CEANOTHUS.

Ceanothus americànus New Jersey Tea. A delicate flowering shrub, from two to four feet high, with a root large and red. Leaves alternate, three-nerved, fine pure green, pubescent beneath, two or three inches long, and one inch broad, tapering into a long point, and finely notched on the margin. From the axils of the upper leaves, arise leafless branches, bearing crowded, panicled clusters of white flowers, on very slender, white stems. Calyx divisions five, bent between the petals. Petals five, hooded at their tops, and supported on slender claws, which project, together with the stamens, between the divisions of the calyx. Around the germ, is a small circle of green. The fruit is a dry, threecelled, blackish, somewhat triangular berry, growing in close bunches. The leaves have been substituted for tea.-Not unfrequent in woods, in dry, sandy soil. Grows near Mount Auburn.-Flowers in June and July.

CELASTRUS.

Celastrus scandens Waxwork, Climbing Staff. A strong woody vine, twining around small trees, and sometimes rising to the height of thirty, or perhaps even fifty feet. I have traced one of its roots sixty feet without arriving at the end; although the largest part of the root, or of the stem, was not a half an inch thick. I believe it is not uncommon for two of these vines to intertwine, and bear each other up without foreign support. Leaves oblong, notched in the margin, long-pointed. Flowers greenish white, minute, in small clusters with branching stems, growing on the ends of young shoots. The fruit is a berry inclosed in a round, threevalved capsule, as a walnut is inclosed in the hull. When the fruit is ripe, the valves or hulls turn backward, without falling off, and disclose a berry of a deep scarlet, finely contrasted with the lighter scarlet of the valves; the whole appearing like a flower of waxwork.-Woods, thickets, &c.-June. CEPHALANTHUS.

Cephalanthus occidentalis Button Bush. A frequent ornament of water sides, where it rises to the elevation of five or six feet. Leaves tough, egg-shaped, pointed, not indented on the margin, and standing either opposite, or in threes. Flowers sweet scented, white, crowded into globular heads, about an inch in diameter, and appearing, at a distant view, like the balls of the plane or button-wood tree. The appearance of this shrub on elevated ground, often indicates the presence of springs of water."-Swamps, &c.-July.

Watertown, Sept. 9th, 1835.

VOL. II.-NO. I.

Yours,

E. B. KENRICK.

(To be continued.)
3

ART. V.

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Observations on the Caméllia, and its Varieties, with some Account of its Introduction into Great Britain and this Country. By M. P. WILDER.

(Continued from Vol. I, p. 138.)

Varieties of the Caméllia Japónica.

1. Caméllia japónica álba simplici. Single White Camellia.

This camellia is of strong, robust growth; the foliage large, and more deeply veined than almost any other variety; the flowers are of a pure white color, and the formation like the single red. This is one of the very best, either to produce seed, or to cross other kinds with. Of its origin, Messrs. Chandler and Booth remark: "Some persons are of opinion that it was imported from China, but we believe it now more generally known to have been raised from seed of the double stripe, by Mr. Rollison, of the Tooting Nursery."

2. Caméllia japónica rùbra semi-duplex.

Semi-double Red Camellia.

This has a flower similar to the single red, except that it has two or more rows of guard petals.

3. Caméllia japónica álba semi-dùplex. Chandler & Booth. Palmer's semi-double White Camellia.

The habit and foliage of this plant is said to resemble the pompone and pæony flowered; the flowers are large, measuring four to four and a half inches, furnished with two or three rows of exterior petals of a delicate white color, and filled in the centre with a crowded column of stamina. It is supposed to be a Chinese variety, and to have been introduced about 1822. It is seldom to be met with in our collections.

4. Caméllia japónica flòre plèno álba.

Double White Camellia.

Bourbon Camellia.

This splendid variety was imported from China into England in 1792, and is not only one of the oldest, but the most generally admired of all the camellias. The flowers are of a pure snowy white, from three and a half to four and a half inches in diameter, and regularly formed; the petals being arranged one over the other, in the most regular order to the very centre. It is one of the earliest to come into flower in cultivation, and a large plant will continue to bloom for four or five months.

5. Caméllia japónica variegata. Loddiges' Botanical Cabinet. Double Striped Camellia.

This old, but deservedly esteemed variety was introduced into Great Britain in the same year with the double white. It is of robust habit, flowers early and abundantly, and will sometimes produce seed. The flowers are of a fine rose color, three or four inches in diameter, and striped or blotched with white; like all the variegated kinds, it is apt to sport, and will occasionally show a plain red flower. It is said by experienced cultivators, that this variety is degenerating, and from my own observation, I am inclined to the same opinion.

6. Caméllia japónica rùbra plèna. Loddiges' Botanical Cabinet. Greville's Red.

Double Red Camellia.

