June 16, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
669 
STREPTOSOLEN JAMESONII. 
Among the varied host of greenhouse plants in flower 
at the present time, scarcely any one of them is more 
sweetly pretty than well flowered Streptosolens. 
Most cultivators can get supply enough of wood- 
growth from this plant, and many others have some¬ 
times found it difficult to succeed in flowering it. 
At Kew, where they are successful with nearly every¬ 
thing, there are at the present time some lovely 
flower-wreathed specimens. One grows upward 
around a pillar in the greenhouse, its roots wandering 
in a bed of soil. Others are in pots but all seem 
equally contented and floriferous.— D. 
DENDROMECON RIGIDUM. 
In very favoured parts of the south of England, this 
little Californian shrub may be expected to succeed. 
A pretty specimen is in flower on a south wall on a 
warm border outside the Orchid houses at Kew. 
The flowers are borne laterally from the slender 
young shoots. The flower consists of four obovate, 
smooth, and entire, and bright yellow petals. The 
foliage is glaucous and elliptical. 
MARANTA ALBO-LINEATA. 
It cannot be said justifiably that we lack handsome 
or bright coloured stove foliage plants of the type of 
this Maranta. Still, for exceedingly good plants, 
there is always a place. It will be long before this 
particular species can be ousted or even surpassed 
in favour by either Calatheas, Hedychiums, Heli- 
conias or members of its own genus. The qualities 
which recommend it are, fine graceful bushy habit, 
brightly lined leaves which have clean cut edges and 
are strongly held up, and also the fact that these 
leaves are numerous so that a fine furnished plant is 
easily developed. It does well both as a pot subject 
or planted out in a warm indoor border. 
RHODODENDRON GR1FFITHIANUM. 
This popular greenhouse Rhododendron is fine 
when in flower at any size, but when a full specimen 
plant some g ft. or io ft. high is seen, and this loaded 
down with large and well formed bell-shaped 
blooms, the treat becomes a gorgeous feast. Such a 
special sight is to be viewed at Kew, where, in that 
fine new temperate block, so many massive Rhodo¬ 
dendron specimens are planted. The plant in ques¬ 
tion is both broad and high, and bears soire 
hundreds of flowers. These are large, smooth, bell¬ 
shaped, white and of large size and good strength of 
corolla. It is the large clusters of such fine-shaped, 
smooth blooms, which gives such value to this 
variety. 
PHYLLANTHUS LATlFOLIUS. 
The Phyllanthus number among them some of the 
finest of stove ornamental plants. The species 
under notice here is most beautiful when in flower 
The leaves themselves are not to be compared with 
such as P. atropurpureus or P. nivosus, but they are 
lovely when decked with their very small pink 
flowers which fasten and stud themselves all along 
the edges. So numerous are some of these that the 
leaves are scarcely seen. They give the plant an 
interesting and sprightly appearance. The Phyllan¬ 
thus enjoy a warm and moist temperature. They 
can be propagated from cuttings taken and struck 
in a close case of a warm pit. 
LOTUS PELiORYNCHUS. 
A pretty plant, whose silvery, narrow, and short 
acerose leaves contrast splendidly with the bright 
orange-crimson, parrot's beak flowers. The stems 
are either creeping or drooping, and studded closely 
with these silvery little leaves. The flowers, which 
are of goodly size and brilliant colour, spring from 
about the apex of the stems or short stalks. It is 
said to sometimes grow to 2 ft. in height. It 
certainly is a strikingly beautiful greenhouse shrubby 
plant. 
OLIVIA MINIATA CITRINA. 
At Kew, in the Begonia House, there is a plant of 
the above bearing an uncommonly fine flower spike, 
and the corymb of flowers is not of the orthodox 
orange red or such-like colour, but is clear creamy- 
yellow. The centre of the flowers is of a deeper 
colour. In all respects ihe plant resembles C. 
miniata, except the colour of flowers. It came from 
Zululand, and should be a useful variety for crossing 
to get a yellow. 
PHALAENOPSIS PLANTS FROM ROOTS. 
