i4 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENERS 
Certainly not. But does it not possess an 
external resemblance to many members of 
that family? Indeed it does. It, however, 
belongs to that natural order whose members 
have their flowers in umbels (Umbelliferz). 
Our fiannel flower is, therefore, closely re- 
lated to the carrot, parsnip, celery, and other 
prosaic plants, and not to the daisy, of which 
the minor poets love to sing. Let us explain. 
Take a flannel flower. 
petals off, for they are in the way. We then 
have a soft woolly hemisphere, which consists, 
‘not cf one flower, but of a very large number 
closely packed together. Either cut or pick 
away half the flower-head. Even by naked 
eye it will then be seen that the flower-head 
is as stated, and it will be observed that the 
tiny flowers all radiate from one point, like 
the spokes of an umbrella. If you are ever 
in doubt as to what an umbel is, always think 
of the spokes of an umbrella. Of course, in 
the case of the flannel flower, where the in- 
dividual florets are so minute, the stalks of 
the umbel must be even more minute; in 
fact, they are so small that beginners over- 
look them altogether. It is best to examine 
this flower with a magnifying glass if one is 
handy, but this is not necessary to anyone 
with good eyesight, who can easily make out 
the parts.with the naked eye. Most of the 
little florets have anthers, which can be seen 
to be more abundant towards the circum- 
ference (periphery) of the flower-head, where 
it is yellow, than towards the middle. When 
the flannel flower is fully out, and has not 
run to seed, this can be made out readily 
by the naked eye. 
Just one other note about the flower. It 
may be that some of our readers scarcely 
thought we were serious in throwing doubts 
upon the “ petal” being petals.. But the fact 
of the matter is, the flannel flower has no 
petals. Ifyou were to put the most searching 
power of the. microscope on ‘to these little 
florets we have been speaking about, you 
would find no petals. 
The “petal” of the flannel flower are bracts 
—that is to say, each “petal” is a bract— 
and the whole of them, the whole “star,” is 
collectively known as an involucre. A bract 
may be described as a floral leaf, and it is not 
an essential part of the flower. The gaudy 
crimson part of the Poinsettia so often seen 
in gardens consists of bracts, the flower 
proper being comparatively inconspicuous. 
The flannel flower not infrequently shows 
good examples of what is known to botanists 
as “floral prolification,” and ~ popularly as-~ 
“hen and chickens.” Six to’ eleven (and 
even more) small heads of flowers, each on 
pedicels, and surrounded by say six bracts, 
often grow out of a common involucre. 
In this connection it may be desirable to 
allude to the fusion of parallel shoots known 
as “‘fasciation.” Often what appears to be 
the stalk of the flannel flower is apparently 
flattened out to a ribbon more or less wide. 
We have seen them as much as 4 inches 
wide, but fasciated stems half an inch wide 
are common. ‘This. phenomenon is usually 
accompanied by floral prolification. 
Distribution.—From Gippsland to Southern 
Queensland. It is particularly abundant in 
New South Wales, where it is apparently con- 
fined to the coast district, the dividing ranges, 
and the .table-lands. Found usually in the 
most sterile soil, though not exclusively so. 
Pull the ‘so-called ~ 
Propagation.—The amateur will not find 
it easy to propagate the flannel flower. Our 
experience is that the fruitlets do not readily 
germinate, but it may be propagated from 
“seed” or fruitlets. Another method is by 
dividing the plant, but no matter what method 
is adopted it is not easy to ensure success. 
THE MAGNOLIAS. 
O——- 
HE North American trees composing the 
genus Magnolia are certainly among the 
most splendid productions of the forest in 
any temperate climate, and when we consider 
the size and fragrance of their blossoms, or 
the beauty of their large and noble foliage, 
we may be allowed to doubt whether there is 
a mote magnificent and showy genus of de- 
ciduous trees in the world, with the excep- 
tion of a few shrubs or smaller native trees 
of China and the mountains of Central Asia. 
It belongs exclusively to North America, as 
no individual of this genus is indigenous to 
Europe or Africa. The large evergreen 
Magnolia (M. Grandiflora), or Big Laurel, as 
it is sometimes called, is peculiarly indigenous 
to North Carolina, where its trunk often 
grows seventy feet in height, carrying a superb 
pyramid of deep green foliage which renders it 
one of the loveliest and most majestic of trees. 
The leaves, which are evergreen, and some- 
what resemble the Laurel in form, are gene- 
rally six or eight inches in length, thick in 
texture, and brilliantly polished on the upper 
surface. The highly fragrant flowers are 
composed of about six petals, opening in a 
wide cup-like form, of the most snowy white- 
ness of colour, scattered among the rich 
foliage: ‘Their effect is exquisitely beautiful. 
