338 
THE QARDENINU WORLD. 
April IS, 1903 . 
The Best Flowering Plants at Kew. 
“ There are more plants in. the garden than ye wot of.” 
Oncidium phymatochilum. 
A remarkably distinct species, both as regards its dowers 
and vegetative organs, possessing an elegant habit and charm¬ 
ing appearance. The: ioosely-panicled indorescence attains a 
length of from 3 ft. to 5 ft., and is exceptionally doriferous. The 
three-lobed lip is white, with red about the crest. 
Crinum Macowani, 
An imposing species, requiring a warm intermediate tem¬ 
perature. It belongs to> the sub-genus Codonocrinum—that 
is, those having a funnel-shaped perianth and permanently 
curved tube:—and is. closely related to: C. latifolium, from 
which it chiefly differs: by its size. It has a globose bulb, 9 in. 
tio 10 in. in diameter, which, possesses a long neck. The stem 
bears an eight to twelve-dowered umbel of white dowers: slightly 
tinged red on the outside:. The cylindrical curved greenish 
tube is about 4 in., long, whilst the limb is equally as long. 
Native of Natal. 
Clerodendron myrmecophilum. 
A meritorious stove plant deserving of extended culture, 
yielding in 6-in. pots single-stemmed plants 14 in. to 1 18 in. 
high, of highly decorative value. According to Ridley, 
naturally it forms a small, s.oft-wooded shrub about 3 ft. high, 
the intei-nodes of the stem, except when young, being hollow, 
inflated, and serving as a, home for a species of ant; hence its 
specific name:. The general appearance is that of a short stem 
bearing oblong, lanceolate leaves and topped with an erect 
cone-shaped raceme, 10 in. long, fully 6 in. through at the 
base, and recalling to mind the inflorescence of a Horse Chest¬ 
nut. The flowers are reddisli-buff, with pedicels and calyces 
clothed with red hairs, and produced on the horizontal branch- 
lets of the raceme in. a. dichotomous manner. In outline the 
form of the flower represents that segment of a, circle, having 
about one-third removed, there being no anterior petal, the 
two lateral ones are so arranged that them lower edge forms 
a chord, the points of the petals forming the arc of the circle. 
Native of Zanzibar. 
Euadenia eminens. 
This species differs from all the others by its singularly 
handsome inflorescence, which lias been described as resem¬ 
bling a candelabrum in: its ramifications, and the two: erect, 
showy petals as representing pairs of gas-jets. A soft-wooded 
stove §hrub, about 12 in. to: 18 in. high, bearing trifoliolate 
leaves, the leaflets being 4 in. to 6 in. long', and corymbose 
inflorescence* of yellowish flowers, the two posterior petals 
and long stamens being very conspicuous. Native of West 
Africa. 
Clianthus Dampicrii. 
Usually a procumbent plant, admirably suited lor furnish¬ 
ing baskets for greenhouse decoration. By reason of the 
abundance of silky-white 'hairs scattered over it the: plant has 
a hoary appearance. The angular stems are tinged red, giving 
off pinnate leaves of sixteen leaflets: closely placed. Wings 
small, with a. deflexed pointed keel longer than the standard, 
the whole' flower being of an intense red colour. Native of 
Australia. 
Tetratheea pilosa (syn. T. ericoides). . . . f 
A charming small Heath-like plant, about 1-. m. high, of 
a free branching habit, the branches being densely studded 
their entire length with pinkish-purple flowers cf four petals. 
Beino- of small stature with drooping or arching wiry branches, 
it is admirably suited for fronting greenhouse stages. Native 
of Australia. 
An exceedingly attractive member of the Cape family, attain¬ 
ing to a height of 12 in. to 18 in. The flowers, freely produced 
on nodding pedicels, are bell-shaped and of a. lovely pinkish- 
purple hue. 
Begonia manicala. . 
