January 19, 1882.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 51 
dwarf plants in plant structures, and less injury occurs when they 
are lifted, which should be done when the buds show.—S. H. 
NOTES ON NEW PLANTS. 
Cultivators who desire to obtain all the best new plants 
which are yearly introduced to this country, or sent out by 
nurserymen, also wish to learn all they can respecting the merits 
of novelties before investing very largely in the purchase of such 
necessarily high-priced plants. To aid others in forming correct 
ideas upon these points a few notes will be occasionally submitted 
briefly describing the most attractive or useful plants of recent 
introduction that come under my notice. At the meetings of the 
Royal Horticultural Society the majority of each year’s novelties 
are exhibited, and comparatively few gardeners, especially those 
living at a distance from London, have an opportunity of attend¬ 
ing them. The summer shows both at Kensington and the Royal 
Botanic Society’s Gardens, Regent’s Park, attract a larger number 
of horticultural visitors; but even then by far the greater pro¬ 
portion have only the necessarily brief and often hurried reports 
to rely upon. To commence, some of those plants exhibited at 
Kensington last week may receive a little consideration. 
Ljelia anceps Veitchii. —Several pretty varieties of Lfelia 
anceps are now known, such as Dawsoni, alba, Barkeri, and 
delicata, and the one named above from Messrs. J. Veitch & Son’s 
Chelsea nursery deserves to take a high position amongst them. 
The flowers are of good size and substance, possessing a delicacy 
of colouring that renders the variety quite unique. The sepals 
and petals are broad, tapering, and pure white, disposed in the 
manner characterising the species ; the lip having the two lateral 
lobes veined with a light purplish lilac tint ; the throat similarly 
veined with dark red. a yellow blotch in the centre, and the tip 
of a similar hue to the veins in the side lobes. It is this con¬ 
trast of tints with the white wax-like petals that imparts so much 
beauty to the flowers. Wherever L. anceps and its varieties are 
grown, and there are now few Orchid collections which do not 
include some of them, this variety is well worth a place. 
Lygodium Forsteri.—A handsome climbing Fern, and shown 
by Mr. F. Kettle in excellent condition. It is in general appearance 
suggestive of L. scandens, the sterile fronds being pinnate with 
four pairs of tapering pinnae, each about 3 inches long ; the fertile 
fronds smaller, with the spikelets closely set along the margins of 
the pinnae, giving the appearance of being deeply but regularly 
cut. It is of vigorous habit, and well suited for training to pillars 
in a fernery. If the name under which it was exhibited be the 
correct one the plant has been known some years. In the “ Synop¬ 
sis Filicum ” L. Forsteri is given as synonymous with L. reticulatum, 
but the Fern they have at Kew under that name is quite distinct 
from Mr. Kettle’s plant. It may be remarked that L. reticulatum 
and L. heterodoxum have been by some botanists referred to the 
genus Lygodictyon, but they are now generally included with the 
Lygodiums. This Fern was exhibited under the name of L. Ful- 
cheri, but as no species is known by that name it was considered 
a misrendering of L. Forsteri ; it is said, however, to have received 
the above name from the exhibitor’s employer, H. E. Green, Esq., 
Kingsford Stanway, Colchester, in honour of a gentleman who 
introduced it from Australia. 
Erica hyemalis alba. —Comparatively few Heaths are at 
the present time grown in numbers sufficiently great to entitle 
them to the designation market plants. Erica gracilis autumnalis 
and vemalisand E. hyemalis are the three most extensively grown 
for market. E. melanthera is also becoming a great favourite ; 
and the white variety of E. hyemalis which has been secured by 
Mr. Kinghorn of Richmond will probably in a few years take its 
position among them. It possesses all the recommendations of the 
species as regards freedom of growth, habit, and floriferousness, 
but it is strikingly distinguished by the pure white flowers that 
do not possess the slightest tinge of colour. It originated as a 
sport from E. hyemalis. 
Primula Holborn Gem. —Very interesting is this variety, as 
it indicates a remarkable break from the usual type of the variable 
P. sinensis. We have shades of crimson, pink, purple, and pure 
white, and one I have seen with a distinct yellow tint, but Holborn 
Gem is certainly the first near approach to a blue-flowered variety. 
Blue is scarcely well represented in the whole genus Primula. 
Perhaps we have the nearest shades in some varieties of the 
common Primrose, but I do not know a species having blue 
flowers, though some are purple of various hues, and therefore 
including somewhat of the tint. It is not easy to find an appro¬ 
priate term for the colour of Messrs. Carters’ Primula. It unques¬ 
tionably possesses a blue shade, and this was much more evident 
in the plants recently exhibited, as it bad apparently deepened. 
The flowers, too, are large, of good form, and the habit dwarf— 
valuable recommendations. 
Columnea Kalbreyeri.— This is one of Messrs. Yeitch’s 
introductions, and deserved something more than the botanical 
certificate awarded for it by the Scientific Committee. It is a 
handsome plant for a stove, and would contrast well with smaller¬ 
growing or slender plants. The leaves are a foot or more in 
length, elliptical, arranged in two rows on opposite sides of the 
stem in what might be termed a distichous manner. The upper 
surface is bright green, but the lower surface is a deep red colour, 
very striking and attractive, especially when the plants are placed 
so that the leaves can be seen to the best advantage. The flowers, 
which are yellowish, do not add much beauty to the plant, being 
closely clustered on the stems. 
Tecophil^ea cyanocrocus. —This charming little bulbous 
Irid as shown by Mr. G. F. Wilson was greatly admired, and few 
visitors have previously had an opportunity of seeing it in flower. 
It was introduced about ten years ago from the island of Juan 
Fernandez by Messrs. Haage & Schmidt; a figure was published 
shortly afterwards in the Gartenflora, and the plant was also 
described in the “Gardener’s Year Book” for 1872. Although 
it attracted much attention from many admirers of such plants, 
it does not appear to have been grown in many collections in 
England. Several years ago it flowered at Kew, but I have not 
heard of it elsewhere until Mr. Wilson's plant was shown. It is 
very diminutive, with narrow leaves about 3 or 4 inches long, the 
flowerstalk being of similar length. The flowers are 1 or l| inch 
in diameter, with six oval very bright blue petals, or, more strictly, 
perianth divisions. The plant may be grown either in a cool 
house or frame. 
t Trichocentrum Pfavii. —The name of this genus is probably 
not familiar to many Orchid growers, as it does not include many 
species, nor are those hitherto known of remarkable beauty. The 
