608 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 23, 1891. 
The Male Cycas revoluta. 
The female plant has frequently been seen in fruit in 
this country, but the male plant is evidently much 
scarcer. In the former a crown of fruiting leaves is 
produced, occupying the top of the plant, but from the 
fact that the growing apex does not form part of the 
inflorescence, the growth of the plant continues unin¬ 
terrupted. The male is different, as the vegetative 
apex terminates in a cone, surrounded at the base 
with numerous leaves reduced to bract-like organs, 
representing a tier of leaves such as the plant produces 
annually under favourable conditions. Growth is thus 
interrupted, and the plant takes some time to recover 
from the effects of flowering, and to produce a new 
head. A male plant in flower may now be seen in the 
Palm-house at Kew. It is evidently an aged specimen, 
for the stem stands about 4 ft. high, and is furnished 
with a large head of leaves. The cone is 16 ins. long, 
about 6 ins. in diameter at the widest part, and is of a 
bright yellow. The scales are very numerous, and 
compactly arrangeu before flowering ; but as the pollen 
becomes mature, and is ready for distribution, the axis 
elongates and the scales separate as in an Encephalartos, 
so as to allow the pollen to fall out. During that 
period a very powerful odour, somewhat resembling 
that of a Pine-apple, emanates from the cone. 
Pulmonaria saccharata. 
There are two or more forms of this in gardens, one of 
which often does duty for P. sibirica, or more properly 
Mertensia sibirica, but the latter is a smooth and 
glaucous plant of different appearance from any of the 
Pulmonarias. The more typical form of P. saccharata 
has flowers which expand of a pink or pale red, and 
change to purple. The radical leaves taper considerably 
to both ends, and run down with a wing on the 
petioles, while those on the stem are ovate and sessile. 
All are abundantly marked with rather small, but 
irregular-sized grey spots and markings, and are often 
tinged with a rusty colour, especially during cold 
spring months. The variety which is made to do 
duty for P. sibirica has flowers which open of a pale 
red, changing to purple, and from that to a decided 
blue, so that a large plant in flower appears to have 
blue flowers only. The leaves are amply blotched or 
variegated with large grey splashes on a glaucous green 
ground. The foliage of this form is therefore very 
ornamental, whether the plant is in flower or not, and 
it becomes useful as an edging plant. Both forms may 
be seen growing in proximity upon the rockery at 
Chiswick, in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 
Society. 
Rhododendron Collettianum. 
In its native habitats this species is said to attain a 
height of 8 ft. or 10 ft., but judging from specimens 
under cultivation it is evidently of very slow growth. 
The flowers are funnel-shaped, and pure white or 
slightly tinted with blush, borne in trusses termi¬ 
nating the branches, and are of medium size, as 
Rhododendrons generally are considered, but large in 
proportion to the size of the leaves. The latter are 
lanceolate-elliptic, leathery, and covered with rusty 
scales beneath. Seeds of it were collected in Afghanistan 
by Dr. Aitchison, and brought to Kew, where they were 
germinated about ten years ago, or nearly. The plants 
are only yet about 1 ft. high, and are planted as a 
margin to a bed, where they may be seen not far from 
the Water Lily house. The species is hardy, or nearly 
so, as a specimen stood out on the rockery for a number 
of years. 
Saxifraga moschata atropurpurea. 
In gardens this is perhaps more frequently known as 
S. muscoides atropurpurea, which of course is synony¬ 
mous. The typical form has pale greenish yellow 
flowers, and although it may be described as a pretty 
rockwork plant yet it is not showy. The purple or 
reddish purple variety is both pretty and showy during 
May and June. The leaves, both of the floweiing and 
barren shoots, carpet the ground, forming a rich green 
bank, above which the flower stems rise for two or three 
inches. The leaves are generally trifld unless the plant 
has plenty of room and is growing strongly, but are 
often linear-spathulate and quite entire, especially on 
the slender, barren shoots. A patch of the plant may 
be seen on the rockery at Chiswick, in the gardens of 
the Rojal Horticultural Society, where the rich colour 
is a welcome change amongst the mossy-leaved section, 
in which the flowers are generally white. It is as 
hardy and as easily grown and propagated as any of 
the section to which it belongs. 
