THE BEET. 
553 
Tetranthera.) — Lauracese. — A desirable low 
greenhouse shrub, with coriaceous oblong 
leaves, deep glossy green above, and downy 
and ferruginous beneath ; the flowers, which 
are inconspicuous, are produced in December. 
It is a native of Japan, and was introduced in 
1843. Also called Litstea japonica, and 
Tomcx japonica. 
Tetratiieca verticilata, Paxton, 
(whorled- leaved Tetratheca.) — Tremand- 
raceoe. — A very neat and elegant evergreen 
greenhouse shrub, with slender pubescent 
branches, linear hairy leaves, growing in 
whorls, and axillary flowers, on long slender 
stalks ; these consist of five cordate ovate 
petals, and are three quarters of an inch 
across, and of a light violet purple, red at the 
base. It flowers freely during the spring and 
summer, and is a very pretty addition to its 
class. Raised from Swan River seeds, by 
Mr. Low, of Clapton, and flowered by him 
in the early part of 1846. It is also known 
in gardens as Tetratheca speciosa, and Tre- 
mandra verticillata. 
Toronia concolor, Lindiej/, (one-coloured 
Torenia.) — Scrophulariaceaj § Gratioleaj. — A 
perennial greenhouse plant, with trailing 
angular stems, opposite heart-shaped coarsely 
serrated leaves, and large flowers, of a clear 
porcelain blue colour, somewhat deepest in 
the eye ; these flowers grow from the axils 
of the leaves, and are produced at the end of 
summer and through the autumn. The habit 
is strictly trailing, and the plant has a good 
effect when suspended, and allowed to hang 
down over the pot. It would probably grow 
on rock-work in a warm situation out of doors 
in summer. Mr. Fortune introduced it from 
China to the garden of the Horticultural 
Societyi '" 1845 ; in its native country it 
inhabits marshy situations, and consequently 
must not be kept too dry in a cultivated state. 
Torenia asiatica, Linmeus, (Asiatic, or 
large-flowered Torenia.) — This is said to be 
an annual, and a stove plant ; there appears 
however some doubt as to the former, and it 
is found to grow well in a greenhouse, and 
even oui-doors, in summer, in sheltered situ- 
ations ; perhaps however it succeeds best in a 
warm greenhouse. It is a beautiful little 
branching sub-shrubby plant, with opposite 
ovate, or ovate-lanceolate coarsely serrated 
leaves, and large axillary blossoms, nearly like 
those of the mimulus in form, but with four 
instead of five lobes ; they arc of a beautiful 
delicate porcelain blue-lilac, and three of the 
lobes have a large deep purple blotch. It 
flowers throughout the summer, and roots 
freely from cuttings. It was raised at Eew 
in 184fi, from seeds received from Court- 
allani, and is found extensively distributed 
in tlio Bast Indies, including the Alpine 
regions. It is the T. hians and T. varjans of 
Roxburgh. 
TROP.EOi.ujt crenatiflorum, Honker, 
(notched petalled Indian-cress.) — Tropaio- 
lacse § Tropteolea?. — A somewhat slender 
perennial climbing plant, with long straggling 
stems, rather large semi-orbicular peltate leaves, 
with five obtuse lobes, and yellow flowers 
about half as large as those of the common 
garden nasturtium ; the two upper petals 
have a few purple streaks. It was introduced 
by Messrs. Veiteh, in 1845, from Pillao and 
Chagula in Peru. Though less showy than 
many of the tropreolums, it is an interesting 
addition to the family. It may be grown in a 
greenhouse, or in the open air in summer, 
and blooms throughout the summer. 
Veronica salicifolia, Forster, (willow- 
leaved Speedwell.) — Scrophulariacea? § Vero- 
niceas. — A handsome shrubby greenhouse 
plant, of a dense bushy habit, with opposite 
lance shaped leaves, from the axils of which 
the flowers of a whitish colour are borne in 
long drooping densely covered spikes. It 
blooms in the autumn months. Introduced 
from New Zealand in 1843. It is the same 
plant as V. LindJeyana, noticed at p. 41 ; at 
least no material difference presents itself. It 
is of easy culture. 
Veronica srECiosA, var. rosea, (rose- 
coloured showy Speedwell.) — This is a rose- 
coloured variety of the robust shrubby ve- 
ronica, now common in greenhouses, called 
V. speciosa, which is of erect vigorous habit, 
with dark green ample rounded leaves, and dense 
upright spikes of purple flowers. The variety 
differs only in having flowers of a deep rose- 
red, instead of the purple, colour ; and is a 
much handsomer plant than its parent. It 
is a hybrid, raised in 1845, by Mr. Oates, 
gardener to Sir J. Rowley, Bart., of Tendring- 
'hall, Suffolk. 
Weigela rosea, Lindley, (rose-coloured 
Weigela.) — Capri foliaceae § Lonicereae. — A 
beautiful (apparently hardy) shrub, forming 
loose clusters of from three to five flowers, at 
the end of every little side branch ; the flowers 
are rather more than an inch long, mono- 
petalous, tubular, with five equal segments, 
pure white inside, deep rose externally. The 
leaves are opposite, nearly sessile, elliptical : 
the flowers are axillary as well as terminal. 
In the north of China, it blooms in April. 
Introduced by Mr. Fortune, in 1844. 
* # * See also a list of Orchids at p. 311. 
THE BEET. 
Several varieties of two species of Beet 
are grown for various culinary purposes. 
Those grown for their roots are varieties of 
the common Beet ( 13 eta vulgaris), and those 
grown for their lerves and leafstalks, under 
