4300. ] Monthly Botanical Report. 42} 
anthers consist of two lobes; that these lobes are more or less approximate, and frequently, 
as in this order, quite distinct. But though the lobes are distinct, Dr. Sims considers them 
as composing one anther only. With respect to Dr. Smith’s remark, Dr. Sims observes, 
that a perpendicular section of the flower shews that the stamens are nor really attached to 
the true germen, but to certain processes of the corolla; and that these plants do not there- 
fore belong to the class Gynandria,—Epacris pulcheila, a valuable acquisition to our list of 
New-Holland plants, gratifying at once the sight and the smell.—-Erodium Aymenodes, one 
of the hardy species of Geranium, or more properly Feron’s-bill. As Northern Africa is little 
distant from Europe, so this species, a native of the former country, approaches much nearer 
in affinity to the European species, than those from the southern extremity of Africa.—Cy- 
tisus purpureus: we have some doubts whether this be really a distinct species from Cytisus 
supinus.—Podalyria alba: a hardy perennial, of easy culture, and deserving a place in every 
extensive collection. Mr. Salisbury has, in the Linnean Transactions, divided Sophora into 
several distingt genera, applying the name of Podalyria to the Cape species, which are fruti- 
cose. Inthis Dr. Sims has not thought fit to follow him, although he appears to approve of 
the division. If Mr. Salisbury’s genera should be in future adopted, and. the name of Poda~- 
lyria be applied as he has done, Dr. Sims recommends that of ‘Thermopsis (Lupin-face) for 
the American species, which are herbaceous, and alike in their habit: Thermos being a 
Greek name for Lupin, which these plants so much resemble.’ wo species of Asclepias, the 
givea and variegata, both characteristically figured ; but the former having only one terminal 
umbel, hardly represents the general habit of the plant; nor is the snowy whiteness of the 
nectaries, from which it has its name, sufficiently expressed, Protea specissa.—-Stapelia 
elegans.—Nyrmnphza versicolor, a very fine figure of a new species of water-lily from the East 
Indies, whence it was introduced by Dr. Roxburgh, and is cultivated with great success at 
Mr. Vere’s, Kensington Gore. ‘This species belongs to Mir. Salisbury’s Castalia, and is 
nearly allied to, though distinct from, N. Lotus.—-Viminaria denudata 5 one of the pretty 
pepilionaceous tribe fiom New South Wales. —Gloxinia maculata, formerly known by the 
name of Martynia perennis, and inserted uncer both names by Professor Martyn in his new 
edition of Millers Dictionary. It appears by the observations here made, that the arrange- 
ment of this plant, and some of its relatives, accoraing to their natural affinities, has been 
attended with fome difficulties, which has occasioned the establishment of a new natural 
order. 
The Botanists Repository, No. 112, contains, what is here called Protea speciosa varietas 
patens which is undoubtedly a distinct species from the P. speciosa of the Botanical Maga- 
zine,-—Mimosa pudica ; or the sensitive plant. It is here said that its ‘* shrinking from the 
touch is supposed to be owing to its being strongly saturated with oxygen gas, which it 
disengages upon the slightest prevocation, and its place for a short time is supplied by the 
atmospheric air.” We do not know upon the authority of what experiments this supposition 
is founded, nor do we see how the hypothesis can account for the phenomena at all satisfac- 
torily.—Protea abrotanifolia varietas odorata; a good figure of a very elegant little shrub, 
the more valuable as its flowers are fragrant.—-Monarda punctata a very beautiful species 
from the collection of Messrs. Whitley and Brame, worthy of cultivation, but far more 
uncommon than some of the less ornamental species.—Passiflora perfoliata from the collection 
of the Comtesse de Vandes. Wildenow describes the segments of the calyx as being shorter 
by half than the petals; while in this drawing both parts are equal. 
No. 112 contains a very fine figure of Cucumis Dudaim, frém the collection of Aylmer 
Bourke Lambert, esq. This plant says the author was named Dudaim by Linneus, §* from 
the fantastical idea that it was the fruit mentioned in the Bibie by the name of mandrake, 
with which Jacob’s megle&ted wiie purchased her hufband’s favours for oae night of her rival.” 
Now whether Linnzeus supposed the fruit of this species of melon to be the real Dudaim or 
not, the name was very properly applied, because some learned men had imagined it to be so, 
for however ‘* fantastical,” it was no new idea of his. And in our opinion there has been no 
mose probable guess mace amongst all che ‘¢ fantastical ideas” that have been entertained 
upon this subject, for the objection that Hiller, who imagined the mandrakes were cherries, 
made to it, that Dudaim is used by Jeremiah for a vessel (or in our translation a basket) 
containing figs, may be explaines fully as probably as his notion that they were bowls turned 
out of the cherry tree. ~ For Dudaim might perhaps be as general a word as gourd, and we 
know there are gourds no bigger than oranges, and others so large that capacious ve*els are 
made of them. ‘The fruit of the Cucumis Dudaim is a beautifully striped round melon or 
gourd, admired for its very fragrant smell, and is probably a native of Syria, which is much 
more to the purpose, than whether it be of Egyptian origin or not, Egypt not being the 
country of jacob. Pascalia g/avca of Ortega, a native of Chili, from the same collection — 
Hermanrnia jiammea of Jacquin’s Hortus Schoenbrunensis, a native of the Cape, taken at 
Mr. Knights in the King’s Road, the possessor of Mr. Hubbert’s late collection, 
speciés of Lopezia, the coronata native of South as the next (Hypericum 
North America. 
In No. 114 we have Lobelia assurgens, a very scarce plant communicated by A. B, Lam- 
bert, esq. from his stove at Boyton, where it is remarked that the fowers died away without 
producing seeds, which perhaps might be owing to its being treated with too mych warmth, 
being 
A new 
wirgini¢uin) is of 