Cerasus Avium multiplex. 
There are three double-flowering Cherries, all differing 
from one another, but that under notice is the finest, 
most floriferous, and most fully double. It is a 
variety of the Bigarreau type, which is supposed to be 
the result of crossing C. duracina and C. Avium. 
The name C. A. multiplex, applied to this variety, 
would refer to the great multiplication of the petals. 
Even the ovary is destroyed, and resembles a small, 
serrated, green leaf or two. The flowering buds are so 
densely arranged on all the younger branches that these 
latter appear to be as much covered with masses of the 
purest snow during the month of May as ever they did 
with real snow during the past winter. No fruit is 
ever produced by this variety, as might be expected 
from the condition of the flowers ; whereas in the case 
of the double Morello, a sparing crop of fruit is pro¬ 
duced and ripens in certain years. A fine young tree 
about 10 ft. or 12 ft. high has been a conspicuous 
object for some time past in the gardens of the Royal 
Horticultural Society at Chiswick. Another feature of 
the variety is that the branches are relatively few, long 
and stout, while those of the double Morello are 
numerous and slender or twiggy. 
Double Almonds. 
The ordinary forms flowered most abundantly during 
the early part of the month, and are now much less 
conspicuous, while the double varieties have taken 
their place. The double forms, which are now gay, 
are therefore useful for prolonging the season and 
keeping the shrubberies and pleasure grounds gay 
during the early part of the season, when the young 
foliage of most trees is expanding. The typical form 
(Amygdalus communis flore pleno) has fully double 
flowers that are rose-coloured in bud, and pink or flesh- 
coloured when fully expanded. Then there is a variety 
with deep rosy red flowers when in full bloom. And 
lastly, there is a double white variety. All three are 
now flowering in the shrubberies at Devonhurst, 
Chiswick, and serve to keep them gay till other trees 
and shrubs come into bloom. A ready way of propa¬ 
gating them would be to bud them on the Plum stock 
or on the common Almond, provided seeds or stocks of 
it could be obtained. 
The Two-flowered Viola. 
The flowering period of this dwarf but pretty species 
is during April and May, earlier or later, as the season 
fluctuates. The leaves are relatively small, reniform 
and bright green, while the short stems are also leafy, 
and bear one or generally two flowers when vigorous. 
The latter are bright yellow, and marked with black 
strife on all the petals, but the lines are most numerous 
on the lower one. Being a native of Siberia, as well as 
Europe, it is perfectly hardy, but the foliage completely 
dies down in winter. Eor moist, little nooks and 
crannies of rockwork it is admirably adapted, and 
becapse it grows slowly, requires little space to grow it 
to the best advantage. 
Phlox amoena. 
There are several species, as well as many varieties, of 
Phlox that are very serviceable for beds or rockwork 
during May and June ; and none are more floriferous 
than P. amoena, the foliage of which is perfectly hidden 
by the wealth of bloom. The segments of the corolla 
are broad, imbricated, and purple, with darker spots at 
the base. The few barren stems that are produced 
spread on the ground, but all the rest assume an erect 
habit, and terminate in a close corymb of flowers. Its 
early-flowering habit makes it serviceable for margins 
to beds in the spring flower garden. 
The Aconite-leaved Crowfoot. 
In some parts of Britain only the double form of 
Ranunculus aconitifolius may be seen in gardens, 
while the typical single form is the prevailing one in 
other cases. The dark, shining green, five-parted 
leaves have lanceolate, elliptical and serrated segments, 
resembling to a considerable extent those of an 
Aconite. The flowers are pure white, variable in 
number according to the vigour of the plant, and 
terminate the branches of the stem. The double form 
is much more conspicuous, owing to the great number 
and regularity of the petals filling up the centre, and 
the flowers last longer whether cut or left on the plant. 
