187S.] 
DIOSCOEEA EETTJSA.—NATIONAL CAENATION AND PICOTEE SOCIETY. 
123 
DIOSCOREA RETUSA. 
■ VERY elegant climbing plant, from 
SouthAfrica, described in tlie Gardeners’ 
Chronicle in 1870, by Dr. Masters, 
but only recently put into commerce. We have 
to thank Messrs. Veitcli and Sons, by whom it 
conspicuous, creamy-white, agreeably fragrant, 
and grow in pendent axillary clustered racemes 
nearly two inches long. The female flowers are 
not known. Though nearly hardy, and pro¬ 
bably capable of living during the winter, if 
Dioscorea retusa. 
has been sent out, for the illustration, which 
gives some slight idea of its graceful character. 
It has a very pretty effect when trained on an 
umbrella-shaped trellis, because the drooping 
clusters of greenish flowers then show them¬ 
selves to the best advantage. It appears to 
have been brought first into notice by Colonel 
Trevor Clarke. 
It is a very elegant climbing plant, with a 
tuberous root-stock, unarmed terete stems, and 
petiolate digitate leaves, composed of 5 to 7 
leaflets, the upper ones less divided ; the leaflets 
are stalked, oblong, with a retuse or abruptly 
acuminate apex. The flowers are small and in- 
planted against a wall in a favourable position, 
it is better adapted for growing in a cool 
house. —T. Mooee. 
NATIONAL CARNATION AND 
PICOTEE SOCIETY. 
[SOUTHERN SHOW.] 
Show ofjj the Southern Section of 
National Carnation and Picotee 
iety took place at South Kensington 
on July 23. Considering the trying weather 
of the preceding week and the forcing 
temperature experienced a few weeks ago, the 
show was remarkably good, a large number of 
