124 
NOTES ON FLOWERS. 
blossom, handsome,) species of the group of 
dwarf Cacti. The plant is globose, depressed 
in the centre, six or seven inches in diameter, 
and three or four in height ; the surface is 
formed of numerous small four-sided tubercles, 
arranged in oblique spiral lines, and each 
bearing a cluster of pale brown needle-shaped 
slightly curved spines. The flowers are 
borne on the upper part of the plant, solitary, 
three inches in diameter, of a rich cinnabar 
colour, the petals being obtuse and spathulate. 
Native of Bolivia. Introduced in 1846. 
Flowers in July. Culture. — Requires a green- 
house ; well-drained sandy loam ; kept mode- 
rately dry in winter ; propagated by seeds, or 
planting the offshoots. (244) 
EcHEVEKiA retusa, Lindley (blunt-leaved 
Echeveria). — Crassulaceas § Crassulete. — A 
pretty succulent plant of dwarf habit, that is, 
growing from one to two feet high, with an 
imbricated (but not rosulate, as in many allied 
plants) tuft of oblong spathulate refuse leaves, 
bordered with purple. The flowers are rich 
crimson on the outside, yellow within, and 
grow in a compact panicle at the top of the 
stem ; they are in form somewhat pitcher- 
shaped, made up by the agglutination of five 
thickened somewhat three-angled petals, the 
points of which are acute and reflexed. 
Native of Mexico, on rocks near Anganguco. 
Introduced in 1846. Flowers throughout the 
winter. Culture. — Requires a greenhouse ; 
sandy loam and leaf mould ; propagated freely 
by the leaves, planted in sand. (245) 
Saccolabium miniatum, Lindley (ver- 
milion Saccolabium). — Orchidacese § Van- 
deas-Sarcanthidaa. — No. 138. — This very 
handsome and compact growing epiphyte has 
distichous strap-shaped leaves, with much the 
habit and appearance (except in being smaller) 
of S. prcemorsum. The racemes of flowers 
are thrown out laterally from the axils of the 
leaves, and are spreading, consisting of ten or 
a dozen pretty orange-red blossoms. The 
plant has a remarkably neat and compact 
habit of growth, and blooms freely. Native 
of Java. Introduced in 1845. Flowers in 
February. Culture. — Requires a hot moist 
stove ; to be planted on a block of wood, or 
in an open basket ; propagated by division of 
the plant. (246) 
Ipomcea mel^ena, Lindley (black-eyed 
Ipomcea). — Convolvulaceae § Convolvuleaa. — 
A handsome climbing plant, with variously- 
shaped rigid leaves — sometimes entire, some- 
times deeply fhree-lobed, in all cases perfectly 
smooth and acuminate. The convolvulus- 
like flowers grow in the way of I. Horsfallice, 
in stout clusters of about four together ; they 
are white, changing to pink, and have a dark 
eye or centre. Cultivated in 1847, in the garden 
of the Horticultural Society ; history un- 
known. Flowers in April and May. Culture.—* 
Requires a stove ; suitable either for trellis 
or rafters ; rich soil ; propagated by cuttings 
or by seeds. (247) 
Zingiber amaricans, Blume (bitterish 
Ginger). — Zingiberaceas. — An unornamental 
herbaceous perennial plant with the habit of 
the common ginger, but taller ; the leaves 
narrow, eight inches long, and one broad ; the 
flowers in massive spikes four inches long, 
elevated about six inches from the ground, 
with rounded convex dull green bracts, and 
yellow blossoms, having a thick-lobed lip, the 
centre lobe largest and speckled with purple ; 
the flowers expand in the evening, and wither 
next morning. Native of Penang and Java. 
Introduced in 1846. Flowers in July. Cul- 
ture. — Requires a stove ; rich loamy soil ; 
propagated by division of the roots. (248) 
Crocus intromissus, Herbert (intromited 
Crocus). — Iridacese. — A small and interesting 
bulbous plant, producing about four short 
leaves ; the flowers are not described. Native 
of Syria, on the calcareous hills near Damascus. 
Introduced by Dr. Herbert in 1845, but sub- 
sequently lost. Flowers in the autumn. It 
may prove to be a variety of C. sativus, the 
saffron crocus. Culture. — Hardy ; common 
or chalky soil ; propagated slowly by offsets, 
also by seeds. (249) 
Crocus cancellatus, var. Kotschianus 
(Kotschy's Crocus). — Iridaceae. — A small and 
interesting bulbous plant, with smooth chan- 
nelled leaves, and beautiful violet-coloured 
flowers, sometimes pale bluish or almost 
white. Native of the summit of Bulgar Dagh 
(7500 ft.), and other parts of the ridges of 
Mount Taurus. Introduced by Dr. Herbert, 
but not in a living state, in 1845. Flowers 
at the end of summer or in the autumn. 
Culture. — Hardy, common soil ; propagated 
by offsets. (250) 
Crocus cancellatus, var. Mazziaricus 
(Mazziari's Crocus). — Iridaceas. — A small and 
interesting bulbous plant, with smooth chan- 
nelled leaves, and producing white flowers 
with a yellow throat, and more or less streaked. 
Native of Santa Maura, and on the heights 
of Megaoros, and the Cephalonian mountains. 
Introduced in 1845 ? Flowers in October. 
Culture. — Hardy ; common soil ; propagated 
by offsets. (251) 
Crocus Fleischerianus, Gay (Fleischer's 
Crocus). — Iridaceas. — A small and interesting 
bulbous plant with narrow smooth precurrent 
foliage and white blossoms slightly streaked 
with brownish purple on the outside. The 
species is very florid, often producing several 
flowers from the same crown. Native of the 
limestone hills of Smyrna. Introduced in 1845. 
Flowers in the spring months. Culture.— Hardy ; 
common soil ; propagated by offsets. (252) 