It is a very old garden plant, having been introduced 
from the Continent in 1596, but is evidently better 
adapted for a northern climate than for the neigh¬ 
bourhood of London, owing to the dryness of the 
atmosphere. A good plan would be to plant it in the 
vicinity of water, where the soil about its roots would 
be kept cool and moist during the summer months. 
The rootstock increases much more rapidly under 
such conditions. 
Viola sciaphila. 
The leaves of this plant are cordate, somewhat hooded, 
serrate, and resemble those of Y. odorata, Y. cucullata 
or V. striata. The habit of the plant is of course 
closely similar in every way and the large flowers are 
of a beautiful bright blue, irregularly striated with 
white. At present they are very plentifully produced 
and quite pretty. The plant now flowering on the 
rockery at Kew was obtained from St. Petersburg. 
Sedum asiaticum. 
This must be reckoned amongst the earliest of the 
species of Stonecrop to flower in the open garden. The 
stems vary from 6 ins. to 12 ins. in height according to 
vigour, and are densely clothed with linear, spreading 
leaves. They are always unbranched and terminate in 
a close head of flowers that evidently vary greatly 
according to the character of the season and exposure. 
Usually they are greenish yellow with orange-brown 
stamens and yellow anthers, but at present both sepals, 
petals and stamens show a close approach to orange- 
scarlet. Owing to their dense arrangement on the top 
of the stems, they present quite an effective appearance. 
Possibly the dry nature of the spring has somewhat 
affected their colour. 
The Round-leaved Valerian. 
The lower leaves of this plant are roundly spathulate 
and small, while those on the stem are pinnate with 
few linear or oblong segments. It is a variety of the 
Mountain Valerian—namely, V. montana rotundifolia, 
and reminds us greatly of our native species, the 
Marsh Valerian, but is altogether dwarfer than that 
is under cultivation. The stems vary from 3 ins. to 
6 ins. in height, and terminate in a cymose panicle of 
flowers which are bright pink in bud, but pale and 
almost white when fully expanded. It is easy to 
cultivate on rockwork, and can readily be propagated 
by division. The species is a native of the mountains 
of Europe, and was introduced to Britain in 174S, but 
neither the type nor the variety is at all common in 
gardens. The latter may be seen on the rockery at 
Kew. 
Hutchinsia gracilis. 
The slender stems of this Crucifer are very numerous, 
carpeting the ground, and are furnished with small 3—5 
lobed leaves. The flowers are pure white as in most 
species of this affinity, and borne in terminal umbels 
that ultimately lengthen, forming a raceme. It is pretty 
when in bloom, and hardy plant lovers would find it 
an interesting addition to their collection. A patch of 
it may be seen on the rockery at Kew. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
--j-- 
ZYGOPETALUM LlNDENI/E. 
In this new introduction from Venezuela we have a 
beautiful novelty of delicate but striking colour. The 
short arching racemes bear two to three flowers of 
large size. The spreading, lanceolate sepals and petals 
are of a soft rosy pink hue. The lip, moreover, is the 
most striking part of the flower, and is broadly ovate, 
shortly acuminate, and white, closely striated through¬ 
out its length with bright rose-coloured lines, which 
give it a charming effect. We see something resembling 
this distribution of colour in numerous reticulations on 
the lip of Z. Mackayi ; but in Z. Lindeniie the lines 
are nearly straight and become forked only at the apex. 
The large fleshy crest is darker in colour and also 
striated, as is the face of the column. In its native 
country it grows upon the branches of trees, and has 
creeping rhizomes on which the small ovate-obloDg 
pseudo-bulbs are placed rather closely. The species 
was discovered by M. Bungeroth, and sent to the 
establishment of Messrs. Linden, Parc Leopold, 
Brussels, where it flowered for the first time three years 
ago. There is a beautiful coloured plate of it in the 
Lindenia, pi. 275. 
Cypripedium Lawrenceanum Hyeanum. 
The American Florist states that “Mr. Edward V. 
Low, of the firm of Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., the 
Orchid specialists of London, sailed from New Lork 
on Saturday, the 2nd inst., taking with him a plant of 
