242 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
of Chiloe, with flowers closely resembling those of the Dandelion-leaved 
(E noth era, and quite as large, but differing in having its petals more 
rounded at the extremity, and in its erect stems, which usually reach 8 or 
4 feet by the end of the summer, though the plant commences flowering when 
less than a foot high. The foliage, too, is shorter, and less pinnatifid, and 
has an outward curl, which appears characteristic. Of equal interest is the 
fine (E. ccespitosa, a Missouri species, producing short procumbent stems, 
lanceolate, toothed foliage, and handsome sweet-scented flowers, with deeply 
obcordate petals. This species is likely to perish after flowering when 
grown in damp soils, and it is therefore advisable to keep up a stock of 
young plants. 
The recently introduced (E. marginata belongs to the same section of the 
genus as the foregoing species, but differs materially in having a creeping 
root. Like CE. csespitosa, it has a lanceolate, toothed foliage, a trailing 
stem, which rises nearly a foot high, and large creamy white flowers, 
remarkable for their fragrance. Both in this and the preceding species, the 
seed-vessel is somewhat cylindrical, but neither is likely to mature its 
seeds in this climate. It is rather a singular circumstance that the flowers 
of all the white (Enotheras, except the (E. speciosa, assume a more or less 
deep purple tint when fading. 
Ipswich. W. Thompson. 
AERIAL ROOTS UPON VINES. 
Your able correspondent Mr. Wigliton, of Cossey Park, has at p. 224 of 
the Florist endeavoured, and with some ability, to lessen the difficulties 
which would seem to stand in the way of a proper appreciation of the causes 
which produce aerial roots upon Vines. Until lately—so difficult did the 
subject appear—I could have pretty freely, and with some slight reservation 
only,, have endorsed your correspondent’s views. But upon a recent visit to 
Chiswick, I saw, amidst the multitude of Vines of every description, grow¬ 
ing to rather an unusual altitude in the large conservatory there, one of 
the most perfect examples of air-rooting, which induced a reconsideration of 
the subject, and caused me to alter my views materially. There, growing 
amidst varieties of almost all known kinds, this Vine, with identical treat¬ 
ment to the others, attracted the eye upon entry at either end, so densely and 
uniformly was the whole of the under surface of the rod clothed with pendent 
aerial roots. It grows near the centre; the roots are planted in the more 
northernly border, and the cane has reached the top of the house. 
First, in dealing with the often-asserted influence which atmospheric 
humidity has on the production of these roots, I may again draw attention 
to the fact that numerous varieties here exist, and fruit, in close contiguity. 
The vast roof which spans the whole certainly gives greater buoyancy to 
even the densest humidity which may possibly be engendered therein, and 
consequently admits of the free assimilation of the whole, far more so than 
is possible in the best of low and comparatively stived-up lean-to houses. 
This example of air-rooting—at least to anything like the same extent, being 
a solitary case, one is naturally led to the inquiry whether health or want of 
health be the cause. If the former, as suggested by Mr. Wigliton, then 
what of the whole motley tribe beside ? But this cannot be. Here is to be 
found the “ sickly one.” And then as to the cause ; is it to be sought for 
externally in the upper atmospheric range, whether of heat with humidity, 
or of these two in combination with “ shade,” as suggested, or below at the 
