224 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES 
innumerable undulations of light, -which, falling from above through the crowded masses of leaves in every 
direction, being reflected from stem to stem, and from branch to branch, finally reaching the lower space in the 
thicket, and there produce a tone of dull lustre peculiar to tropical nature. In fact, what would become of that 
whole world of plants destined to live in this shade, if nature had not given the huge masses of foliage, which 
produce it, a structure and distribution which permits it, although reflected a thousand times, still to reach in 
sufficient power the plants living beneath.” This problem may be expressed more definitely as follows :—We 
have to explain why the shadows of obscure deciduous forests in the temperate zone are principally illuminated by 
transmitted, and in the tropics, by reflected light; and why the coniferous forests are poorer in these two luminous 
sources, and therefore, so frequently deprived of plants growing in the shade. We first think of the Mimosse 
and forms of palms, of the compound, and, therefore, imperfectly shading forms of leaves, which thus contribute 
powerfully to the light tone of the tropical forests. But trees possessing this character form a part only, not the 
whole ; for those forms with simple leaves, as the laurel and bombax type, preponderate in variety of form or 
size of the leaf. And even the form of the leaves of the Lauraceae, which recurs in so many tropical families, is 
wanting in that transparent texture to which the light of the half-shaded parts of the northern deciduous forests is 
owing. But Kittlitz has pointed out another more universal character of the trees of tropical forests, hi the 
arrangement of the leaves, which appears intended to complete the former. In climates where cold or aridity 
cause the winter sleep of woody plants, they develope a very much larger number of small branches, which usually 
form a more connected, although, on the whole, poorer stratum of leaves than in the tropics. This, therefore, 
throws a deeper shadow upon the ground, although it is more transparent, not so deep, however, as in the 
coniferous forests, the crowded leaves of which are opaque. On the other hand, it is evident that the uninterrupted 
heat and moisture of the equatorial climate also insure a longer duration of the first formed branches, many of 
which in the temperate zone fall off or remain undeveloped, and must, therefore, produce fresh ramifications to 
allow of the necessary number of leaves being formed ; these first branches attracting the currents of sap, continue 
to grow excentrically, and hence leave between their uppermost tufts of leaves, i. e., the youngest and softest part, 
more or less broad intervals. Under this double condition of the formation and distribution of the foliage, we 
may perceive universally in the latter climate “a certain and wholly peculiar permeability”—seen only in its 
simplest and most developed state in the palms—even in woody plants, which in other respects but little resemble 
the latter, and in which the more copious development of the ramifications of the stems produces this prevailing 
character, inasmuch as they imitate and replace the natural growth of the summit of palms. “ Large masses of 
very delicate foliage in this manner obtain so light an aspect, that they appear, as it were, to float in the air; but 
even down to the smallest fern upon the soil, everything exhibits a tendency to an excentric distribution, which 
does not permit the separate organs to press upon one another, but by the constant crossing of lines in every 
direction, produces spaces for the transmission of air and light.” Here nature addresses man like the noblest works 
of mediaeval architecture, the pointed arches of which, of Arabian origin, have, it is supposed, borrowed that 
openness conjoined with gigantic masses, and infinite variety of form, from two palm stems, with their penniform 
leaves in contact.— Ray Reports , 1849. 
Plants Uniting the Qualities of Useful and Ornamented. —Considerable attention is bestowed, at the present day, 
on those useful plants which are capable of being used with ornamental effect, from the variety, the colour, and 
elegance of their foliage. The purple-leaved Atriplex, for instance, may always form an agreeable contrast with 
the green leaves of other plants. The yellow Beet, with red or rose-coloiued stalks, would have a very fine effect 
from the prominence of its broad coloured veins. The Balsam Cucumber, certain species of Gourd, and Cucumis 
Citrullus, may be allowed to run over the ground, or may be trained gracefully to the trunks of old trees, or round 
arbours. Then there are many varieties of Cabbage, as the curly greenish, or red streaked laciniated sorts; all 
which, by the elegant forms and agreeable colours of their foliage, are admirably adapted for the purposes of 
decoration. The Chou frise panache (curly streaked Cabbage) is beautifully tinted with a delicate rose-colour. 
It is difficult to understand how these plants, which may be grown so easily, are not more generally used in 
country gardens, where they would produce, diming a great part of the year, an effect as varied as agreeable. 
Such plants might be extensively employed in the general decoration of gardens and pleasure-grounds. A genus 
of plants which may be well recommended for this purpose, where there is ample space, is the Rhubarb, of which 
Rheum rhaponticum, Emodi, and palmatum, when grown in rich ground, present that luxuriance of vegetation 
which is principally characteristic of tropical plants. The Castor-oil, Ricinus communis, is another exceedingly 
characteristic plant, with its broad exotic-looking palmated leaves ; the variety called minus is the best for 
ordinary gardens. These hints may serve to attract attention to the importance of plants of characteristic or 
striking foliage ; equally important, in an ornamental point of view, with the brightest-coloured flowers, and 
much more conducive to general effect.—K. 
Hybrid Ferns. —In the Thuringicm Horticultural Gazette , Professor Bernhardi, treating of Bastard forms, con¬ 
siders that the so-called bastard forms of the genus Gymnogramma (Ceropteris) might arise, not from impregnation, 
but from the coalescence of the roots with each other, because they germinate in hot-houses in numbers together. 
As an instance, he mentions a plant of Cytisus Adami, which was produced by grafting C. purpureus upon 
C. alpinus, whereby a hybrid was produced, which frequently assumed the characters of a bastard and often 
returned to its primitive conditions—at one time producing purple, at another yeRow flowers. This is remarkable 
enough; and is the first instance of the formation of bastards in this manner.- — Ray Reports , 1849. 
