104 
SCIENTIFIC GLEANINGS. 
it has indeed been asserted that plants having foliage with any colour different from the various 
shades of green, are not in a true state of health, but the result of much experience, is decidedly 
adverse to such an hypothesis, since the marks of yellow and white and crimson are not only the same 
in the same variety, but invariably permanent in their duration, and this, too, while the functions of 
the plants are perfectly regular and complete. 
Variegated plants, then, may be very properly considered as a distinct class; and while it is 
perhaps impossible to account satisfactorily for their peculiarities, their numbers continue to increase. 
Even many of the common wild plants have been accidentally obtained with beautifully marked foliage- 
Variegated plants are seldom if ever successfully propagated from seed, and therefore the surest 
and best methods of perpetuating a variety having the leaves marked with white, yellow, or red, are 
by division, by cuttings, or by grafting or budding on a stock of the plain leaved species. 
With respect to the flowers of variegated plants, those of the Geranium, Bramble, and many of the 
small herbaceous genera, are in nowise inferior to those of the true species; while in the case of some 
exotics, there is a striking paucity of colour, and often of the size of the flower, and this is especially 
the case with plants that are natives of tropical climates. Nothing, for example, can surpass the rich 
markings of the leaves of some of the species of Ancectochilus, Physurus , Eossinia, Cissus discolor, or 
even Maranta , and one or two species of Caladium, as C. bicolor, hut their flowers are not at all 
attractive. On the other hand, JEclimea fulgens, and Vriesia speciosa, form rare examples of a richly- 
coloured inflorescence accompanying finely-marked leaves in tropical species. 
The number of variegated plants of dwarf habit, suitable for growing in pots or the borders, is now 
considerable, and amateurs having small gardens may derive much pleasure in the culture of a select 
group. Many species of Alpine plants are to he obtained with variegated leaves. Striking pecu¬ 
liarities in plants are always interesting, and when connected with beautiful colour or handsome 
forms, their value is much augmented.—P. F. K. 
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SCIENTIFIC GLEANINGS. 
1/71HE following particulars are gleaned from the proceedings of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 
A at its meeting on the 10th June :—Mr. M’Nab mentioned a magnificent specimen of the Lilium 
giganteum of Wallich, or X. cor difolium of Don’s Flora Nepalensis, now flowering, for the first time in 
Britain, in the Comely Bank Nurseries, from seed originally sent home by Major Madden, collected in 
the damp shady woods of Kemaon. The plant at Comely Bank is now nine feet six inches high, and 
in flower. Major Madden states that this gigantic Lily grows at between /000 to 9000 feet of elevation, 
in deep black vegetable soil, and averagings from five to eight feet in height, the bulbs being always 
found on the surface of the soil. 
A paper was read from C. C. Babington, Esq., M.A., on a supposed new species of Eleocharis. 
The plant described by Mr. Babington had been picked in the autumn of 1844, by Professor Balfour, 
at Taynlone, in Cantyre, along with 8dry us paucijlorus. Among specimens of the latter plant 
transmitted bv Dr. B., Mr. H. C. Watson had detected the new species to be noticed. The species has 
been denominated Eleocharis Watsoni by Mr. Babington, and is thus described : Spikes terminal, 
solitary, oblong; glumes acute, (?) the lowest one somewhat blunt, and surrounding the base of the 
spike; style bifid; the achene convex on both sides, oblong, very obtuse, with its base slightly 
attenuated, the angles rounded, and obscurely punctate-striated, the base of the style persistent, 
broadly depressed; four—six hypogynous setae shorter than the achene; culms sheathed at the base, 
the sheath abruptly truncate. Mr. Babington, after remarking on the differences between it and the 
allied plants, Eleocharis uniglumis, E. multicaulis, and E. palustris, expressed an earnest hope that 
some botanist would visit the locality in Cantyre, and determine more completely the character of the ^ 
species, which at present rests on the examination of three or four specimens only. 
