Plate 238 . 
HOYEA PUNGENS MAJOR. 
We remember, many years ago, what a difficult plant Hovea 
Celsi was considered to be, and we believe deservedly so; the 
beauty and attractiveness of its bright-blue pea-shaped flowers 
led many to attempt its culture for exhibition, but it was rarely 
that one saw a good plant of it, while fewer plants were more 
subject to the attack of thrips and red spider, which oftentimes 
completely disfigured it. The species which we now figure is 
not of so difficult character, and although not a new plant, it 
is one of those which amidst the multitude of novelties has 
been overlooked, while others of far less merit have been 
grown. 
Mr. Frazer, of Lea Bridge Road Nurseries, has, during the 
present year, exhibited it at the weekly meetings of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, where it was greatly admired, and re¬ 
warded with a certificate; and we have also noticed that in the 
gardening periodicals it has been favourably mentioned. We 
feel, therefore, that we are bringing under the notice of our 
subscribers a plant which, from the period at which it flowers, 
as well as from its own beauty, ought to be generally grown. 
We have been favoured by Mr. Frazer with the following 
notes :—“Hovea p ungens, introduced from the Swan River, in 
1837, is one of the most beautiful of all the fine plants from 
the same locality. The variety now figured is Hovea pungens 
major , introduced some years after the original species. No¬ 
thing can possibly be of more value than this Hovea; it not only 
blooms freely in the winter, without more heat than an ordi¬ 
nary greenhouse or conservatory affords, but its colour is so very 
attractive. This pretty plant, associated with winter-flowering 
Heaths, Epacris, Camellias, and other winter and spring flower- 
