April 13, 1882.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 301 
beautiful species, and is described by those who have seen it in 
its native home as being greatly superior in beauty to the older 
and more familiar species.” 
It may be added that Mr. Hill discovered the plant in 1860, 
and it first flowered in the Botanic Garden, Brisbane, in 1870, 
when it was shown at an intercolonial exhibition in Sydney. 
D. excelsa, although much longer known, is by no means common, 
which is perhaps partly owing to the flowers being so rarely pro¬ 
duced ; seldom, indeed, until the plants have attained considerable 
age. It is, however, a magnificent plant when bearing flowers, 
the latter being of a rich crimson hue, and differing from those of 
D. Palmeri in the petals being much larger and more narrow. 
An excellent figure of it was published in the “ Botanical Maga¬ 
zine” of 1814, prepared from a plant at Bromley, Kent, which was 
stated to be the first time the species had flowered in Europe. 
—L. C. 
HERBACEOUS PLANTS IN THE CAMBRIDGE 
BOTANIC GARDEN. 
Numerous plants are now flowering in that portion of the 
Cambridge Botanic Garden devoted to herbaceous plants, and 
among them the following are especially noteworthy either for 
their rarity or beauty. 
Cheiranthvs mutabilis. —This,beiDg unlike other garden species 
in colour, is of considerable interest. It is lilac or purplish lilac, 
and the effect is very pretty. Lately it has been in flower on the 
rockery, but in the greenhouse it has reached a finer development 
and has been really handsome. 
Cochlearia jJiyrenaica .—A charming species of about 4 inches in 
height. It has close racemes of pure white flowers, beneath which 
the leaves form a neat tuft. Another Crucifer, Cardamine tri¬ 
folia, has also white flowers, and is one of the prettiest plants of 
its kind. It was apparently one of Parkinson’s favourites. 
Muscari .—This genus contains some very lovely species. What 
is more charming than M. botryoides, and especially the variety 
pallens ? The white form is also very pretty. M. Heldreichi is 
uncommon, and one of the best. There are three forms of 
M. moschatum, the best of which is large in size with well- 
coloured blossoms ; the other two have small and dull-coloured 
flowers respectively. 
A T arcixsi .— One of the earliest was the pretty Tenby Daffodil, 
N. obvallaris, which is quite distinct from the common Daffodil. 
Now there are many kinds of beauty and interest. The fine forms 
Emperor and Empress are good for culture in pots, and are now 
coming on out of doors. Other kinds of the Ajax section worth 
noting are N. Telemonius, the charming little N. minor, and N. 
pumilus fl.-pl., which seems one of the best of all the doubles, 
it is so full, well-formed, and handsome. Among the Tazettas, 
N. T. var. floribundus is perhaps the best; it is not unlike citrinus, 
but has a larger flower. Several of the forms of N. odorus are 
good, of which the best is perhaps the variety interjectus. Of 
the N. incomparabilis varieties are several fine doubles, and the 
best is albus fl.-pl. The single varieties are after all the most 
enjoyable, and besides incomparabilis there are the varieties 
concolor and albus. N. montanus and moschatus are choice and 
lovely species of very pale buff or yellow. The earliest of the 
poeticus varieties is N. ornatus, which has a fine crimson cup and 
is very handsome. Recently also flowers of N. Burbidgei expanded ; 
this is a fresh acquisition, and is quite distinct and lovely. It 
has an orange cup, and the perianth is suffused with pale yellow. 
It seems to be*an ally of N. ornatus. This bed we cannot leave 
without noticing N. Macleayi, which always charms on account of 
its elegant form and distinct appearance. 
Fig. 60.— DORYANTIIES PALMERI. 