In looking over The Gardening World for March 
7th, 1885, I find an article on the propagating of 
Phalaenopsis by the roots. The correspondent 
writing of the occurrence stated that a young plant- 
let developed from old, overhanging roots of Phal¬ 
aenopsis stuartiana, a plant then in fair vigour. The 
plants originated as mere points on each side of the 
old root, in one month’s time sending out leaves and 
roots of their own. Have aDy Orchid growing 
readers had a similar experience or known of 
another such case ?- Argus. 
SYMPHANDRA WANNERI. 
At first sight this plant may be taken for a slender 
Canterbury Bell, or form of it. The stems are erect, 
branching, and slightly ribbed. The leaves are 
borne alternately, are narrow, serrate, and about 
2\ in. or 3 in. in length. The pretty lavender-blue 
flowers are borne on lateral shoots. They are funnel- 
shaped, smooth, even, five-lobed, and about 1 in. 
long. The habit of the plant is bushy, yet graceful, 
and as it flowers freely it is worthy of notice, either 
for pot work or for the plant border and rockery, by 
those who may not have seen it. 
GERMAN IRISES FORCED. 
The beauty of these handsome flowered Irises is 
remarkable even when our gardens are everywhere 
loaded with brightness and wreathed in colour. But 
how amazingly welcome they are in early spring, 
when only dwarf-stemmed Irises, like I. reticulata, I 
stylosa, and others, are in bloom. By the simple 
means of lifting and potting up a few rhizomes 
having good bud-shoots, Mr. F. Mearns, of Chis¬ 
wick Mall, was able to exhibit noble spikes at the 
Drill Hall some weeks ago. Gentle forcing is all 
that these Irises require. Try a batch. 
BFODIAEA UNIFLORA. 
For massing in beds or openly situated ground few 
spring flowering, few dwarf plants are more cheerful 
or brighter than the above. The limb3 of the 
corolla lie horizontally at right angles to the erect 
tube. The flowers are pure white save for a slight 
tinge of lilac here and there. There is a blue variety, 
however. It lasts for a long time in bloom, and is 
free and vigorous enough to be recommended for 
more general use. It used to be called Triteleia uni- 
flora. 
SCHIZOCODON SOLDANELLOIDES. 
In the rockery at Kew there is at present in flower a 
little specimen of the above. The leaves are small, 
rotund, obtuse, cleft at the base, unicostate and 
crinkled, it having numerous strong lateral veins. 
The edge is entire and otherwise the leaves are 
smooth. The pretty little pink flowers are droop¬ 
ing, borne on short stalks, and the petals are deeply 
fringed. It is an interesting plant, native of 
Japan. 
MAGNOLIA STELLATA. 
As an early pot plant this sparkling bloomer fills a 
place unchallenged at this time by any other shrubby 
plant. It demands no exacting care from cultivators, 
yet it yields a fine display of pure white, starry 
flowers, which, seen in mass, portray a picture 
which presents a sparkling pleasantness of form and 
brightness of colour. 
STREPTOSOLEN JAMESONI 
Is one of our most easily grown greenhouse plants, 
and withall one of the most beautiful, flourishing 
where little else would, yet well repaying for any extra 
labour bestowed upon it. It forms most admirable 
standards and for large conservatories it is one 
of the very best things in that way of which I 
know. When trained to a single stem from five to 
six feet and then allowed to develop a good head, 
they are something worth looking at when in flower. 
I know of one in a large tub destined to stand out 
by itself, the surface of the soil being planted with 
small plants. The intention is to cover both surface 
and sides of the tub with the Streptosolen. I think 
this a happy idea well worth imitating.— W.B.G. 
POLYGONUM BALDSCHUANICUM. 
At present thfs is, I believe, a rather scarce plant, 
destined it may be to become both popular and 
common. The members of this family (Polygonum) 
differ very widely in their general appearance. Con¬ 
trast, for instance, the Buckwheat (P. Fagopyrum), an 
annual, some two feet in height, and P.cuspidatum, 
a hardy herbaceous plant sending up robust stems 
eight feet in height in one season ; and again the 
subject of the present notice, a hardy climbing plant 
suitable for rambliDg over an old tree. The leaves 
are cordate. The flowers are produced in great 
profusion in long racemes of white blossom. All 
lovers of beautiful and new plants should secure 
this, which is a real gem — W.B.G. 
