NOTES ON FLOWERS. 
46^ 
Dendrobium Kuhlit, Idndley (KiihTs Den- 
drobe). — Orchidacece § Malaxideae-Dendrobae. 
— This is a handsome species, allied to D. 
secundum. It has rather slender erect stems, 
furnished at intervals with oval-oblong leaves. 
The blossoms, which grow rather numerous 
and near together towards the ends of the year- 
old shoots, are in short horizontal racemes; they 
are of a pretty light rose colour, larger than 
in D. secundum, and retain their freshness 
longer than is usual in this genus. A native 
of Java. Introduced about 1845. Flowers 
in July and October. It is the Pedilonum 
Kuhlii (Blume). Culture. — Requires a hot 
moist stove ; turfy peat soil ; propagated by 
division of the plant. (212) 
Pentstemon McEwani, garden hybrid 
(McEwan's Pentstemon). — Scrophulariaceaa § 
Antirrhinideas-Cheloneas. — A very handsome 
perennial plant of dwarf bushy habit, flower- 
ing freely, and forming a conspicuous ornament 
of the flower garden. It has opposite lance- 
shaped leaves, the branches being terminated 
by a leafy panicle of large blossoms, in size 
and form resembling those of P. gentianoides, 
but of a light rose colour, with a white throat, 
and dark longitudinal streaks. It was raised 
about two years since ; and is now (1847) in 
the hands of Messrs. Young of Epsom. Cul- 
ture. — Hardy in favourable situations, but 
usually requires winter protection ; loamy 
or moderately good garden soil ; propagated 
by cuttings planted under hand-glasses. (213) 
Camellia japonica, var. miniata (ver- 
milion Japan Camellia). — Ternstromiaceas. — 
A very beautiful variety of Camellia, possessing 
the usual habit and appearance of the varieties 
of C. japonica. The flowers measure three 
inches in diameter ; they are of good shape, 
well filled up with even imbricating petals ; 
the principal part of the flowers embracing 
the outer series of petals, is of a rich brilliant 
crimson ; within them is a circlet of three 
rows of very pale rose-coloured petals, and 
the centre consists of a little tuft of crimson 
petals, giving the flower a variegated appear- 
ance, which is, however, liable to vary accord- 
ing to treatment. It is a garden mule, raised 
by Mr. Low, of Clapton, from seeds of C. 
myrtifolia, supposed to have been fertilized 
by the variety — Lady Hume's Blush ; first 
bloomed in 1847 ; it is found to be a constant 
variety and very free bloomer. Culture. — 
Requires a greenhouse ; loam and peat ; 
propagated by inarching or budding on the 
original species. (214) 
Medinilla speciosa, Blume (showy Me- 
dinilla). — Melastomaceae § Melastorneas-Mi- 
conieae. — This is a handsome erect shrubby 
plant, of four or five feet high, with twice or 
thrice forked, three or four angled branches, 
and large oval, or oval-oblong acuminate 
48 
leaves, mostly in whorls of three or four rarely 
opposite, five or seven nerved, the nerves 
beneath and the margin often red. The flow- 
ers are borne in a dense branched panicle 
forming a drooping span-long thyrse ; they 
are moderate sized, of four ovate delicate rose 
coloured petal?, and eight long curved anthers. 
A native of Java and the Philippine Islands. 
Introduced in 1846. Flowers in July. It is 
also called Melastoma eximium (Blume). Cul- 
ture. — Requires a stove ; loam and peat ; pro- 
pagated by cuttings placed in heat. (215) 
Gardenia longistyla, Hooker (long-styled 
Gardenia). — Cinchonaceas § Cinchoneas-Gar- 
denidaa. — A handsome large shrub, with large 
opposite, oval, soft hairy leaves, the flowers 
forming a large cluster or fascicle, inclining 
to one side, at the ends of shoots ; the latter 
have a slender green tube, two inches long, 
and a limb of five oval spreading segments, 
greenish without, white within ; the style is 
twice the length of the corolla, terminated by 
a large globose stigma. A native of tropical 
Western Africa. Introduced about 1845, and 
first flowered in 1847 by Messrs. Lucombe, 
Pince, and Co. Flowers in June. It is the 
Randia longistyla, (De Candolle) but Sir W. 
Hooker considers it to be a Gardenia. Culture. 
— Requires a stove ; loam and peat ; propa- 
gated by cuttings planted in heat. (216) 
Tropceolum spectosum, Poeppig (showy 
Indian Cress). — Tropoeolaceae § Tropoeoleaa. — 
A very handsome climbing plant, with slender 
herbaceous stems many feet long, and alternate 
subpeltate leaves cut to the base into six ob- 
long obtuse leaflets. The flowers are very 
numerous, axillary, with a five cleft calyx, pro- 
longed behind into a long attenuated spur, two 
upper petals wedge-shaped, lower ones cordate, 
clawed, the whole flower rich vermilion red. 
The flower stalks are red, and partake of the 
character of tendrils. A native of the Andes 
of Patagonia, near the snow line. Introduced 
in 1846. Flowers throughout the summer 
months. It has a good deal the habit of T. 
pentaphyllum. Culture. — Half hardy ; but 
very ornamental in a greenhouse ; probably the 
roots will stand outdoors during winter ; light 
loamy soil ; propagated by cuttings placed in 
heat, or by seeds. (217) 
Lisianthus acutangules, Ruiz and Pa- 
von (sharp angled Lisianth). — Gentianaceas § 
Gentianeas. — A biennial plant, with an erect 
sharp four-angled stem, of two, three, or more 
feet high, nearly simple ; the leaves are large, 
opposite, ovate-acute ; the flowers in a lax 
dichotomous panicle, growing in one-sided 
racemes ; they are between bell-shaped and 
funnel-shaped, green and inconspicuous. A 
native of various parts of South and central 
America. Introduced in 1846. Flowers du- 
ring the summer. It is also called Lisianthus 
H H 
