July 9, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
19 
Houttei, Geranium armenum, dwarf Cannas, Prunella Webbiana, 
Dianthus atrorubens, Orchis foliosa, Phlox ovata, Arnebia echioides, and 
other plants. A silver-gilt Flora medal was awarded. Messrs. Barr and 
Son, 12, King Street, Covent Garden, had a bright and loosely arranged 
•collection, noticeable among which were Tradescantia virginica delicata, 
Epilobium angustifolium, Potentilla nepalensis, and Crucianella stylosa. 
A silver Bankian medal was adjudged. 
A choice assortment also came from the Royal Gardens, Kew, in¬ 
cluding Ononis natrix, Sphseralcea rivularis, Cathcartia villosa, Ererno- 
stachys laciniata, Perezia multiflora, Chrysogonum virginianum, Dianthus 
pulchellus, D. viscidus, a lovely little species ; Gentiana lutea, 
Lindelofia spectabilis, Layia glandulosa, Hypericum Reicheri, Cam¬ 
panula excisa, C. alpina, Heliosperma chromada, and Houstonia 
purpurea. 
Scientific Committee. —Present : Mr. D. Morris in the chair ; 
Mr. McLachlan, Dr. Miiller, Rev. W. Wilks, Sir J. D. Llewellyn, Rev. 
G. Henslow, Hon. Sec. ; Mr. C. A. Barber, and Mr. R. A. Rolfs, 
visitors. 
Excrescences on Willows. —With reference to the specimens brought 
•by Mr. Blandford to the last meeting, and referred to Professor 
H. Marshall Ward for an examination of the tissues, he reported that 
there was no evidence of any fungus 
growth, and Mr. McLachlan added that 
there was also none of insects having 
ever been present. Hence the true cause 
of the hypertrophy could not be ascer¬ 
tained. 
Papavcr pilosum (?). — This plant 
having been referred to Kew was ascer¬ 
tained by Mr. Baker to be Papaver 
rupifragum, var. atlanticum, and is 
figured in the “ Bot. Mag.,” tab. 7107. 
St is a native of Morocco, P. rupifragum 
being a native of Andalusia. Mr. Wilks 
observed upon the fact that there are a 
great number of Poppies now in culti¬ 
vation which require a careful systematic 
treatment. 
Iris , Petals Variegated. —Mr. McLach¬ 
lan exhibited three petals half white and 
half purple, which appeared on a single 
plant of Iris florentina. The question 
■was raised whether the plant was a white 
variety of Iris germanica, reverting. It 
was referred to Kew for further con¬ 
sideration. 
Scotch Fir and Larch Attached by 
•Chermes. —Mr. R. Maher of Yattendon 
Court, Newbury, forwarded specimen 
branches of these trees infested with 
species of chermes. The only remedy is 
the free use of paraffin spray. At Kew, 
Mr. Morris observed, they were obliged 
to cut down some trees growing in the 
midst of others ; as from their height 
nnd crowded condition the spray could 
not be used effectually, and the only 
alternative is to destroy the infected trees. 
Ash Wood Diseased. —He also sent 
specimens of branches having the common 
cankerous-like hollow places on them. 
They were from an old tree 18 inches in 
•diameter and a foot from the ground. 
The trunk and all the branches presented 
a similar appearance. They were referred 
•to Prof. H. Marshall Ward for further investigation. Mr. McLachlan 
observed that that the Weevil Hylesinus Fraxini or else the larva of 
a moth Myelyos pingui3, which feeds beneath the bark, might possibly 
have been the primary cause of the injury. 
Cycnoches chlorochilon (Klotzsch).—Mr. Rolfs exhibited what is 
apparently the male flower, as the column is very slender, and the pollen 
normally developed. This is a well-known garden plant. In addition 
he showed another form, being a larger flower with a short stout 
■column, which is believed to be hitherto unrecorded, and is supposed to be 
the female flower of the same species. These two flowers appeared upon 
separate individuals imported from Caracas as C. chlorochilon. They 
flowered in the collection of M. A. Houjean de Lehaie, Membre do la 
Chambre des Rbpre3entants, Hyon (Mons), Belgium. The special 
interest attached to the present examples is the great similarity between 
the two sexes, a character also observed in C. Loddigesi, while in 
C. ventricosum, C. pentadactylon, and C. Rossianum the male and 
female flowers are very dissimilar. C. Egertonianum, the male of 
B. ventricosum, is a familiar example. 
Elm. with Coloured Wood. —A branching specimen in full leaf was 
exhibited by Mr. Morris. It was received many years ago at Kew from 
Van Houtte under the name of Ulmus sp. libero-rubra. This is believed 
to be only a form of the Scotch or Wych Elm, Ulmus montana. Tbe 
peculiarity possessed by the specimen consists in its having the wood 
immediately beneath the bark of a bright pink colour, which easily 
distinguishes it from the type. The exact nature of the. colouring 
■substance in this instance does not appear to have been investigated. 
IRIS ROBINSONIANA. 
Facing the entrance to the succulent house in the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, a most conspicuous plant is the giant Iris Robinsoniana, and for 
some eight years its bold habit and foliage have attracted the notice 
of thousands of visitors, while horticulturists have been watching with, 
much interest for the appearance of its reputedly beautiful flowers. 
This year patience and good cultural attention have been rewarded, for 
the plant has produced three of its tall scapes and has amply realised 
all expectations formed concerning it. The first flowers expanded on 
June 21st, and up to last Friday 157 had opened and faded, the largest 
number expanded in one day being eighteen, and on the day in question 
a dozen were out. Like many members of the family the flowers are of 
short duration, lasting about a day, but the succession produced main¬ 
tains the interest over a comparatively long period. 
Iris Robinsoniana is a native of Lord Howe’s Island, where it is said 
to be sparingly represented, and was brought into notice about twenty 
years ago. The plant at Kew is very strong, and is flourishing plant" d 
out in a border where it is fully exposed to sun and air. This seems to 
have just suited it, for the leaves and scapes have exceeded in size the 
descriptions of the native plants. The leaves are 6 feet and more in 
length and 4 inches in diameter, while the scapes are about 8 feet in 
height. The flowers are 4 inches in diameter with spreading divisions, 
the outer ovate, inch, and the inner a little over an inch across. They 
are with the small stigmas pure white, with the exception of a small 
crescent shaped bright orange blotch at the base of each of the outer 
divisions, and it can be understood why the popular term “ Wedding 
Flower ” has been applied to it. The plant is extremely ornamental for 
its foliage alone, but if the secret can be discovered of flowering it more 
frequently it would become a great favourite where sufficient accommo¬ 
dation could be afforded. It is said that seed is readily obtainable, and 
the Kew plant will probably mature a good crop, so that we may expect 
to see this magnificent Iris in many gardens before long. With the 
exception of a specimen which I understand flowered at Tresco, in the 
Scilly Islands a year or two ago, the Kew plant is the first which has 
produced flowers in this country, and one of these is represented in 
fig. 4. The specific title was bestowed in honour of .Sir Hercules 
Robinson.—L. C. 
