant which we noticed in flower lately* 
in the Kew collection confirmed. It is much smaller in every part than the type; it 
has the same dark purple color on the under side of the leaf and attenuated lobes. 
The blossoms, which are about 2 inches across, have the outer petals deeply tinged 
with rose, a color which contrasts finely with the fringe of golden stamens. Though 
much inferior to the recently introduced rose-colored variety of N. alba, it is, never- 
theless, a distinct and valuable kind.” — W. in “The Garden". 
[According to Sir Joseph Paxton, there is already a variety of Xymphcea with pink 
flowers, from the East Indies, that received the name of “ variety rosea" in 1803, 
which of course must take precedence; and if the rose-colored variety of X. odorata 
is distinct enough to warrant a separation, another name must be chosen. IVith this 
idea in view, we selected the name “ obscura " as the most suitable one for the variety, 
at least we think it expresses the fact as well as any name can do. All plant collect- 
ors and cultivators are aware of the disposition of plants with white flowers to produce 
bluish, brownish-yellow, flesh color, or pink and rose-colored flowers; while plants 
with colored flowers are continually producing albinos, or at least flowers many 
shades lighter than the usual color, the generally* accepted types. The practice of 
multiplying species, or even varieties, upon such obscure and indefinite points, may 
be excused in a commercial point of view, but it certainly is a source of great confu- 
sion in botanical nomenclature. 
