NOTES ON FLOWERS. 
299 
greenhouse ; rather a shy grower ; peat and 
loam ; must be kept nearly dry in winter ; 
propagated by seeds. (164) 
Megaclinium velutinuh, Lindley (velvety 
Megaclinium). — Orchidaceas § Malaxeas-Den- 
drobidaa. — A pseudo-bulbous epiphyte, with 
oblong lance-shaped leaves, and small flowers; 
the upper sepals and petals are yellow, and 
the rest of the flowers as well as the rachis 
deep purple ; the lateral sepals are velvety 
inside. A native of Cape Coast Castle. In- 
troduced in 1845. Flowers in April. Cul- 
ture. — Requires a stove ; turfy peat soil ; 
propagated by division of the plant. (165) 
Vanda violacea, Lindley (violet Vanda). 
Orchidaceaa § Vandeas - Sarcanthidas. — A 
handsome epiphyte with close leafy stems, 
throwing out large fleshy roots towards the 
base. The leaves are nearly equal in width, 
of moderate length, leathery, channelled, and 
accised; and the flowers grow in pendent many- 
flowered racemes, and have much the general 
appearance of Aerides, being white spotted with 
light violet, and having a violet coloured lip ; 
they have also a faint and rather disagreeable 
smell. A native of Manilla. Introduced in 
1838. Flowers in February. Cidture. — 
Requires a moist stove ; turfy peat ; propa- 
gated by divisions of the plant. (166) 
Cleisostoma spicatum, Lindley (spike- 
flowered Cleisostoma). — Orchidaceas § Vandeas- 
Sarcanthidse. — An epiphytal plant, with large 
broad foliage, and dense short, oblong, many- 
flowered spikes of yellow and red flowers. A 
native of the island of Borneo. Introduced in 
1846 by Messrs. Rollisson. Flowers in April 
and May. Culture. — Requires a hot moist 
stove ; turfy peat soil, or a block of wood ; 
propagated by division of the plant. (167) 
Berberis ilicifolia, Foster (holly-leaved 
Berberry). — Berberidaceas. — A very rare and 
beautiful species, in its native localities form- 
ing a straggling bush about eight feet high, 
with angular stems, and obovate acute stalked 
leathery leaves, dark shining green above, and 
coarsely and distantly serrated, so as to have 
the appearance of holly leaves. The flowers 
grow in axillary racemes, they are globose, 
and of a full golden or orange yellow colour, 
followed by sub-globose steel-blue coloured 
berries. A native of the coasts of Fuegia, 
beyond the Straits of Magalhaens, whence 
living plants were brought by the Antarctic 
expedition. Introduced in 1845. Flowers in 
March. Culture. — No doubt hardy, but as 
yet (1847) so rare as to be untried; loamy 
soil ; propagated by layers. (168) 
Rhododendron javanicum, Bennett (Java 
Rhododendron). — Ericaceae § Rhododendreas. 
— A beautiful evergreen shrub, apparently 
free growing and robust, with large acutely 
oval shining foliage, and bearing at the ends 
of the shoots a large bunch of beautiful deep 
salmon-orange coloured flowers, which are 
large and well formed, and quite distinct. A 
native of Java, on Mount Salak, at an altitude 
of 4,000 feet. Introduced in 1846 by Messrs. 
Veitch. Flowers in May and June. Also called 
Vireyajavanica (Blume) and Azalea javanica 
(Blume). Culture. — Mr. Veitch finds the treat- 
ment proper for the Indian Azaleas agreeable 
to it : greenhouse, with a higher temperature 
during growth; sandy peat; propagated by cut- 
tings in sand in a moderate heat, and by bud- 
ding and grafting. (169) 
Epidendrum plicatum, Lindley (plaited- 
lipped Epidendrum). — Orchidaceas § Epiden- 
dreas-Lasliadas. — A handsome epiphyte, with 
ovate-oblong pseudo bulbs, bearing at top a 
pair of sword shaped leaves, from between 
which issues the raceme of flowers ; the latter 
are large and showy, the sepals greenish, 
stained with dull purple on both sides, the 
petals green inside, with a few purple stain3 
near the point, and deep rich violet on the 
outside, and the lip rich purple, the central 
lobe beautifully plaited and deeply cordate. 
A native of Cuba. Introduced in 1846. 
Flowers in January. Culture. — Requires a 
moist stove ; potted in turfy peat; propagated 
by division of the plant. (170) 
Solanum jasminoides, Paxton (jasmine- 
leaved Bitter-sweet). — Solanaceas § Curvem- 
bryas. — An elegant climbing plant, smooth 
both in its stems and leaves. Its leaves are 
sometimes pinnatifid, sometimes ternate, some- 
times quite undivided. The flowers grow 
in cymose panicles at the ends of the shoots ; 
they are shaped like those of the common 
bitter-sweet, and vary from pale bluish lilac 
to nearly white. It is a very pretty climber, 
but probably not really distinct from the old 
S. Seaforthianum. Its native country is not 
certainly known, but it is " considered to be 
South American." Introduced about 1839. 
Flowers throughout the latter part of the 
summer and the autumn. Culture. — Trained 
against a Avail with a south aspect it is hardy, 
and becomes very ornamental ; good common 
soil; propagates freely by cuttings. (171) 
Bomarea hirtella, Sweet (hairy Boma- 
rea). — Amaryllidaceae § Alstromerieas. — A 
climbing plant, growing seven feet high, with 
long leaves, hairy underneath, the stems 
terminated by a bunch of fifteen or more 
flowers ; the flowers are in six segments, 
slightly spreading at the top, the three outer 
red, the inner ones green spotted with red. 
A native between Mexico and Tolucca. In- 
troduced in 1824. Flowers from July to 
September. Culture. — Nearly hardy in 
sheltered borders ; light loam ; propagated 
by division of the roots, and by seeds, which 
ripen in most seasons. (172) 
