NEW PLANTS AND SHRUBS. 
27 
Backhousia mtrtifolia, Hooker, and 
Haroey. (The myrtle-leaved Backhousia). — 
A neat little green-house shrub, found by Mr. 
James Backhouse, in the Illawara district of 
New South Wales ; and dedicated by the 
above-named gentlemen, to perpetuate the 
memory of their mutual friend, who, in the 
midst of arduous labours, of a totally different 
character, still found time to collect and de- 
scribe many interesting plants. In New Hol- 
land it forms a small tree, sixteen feet high, 
with opposite, ovate acuminate leaves, resem- 
bling those of a myrtle ; and corymbs of small 
greenish white flowers, of which the most con- 
spicuous parts are the outer covering (calyx), 
and the thread-like filaments (stamens) which 
occupy the centre of the flowers. It strikes 
readily from cuttings ; and flowers when quite 
small. Figured in the Botanical Magazine, 
t. 4133. Natural order, MyrtaceEe. 
Baebacenia squamat a, Hooker. (The scaly- 
stalked Barbacenia). — A stove herbaceous 
plant, with a tuft of long narrow leaves, and 
orange-coloured flowers. It is from Brazil. 
Figured in the Botanical Magazine, t. 4136. 
Natural order, Hajmodoracese. 
Begonia axbo-coccinea, Hooker. (The 
scarlet-and-white flowered Elephant's Ear). — 
One of the most lovely of a lovely family. It 
is from India, and was raised and flowered in 
the Boyal Botanic Garden of Kew. It is a 
stove herbaceous species, with large peltate, 
almost reniform leaves, possessing however the 
oblique character peculiar to these plants. The 
flowers are produced on a branching, many- 
flowered, lax panicle, from a foot to a foot and a 
half high ; they are red externally, and white 
within ; and being produced abundantly, they 
are very showy. It blooms in spring and 
summer. Figured in the Botanical Magazine, 
t. 4172. Natural order, Begoniaceas. 
Begonia ramentacea, Paxton. (The scaly- 
stalked Elephant's Ear). — This is a showy 
plant, with short thick stems, and rather large 
obliquely ovate leaves, bright green and smooth 
above, sanguineous beneath, and there studded 
with little bundles of hairs ; the stalks of the 
leaves are very curiously covered with de- 
pressed fringed scurfiness, from which circum- 
stance it derives its name. It bears cymose 
clusters of flowers, rising a few inches above 
the leaves, and spreading out gracefully ; the 
flowers are whitish or flesh-coloured, and as 
these decay, they are succeeded by rich crim- 
son seed pods, which are hardly less orna- 
mental. It is a stove species, flowering in the 
autumn, and is one of the finest of the genus. 
Tin- plant was imported from Brazil, two or 
three years ago, but is still very scarce, and 
but little known. Figured in Paxton's Ma- 
gazine of Botany, p. 73. 
Begonia bubricauus, Hooker. (The red- 
stemmed Elephant's Ear). — A stove herba- 
ceous plant, with oblique, large, cordate, 
glossy, slightly hairy leaves, on footstalks 
from four to six inches long. The flowers, 
which are borne in a brandling panicle, at the 
top of the scapes (flower-stems), are large and 
showy ; and consist of five obovate petals, 
two of which are blush-red, and the other three 
creamy, scarcely tinged with blush : the male 
blossoms are rather larger than the female 
ones. The short petioles, and much longer 
scapes, are slightly hairy, and of a fine bright 
red. The triangular capsule (seed-vessel), 
peculiar to the genus, has two of its angles 
formed into slight wing-like projections, the 
other being much larger, and elongated, with 
its point curved upwards. The origin of the 
plant is not known. 
Begonia stigmosa, Lindley. (The spotted- 
leaved Begonia). — Rather a pretty species of 
this handsome tribe. It has a short stem, and 
oblique cordate leaves, the stalks of which are 
furnished with scaly appendages. The flowers 
are white, not very large, produced in cymose 
panicles. The leaves are marked with brown- 
ish-purple spots. 
Bellevaxia syriaca, Herbert. (The Syrian 
Bellevalia). — This plant was sent to Spofforth 
(Mr. Herbert's), from Aleppo, by the Hon. W. 
Fox Strangways ; but it is not ascertained 
whether the roots were found near Aleppo or 
Damascus. The leaves are nearly a foot long, 
and half an inch wide ; they are glaucous, 
channelled, and acute. The flower-stem 
(scape) rises from five to ten inches high, and 
the flowers are borne nearly erect ; they con- 
sist of a pale blue tubular portion, and a 
whitish limb with rufous tips. It is quite 
hardy. Natural order, Liliacese. 
Berberis actinacantha, Martins, (The 
ray-spined Berberry). — A sub-evergreen 
hardy bush, of small size, with thorny branches, 
furnished with small roundish ovate leaves, 
and numerous yellow flowers, which open in 
April, May, and June. It is from Chili. 
Figured in the Botanical Register, 1845, t. 55. 
Natural order, Berberaceae. 
Berberis trifoliata, Hartweg. (The three- 
leaf-letted Berberry). — Avery handsome, half- 
hardy evergreen shrub, with prickly holly-like 
leaves, growing three together, and bunches 
of handsome yellow flowers. It is from Mexico. 
Figured in the Botanical Register, 1845,t. 10. 
BnrWEXLIA glaucesuens, Herbert. (The 
glaucescent Bid wellia). — This plant was intro- 
duced to Europe, by Mr. Bidwell, of Sydney, 
after whom it has been named. It naturally 
inhabits an elevated tract of table-land called 
New England, which is situated on the south- 
eastern mountains of the Australian continent. 
It has linear, glaucous leaves, flat above, and 
rounded beneath ; and a branching flower- 
