SEPTEMBER. 
199 
under side is not ventricose, and in the limb segments being triangular 
and acute. It is a good addition to the other fine plants related to it, which 
we already possess. Ipomceci Gerrardi (Bot. Mag., t. 5651), is a Convolvu- 
laceous plant, introduced to Kew from Natal, where it is called Wild Cotton. 
It forms a tuberous stock above ground as large as one’s fist, and the 
annual stems flower copiously in a moderately heated stove. The leaves 
are roundish cordate, and the flowers large and pure white. 
Among Orchids of recent introduction we have to notice Epidendnm 
Coopericinum (Bot. Mag., t. 5654), a pretty plant of second-rate merit, but 
well worth growing for its lively rosy-lipped flowers. It has rigid erect 
stems, with distichous lanceolate acute leaves, and crowded nodding racemes 
of flowers, of which the sepals and petals are yellowish brown, and the 
lip broad, and of a bright rose. This plant is worth a place in our Orchid- 
houses, as a not inelegant form of a genus which seems to be now held more 
in favour than it was a few years since. 
M. 
A FEW WORDS ON DORSTENIAS. 
These curious plants meet in a general way with but little attention, 
notwithstanding that some of them have elegantly cut leaves, and others 
have the leaves decorated with silvery markings ; notwithstanding, moreover' 
that they are of neat compact habit, and easy of cultivation in a mode¬ 
rately damp stove. 
The fructification of these plants is indeed remarkable, and their relation¬ 
ship would be little suspected at first sight, for, notwithstanding their very 
different habit and generally low herbaceous growth, they are in reality 
very close relatives of the common Fig, and have a very similar fructification. 
The Dorstenias produce amongst their leaves certain green fleshy bodies 
springing up on long stalks. These are of very different forms in the 
various kinds of Dorstenia; some are hand-shaped, some horned, some 
nearly quadrangular, and some cup-shaped. These fleshy bodies, so irregular 
and varied in shape, constitute a basis or receptacle, on the upper side of 
which are seated numerous flowers, a portion of which eventually produce 
small rounded minute fruit or seed-vessels. The fruit of a Fig is a some¬ 
what pear-shaped body, presenting externally a rather rough skin, with a 
small opening at the broader end leading directly into the interior, where is 
found according to its age, a multitude of small flowers or of seed-vessels, 
which when ripe constitute the fleshy, luscious portion so much admired by 
fig-eaters. Here the pear-shaped body is the receptacle, and the flowers 
are quite analogous to those produced on the receptacles of Dorstenias. The 
Fig may therefore be described as a Dorstenia with a bag-shaped fructifica¬ 
tion, having in addition other characters by which botanists are able to 
recognise differences constituting a good generic distinction between the two. 
The Dorstenias stand next the Figs in the same natural family, being their 
nearest allies. 
The Dorstenias are plants found in tropical climates, both in America 
and Africa, and are called after Dorsten, an old botanist, who did good 
service to the science he cultivated. The species are said to have tonic and 
other virtues, and one or more of them are reported to have the power, when 
in the green state, to cure the bite of serpents ! A few of the more remarkable 
species are well worthy of cultivation, and will much interest those who will 