Several varieties have been raised from the 
seed of this species in England, the most 
beautiful being the Exmouth Magnolia, with 
fine foliage, rusty beneath. It produces its 
flowers much earlier and more abundantly 
than the original sort. 
The Cucumber Magnolia (M. Acuminata), 
is so called from the appearance of the young 
fruit, which is not unlike a green cucumber. 
This species, which is also a native of North 
America, attains a height of 70 to 80 ft. The 
leaves are deciduous, like those of all other 
Magnolias, except M. Grandiflora, about 
six inches long and four broad, acumi- 
nate at the points, and of a bluish green on 
the surface. The flowers are about six 
«inches-in -diameter, of a pale yellow, much 
like those of the tulip tree, and slightly frag- 
rant. ‘This noble tree is destined to become 
a great favourite with us on account of the 
excellent shelter it will afford. 
The large-leaved Magnolia, M. Ma- 
crophylla, is not known in Australia. It is 
one of the rarest of the genus. The leaves 
grow to an enormous size when the tree is 
young, often measuring three feet long and 
nine inches across. ‘The flowers are also im- 
mense, opening out to the size of a hat crown, 
and diffusing a most agreeable odour. ‘This 
handsome species would only grow in the 
colder parts of Australia—in places like the 
Mount Lofty Ranges, S.A., Mount Macedon, 
and Ballarat, Victoria. 
The Chinese Purple Magnolia (M. Pur- 
purea), which produces an abundance of 
large delicate purple blossoms early in the 
AUGUST I, 1902; 
spring, attains a height of about 4 to 6 feet. 
It has been proved to be hardy on the plains 
and other districts in Australia. 
The Yulan or Chinese White Magnolia 
(M. Conspicua) is one of the showiest of the 
small growing Magnolias. Itis a most abun- 
dant bloomer, bearing beautiful white frag- 
rant flowers in September before the leaves 
appear. Itis quite hardy. M. Soulangeanaisa 
hybrid between the foregoing, with large flowers, 
delicately tinted with white and purple. 
Magnolia Stellata is another very showy 
Japanese species. It is a dwarf grower, and 
very profuse bloomer. Flowers are about 4 in. 
across, the petals being narrower and more 
numerous than in the other known varieties. 
The Magnolias in order to thrive well re- 
quire a deep rich soil. In nearly all cases, to 
secure luxuriance they should be improved 
by adding a little decayed manure, and occa- 
sionally watering during the heat of summer. 
All the Magnolias are such superbly beautiful 
6bjects upon a lawn, especially when they 
are clothed with luxuriant foliage and large 
odoriferous flowers, that they need no further 
recommendation to ensure their regard and 
admiration from all persons who have room 
for their culture. If possible, situations 
somewhat sheltered either by building or 
trees should be chosen for all the species, 
except Magnolia Grandiflora, which thrives 
well in almost any aspect.—M 
THE POCKET LENS IN BOTANY. 
Many students accustomed to the com- 
pound, microscope and elaborately mounted 
specimens fail to see how much can be 
done with a simple lens. The best is 
Browning’s Platyscopic, but, failing this, 
au ordinary doublet is of service. Armed 
with such a lens the component parts of 
a flower can be examined and its genus de- 
termined by Thonner’s Key, and the 
species then traced by reference to larger 
works. But let us suppose that the stu- 
dent wisnes to confine his observations to 
onc branch, say leaf-hairs. He will 
naturally wish to keep his specimens in a 
convenient and permanent form. The 
following procedure is recommended :— 
Take a sheet of thick cardboard and rule 
it off into divisions 3 in. by lin. With a 
half-inch gun punch cut out the centre of 
each division. Then paste on the back a 
thin sheet of cardboard, finally cut up into 
separate slides. (‘hese will look better 
if, before being separated, an inner margin 
has been ruled to torm a frame.) The 
slides so prepared are, in fact, shallow cells 
into which discs of the leaves, cut with the 
same punch, are to be placed and gummed 
dcwn. Next take pieces of half-inch wood, 
6 in. by 34 in., and nail round them strips 
of card 1} in. high: these will form trays 
to hold the slides, and can be kept covered 
from dust by another strip of card. - 
The specimens should be kept sorted ac- 
cording to genera, and indexed on the 
cover, and the names should be written 
lengthwise on the left-hand end of the 
slide. The collection will gradually grow 
and become more and more interesting. 
Of course, Ferns may be similarly mounted 
to show sori and spores. 
