WEIGELA ROSEA. 
373 
WEIGELA ROSEA. 
( LindLcy.) 
THE ROSE-COLOURED WEIGELA. 
This plant is described at p. 127 as a shrub 
resembling a Philadelphia, with opposite ellip- 
tical leaves, and axillary and terminal flowers, 
three or four springing from each axil or end 
of the shoot : the flowers are moreover stated 
to be rose-coloured outside, and white inter- 
nally, an inch long, and something more in 
diameter when expanded. Such a description 
raised the expectation that it would prove to 
be a beautiful subject, and those who enter- 
tained this hope have not been disappointed 
now that the Horticultural Society, in the last 
part of their Journal (July 1845) have pub- 
lished a coloured figure of the plant. To this 
source we are indebted for the opportunity of 
giving the accompanying engraving, from 
which a pretty good idea of the general cha- 
racter of the plant may be formed. 
In the Journal just referred to, Mr. For- 
tune, who was happy in discovering this 
plant while in China, and by whom it was sent 
to this country, gives the following particulars 
respecting it, additional to what was stated at 
p. 127 :— 
" When I first discovered this beautiful 
plant it was growing in a mandarin's garden 
on the island of Chusan, and literally loaded 
with its fine rose-coloured flowers, which hung 
in graceful bunches from the axils of the 
leaves and the ends of the branches. The 
garden, which was an excellent specimen of 
the peculiar style so much admired by the 
Chinese in the north, was often visited by the 
officers of the regiments who were quartered 
at Tinghae, and was generally called the. 
Grotto, on account of the pretty rock-work 
with which it was ornamented. Every one 
saw and admired the beautiful Weigela. which 
was also a great favourite with the old gentle- 
man to whom the place belonged. I imme- 
