276 
NOTES ON FLOWERS. 
native wild potato of South America (Sola- 
tium tuberosum) is found growing in con- 
siderable quantities in ravines in the imme- 
diate neighbourhood of Valparaiso, on the 
western side of South America, in lat. 34^° S. 
The leaves and flowers of the plant are similar 
in every respect to those cultivated in Eng- 
land, and elsewhere. It begins to flower in 
the month of October, the spring of that 
climate, and is not very prolific. The roots 
are small and of a bitterish taste, some with 
red and others with yellowish skins. Two 
tubers of these from Mr. Caldcleugh, who 
received them from South America, were 
exhibited to the Horticultural Society in 
1822. They were planted separately in small 
pots, and speedily vegetated ; they grew 
rapidly, and were subsequently turned out 
into a border at about two feet distance from 
each other, when they became very strong 
and luxuriant. The blossoms at first were 
but sparingly produced, but as the plants 
were earthed up they increased in vigour, and 
then bore flowers abundantly ; but these 
were not succeeded by fruit. ' The leaves, 
compared with specimens of several varieties 
of the cultivated potato, were generally rather 
of a more rugose and uneven surface above, 
with the veins stronger and more conspicuous 
below, but in other respects there was no dif- 
ference between them. 
The earth with which the plants had been j 
moulded up had been applied in considerable 
quantity, so as to form a ridge, the sides of 
which were full two feet high ; and about the j 
month of August runners from the roots and 
joints of the covered stems protruded them- 
selves towards the surface of the ridge in 
great numbers, and when they reached the 
light, formed considerable stems, bearing 
leaves and blossoms, so that at length the two 
plants became one mass of many apparently 
different plants issuing from all sides of the 
ridge. The appearance of these runners in 
such quantities induced a doubt as to the 
identity of the plant with our common potato, 
which doubt was increased when it was ascer- 
tained, that so late as the month of August 
no tubers had been formed by the roots ; but 
all doubt respecting them was afterwards 
removed ; they are unquestionably the So- 
larium tuberosum. The principal stems, w r hen 
extended, measured more than seven feet in 
length ; the produce was most abundant, 
above six hundred tubers were gathered from 
the two plants ; they were of various sizes, a 
few as large or larger than a pigeon's egg, 
others small, rather angular, but more globular 
than oblong ; some white, others marked with 
blotches of pale red or white. The flavour 
of them when boiled was exactly that of a 
young potato. 
The tubers lost all the bitterness of flavour 
which is attributed to them in the natural 
state, and their size increased remarkably ; 
from which circumstances I am disposed to 
infer, that the original cultivators of this vege- 
table did not exercise either much art or 
patience in the production of their garden 
potatoes. — Letter by J. Sabine, Esq. 
[The wild form of the potato plant is not 
unfrequently imported as a botanical curi- 
osity j it does not widely differ from some of 
our cultivated varieties. Both white and 
purple flowered kinds have been thus im- 
ported. It is, however, not very certain that 
all the varieties now cultivated have sprung 
from one original form.] 
NOTES ON FLOWERS AND FLOWERING 
PLANTS. 
Hippeastrum: BRETiFLORrM, Herbert 
(short-flowered Hippeastrum). — Amaryllida- 
cea? § Amaryllese. — A bulbous plant with 
narrow strap-shaped leaves and a stout flower 
stem, bearing a few flowers at the top ; the 
flowers are slightly tubular at the base, nearly 
two inches and a half long, deeply divided into 
six segments, white striped with red outside, 
and stained with yellow. A native of the 
southern provinces of Brazil. Introduced in 
1836. Flowers in April and Hay. Culture. 
— Requires a stove; rich loam, good drainage, 
and careful watering ; rest in winter ; propa- 
gated by offsets. 
Piiycella Heebertlaka, Lindley (Her- 
bert's Phycella). — Arnaryllidaceag § Xarcisseae. 
— A bulbous plant with strap-shaped narrow, 
blunt-pointed leaves, and a flower- stem bear- 
ing a bunch of flowers at the top ; the flowers 
have a short tube, and are divided into six 
narrow segments of a pale-red colour. A na- 
tive of the pass Cambre between Valparaiso 
and St. Jago in Chili. Introduced in 1825. 
Flowers from May to July. Culture. — 
Nearly hardy in sheltered spots, as at the foot 
of a wall ; sandy loam ; total rest after flower- 
ing ; propagated by offsets or seeds. 
Aestko^ieela. aubea, var. Valparadhiaca 
(Golden Alstromeria of Valparaiso). — Amaryl- 
lidaceae § Alstromeriea?. — A tuberous-rooted 
herbaceous plant, producing annual stems, 
from two to four feet high, clothed with twisted 
linear leaves about four inches long by one in 
width, and terminated by about nine peduncles, 
each bearing three large flowers; the flowers 
are somewhat funnel-shaped, divided into six 
segments, of a rich orange-colour, streaked 
with bright red. A native of Chili, near Val- 
paraiso. Introduced in 1836. Flowers in 
July and August. Culture. — Hardy ; sandy 
loam; must be protected from snails and cater- 