FLOWERS IN SEASON. 
The following are some of the more ornamental, or 
conspicuous herbaceous plants flowering in the last 
week of May, at Kew :— Asphodelus albus,* Hedy- 
sarum microcalyx,* H. obscurum, H. neglectum, H. 
esculentum, Pentstemon confertus,* P. Menziesii,* 
P.M. var. Lewesii,* Valeriana pyrenaica,* Lathyrus 
undulatus,* L. pannonicos, L. variegatus, and L. 
macrorrbizus; also Trollius caucasicus,* T. asiati- 
cus, * Potentilla aurea,* Oenothera Nuttallii, Isaiis 
Villarsii,* Iberis correaefolia* (half shrubby), Sisym¬ 
brium austriacum, Aquilegia glandulosa,* A. flav- 
escens,* A. canadensis,* A. olympica, A. atrata, A. 
sibirica, A. vulgaris, A. v. multiflora,* and A. buer- 
geriana. The Lupines also are seen in Lupinus 
polyphyllus,* and p. nootkatensis.* There are also 
Thermopsis montana,* Symphytum officinale, S. 
bulbosum, S. tuberosum, S. asperrimuro, S. caucasi- 
cum, Pulmonaiia mollis,* Polemonium caeruleum,* 
and Anchusa Barrelieri.* The above by no means 
embrace all that are in flower, and do not touch 
the plants in the rockery. Those marked with an 
asterisk (*) are the most showy and valuable for 
general effect. 
MERTENSIA VIRGINIANA. 
Both in foliage and flower we have here a pretty 
subject. It is fairly well known, but might be 
better. The foliage is somewhat pale green or 
glaucous, smooth spathulate with broad stalks. The 
flowers are droopiDg, red and blue, on the same 
thyrsus, Borage-shaped, fairly tall, last well when 
cut, and form a pretty subject for the rockery or 
border. A deep, free soil is what suits it best 
—-— 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL NATIONAL TULIP SOCIETY, 
MIDDLETON. —June 2nd. 
The northern section of this society was held in the 
Free Library under the most favourable auspices. 
The entries in the thirteen classes were satisfactory 
and the new class for the most tasteful arrangement 
should be valuable, but the battalions of bottles in 
straight lines mar the effect of the beautiful flowers. 
For five stands of twelve dissimilar Tulips, two 
feathered,and two flamed in each class,Mr.Needham, 
Altrincham, gained the coveted position with Mabel, 
Annie McGregor, Sir J. Paxton, Dr. Hardy, and 
Talisman ; the premier flamed bloom was Mabel in 
this stand. Mr. J. W. Bentley was second ; Mr. A. 
Moorhouse third ; Mr. W. Millar fourth, and Mr. J. 
W. Wood fifth. 
Eight stands of six ditto but only one feathered and 
one flamed, in each class, Mr. Needham was again 
to the fore, with good blooms as mentioned above, 
having in addition Heroine. The other prizes went 
as named to Messrs. J. W. Bentley, W. Mellor, 
Moorhead, and J. W. Wood. 
For six dissimilar,one each of feathered and flamed, 
Mr. G. Eyre, Ripley, gained the leading award. 
For six stands of three feathered, one of each class, 
Mr. J. W. Bentley led with Adonis, Rifleman, &c. 
the other winners being Messrs. C. W. Needham, 
Moorhouse, W. Mellor, G. Eyre, and Wood. 
Six stands of three flamed Tulips, one of each 
class, was sent by Mr. C. W. Needham, who scored 
with fine blooms of Mabel, Sir J. Paxton, and Talis¬ 
man. Other prizes were awarded respectively to 
Messrs, J. W. Bentley, A. Moorhouse, G. Eyre, W. 
Mellor, and J. W. Wood. 
For six stands of two Tulips, one feathered, and 
one flamed, Mr. J. W. Bentley won with Cyril and 
Elizabeth Pegg. Other awards went to Messrs. A. 
Needham, A. Moorhouse, G. Eyre, W. Mellor, and 
J. W. Wood. 
For a single bloom in each class, prizes awarded 
in the order named : Feathered-rose, first and second, 
Mr. Needham for Modesty; fourth and fifth, Mr. 