Given an intermediate temperature, this proves one of the 
most useful of winter-flowering fibrous-rooted Begonias, In 
pots, or preferably planted out in conjunction with Ferns, it 
freely produces numerous pink flowers in branching cymes 
borne on a, long stalk, which are useful for cutting. Native of 
Mexico. 
Allium neapolitanum. 
Given greenhouse treatment, this Daffodil garlic is at Easter¬ 
tide a most useful plant either for cutting or for house decora¬ 
tion. Native’ of South Europe. 
Magnolia conspicua. 
As a specimen plant for a lawn this is without a rival at the 
present season. A medium-sized tree, whose branches are 
literally clothed with large, cup-shaped, white fragrant flowers. 
Native of China and Japan. 
Spiraea Thunbergii, 
A beautiful dwarf hardy shrub growing from 3 ft. to 4 ft. 
high, with linear, small bright green leaves, and corymbs of 
small white flowers produced in the axils of the leaves the 
whole length of the shoot. An excellent subject for forcing. 
Native of Japan. 
Leucojum pulchellum (syn. L. Hernandezii). 
One of the prettiest plants in the rock garden, lasting in 
flower for a considerable period. It is nearly related to- L. 
aestivum, differing by its smaller flowers, narrower leaves, and 
early flowering. Native of Sardinia and Balearic Isles. 
Greenhouse Wallflowers at Kew. 
The: tender Cheirantliusi mutabilis, which is a Canary Island 
species requiring the protection of a greenhouse, lias long been 
known in cultivation, but it is a plant that is not showy enough 
to warrant its inclusion in a list of subjects suitable for con¬ 
servatory decoration,; hence its absence from most collections 
outside those of purely botanical interest. Although, however, 
the small purple flowers: are not particularly showy, they are 
produced somewhat, freely, arid, as the plant is a shrub with a 
bushy habit, the idea, was. conceived at Kew that it, might be 
used as a, parent, to 1 produce: a. shrubby Wallflower with a good 
bushy habit and flowers more after the style of those of the 
common garden Wallflower. With this idea, in, view, flowers 
of C. mutabilis were pollinised with pollen from a yellow form 
of C. Cheiri in. May, 1897. From this cross a plant was raised 
which flowered for- the: flrsit time in January, 1898, and this 
plant is called C. liybridus. In general appearance it most 
closely resembles: C. mutabilis:, but the leaves are longer and 
about twice as wide as: those of the: species. The: flowers differ 
from those of C. mutabilis by being in longer racemes, and 
by being larger', violet-scented, and a different colour. The, 
racemes are light, and semi-pendent and 9 in. or more long. 
The flowers are borne freely and are \ in. across, yellowish 
when they first open, and turning to a, purple shade with age. 
In 1898 no seed was obtained from this plant, but in May, 
1899, by using the pollen from a blood-red form of C. Cheiri. 
a single seed was obtained. This seed produced a plant which, 1 
flowered in January, 1900, and this plant was given the name! 
of C. kewensis. In habit, C. kewensiis is sturdy and bushy: 
the leaves are much larger than those of the other variety, the 
largest being' 7 in. long and f in. wide, the teeth along the 
margins being less, numerous than in C. liybridus. The flowers 
are borne, in long racemes, which are a little sturdier than 
those of the first, hybrid. They are J in. to 1 in. across, orange 
on the inside and reddish-brown, on the outside when they first 
open, changing with age to pale purple. They are: very fragrant, 
the scent being similar to. that of the common Wallflower. By 
the autumn of 1900 the original plant was 11 ft. high and 2 ft. 
through. It commenced to flower in the early winter, and 
flowered continuously from that tune until the end of May. 
1901. Both plants are readily increased by means, of cuttings: 
of young wood, and, by a. little attention, to stopping, make good- 1 
sized, bushy plants in a few months’ time. Throughout summer- 
a cold frame suffices, or they may be plunged out of doors; 
during winter they like a, bright position in a house, with a 
dry temperature of 45 deg. to 50 deg. W. D. 