This camellia was imported from China in 1794, and of which Messrs. Chandler and Booth observe: "Some confusion exists in regard to this variety, from its being cultivated in many collections under the name of the Old Red, and Greville's Red, both being considered distinct varieties; but after having compared plants with these names that were subjected to the same treatment, we are satisfied there is no difference whatever between them, their flowers being precisely the same in every respect. The flowers are from three to three and a half inches in diameter, of a crimson red color, and resemble the flower of a large double hibiscus." 7. Caméllia japónica incarnàta. Loddiges' Botanical Cabinet. Buff or Hume's Blush.

Lady Hume's Blush.

This charming variety was imported into England in 1806, by Lady Hume, whose name it bears. The plant is of a slender and straggling growth; the flowers of a clear fleshcolor; the petals regularly arranged over each other, after the manner of the double white, and somewhat recurved. The formation of this flower is, in some instances, so regular, that its appearance is hexangular, and has, on that account, been taken for C. hexangulàris; the true hexangularis is, however, not a white, but a red flower, and is supposed to be either myrtifolia, or a variety thereof. In the Camellias de Bolwiller there is a drawing of C. incarnàta, and another variety called rosea flavéscens, and from a comparison of the plants and foliage, I cannot doubt their being one and the same, although flavéscens is described as a white-clear-yellow and rose, completely full, and incarnata is a clear flesh-color, and hexagonal. I have imported these varieties from France, for the purpose of proving them, and will communicate it, should they not turn out synonymous.

8. Caméllia japónica Pompònia. Botanical Register. Kew Blush. Curtis's Monograph.

Ladies' Head Dress Camellia of the French.

About this variety there exists a great diversity of opinion; some contending that it is as distinct as any in cultivation, always bearing a white flower; others, that it produces the red, white, and blush, pæony flowered on the same plant. Of the former opinion, are Messrs. Chandler and Booth, and of the latter, Messrs. Baumann, in their Camellias de Bolwiller. There is a variety known among cultivators as C. variábilis, or various flowered, which I think can be no other than the pompone; and I am confirmed in the opinion from the circumstance of having had, during the last winter, on a plant of the pompone, at the same time, a pure white, and also a pink flower. The plant is of free growth, but of slender habit, and usually produces a white flower, slightly tinged at the base of the petals with pink, and sometimes faintly striped with the same color. Wishing for occular demonstration in regard to this variety, I ordered, a year or two since, from the Messrs. Baumann, and also from the Messrs. Chandler, a plant each of the pompone, variábilis, and pæony flowered, and will give you the result of my experience the present winter.

9. Caméllia japónica ròsea. Camellia japónica cárnea. Camellia japónica rosacea.

Chandler & Booth's Illustrations.
Hort. Soc. Trans.

Middlemist's Red Caméllia.

Curtis's Monograph.

Rosea plena. Camellias de Bolwiller.

This camellia was introduced into England in 1804, by Mr. Middlemist, a nurseryman, and has been cultivated under a great variety of names. The plant is of very rapid growth; branches erect, and is a valuable sort to inarch costly varieties upon. The flowers are of a pale rose color, and the petals less numerous than in most double varieties. The style is sometimes perfect, and from it have been produced some fine sorts; several drawings having recently appeared in the English periodicals, which, if not exaggerated, must be truly splendid, and will rank with the first order. These (seven varieties) were all raised at the seat of Mr. Campbell, member of parliament from Lancashire, and are named Hendersonii, heteropétela álba, Campbellii, venústum, Adelaideii, Juliànii, and heteropétela rùbra [1. p. 343]. 10. Caméllia japónica anemoneflòra. Botanical Magazine. Warratah Caméllia.

This is one of the original Chinese kinds imported into Great Britain in 1806. The growth of this plant is strong and robust, the leaves of a very dark shining green color, flat

and pendulous; the flower buds of a dark brown color, and very pubescent. The color of the flower is a dark crimson, and the shape that of an anemone, from which it derives its name. There is a variety called crassinérvis [of the English catalogues], much resembling the warratah; it is readily distinguished by its having seven guard petals, while the latter has but five. The warratah is one of the finest for raising seed, it being without stamens, and the style always prominent and visible. From this variety have been produced more new and beautiful seedlings, than from any other sort. It is the parent of eximia, élegans, corallina, Chandlèrii, Concinna, flórida, Woodsi, althæflora, &c.

11. Caméllia japónica myrtifolia. Hort. Soc. Trans. Myrtle-leaved Caméllia.

Involuta, or Lady Long's, of some catalogues.

There is probably no longer a doubt that this is the same variety that has been cultivated under the different names of large myrtle leaved, small myrtle leaved, involùta or Lady Long's. It is also said to be the kind known in China as C. hexangularis. It was introduced in 1808. It is a beautiful variety; the flower of a pure rose color, very compact and regular in its formation, after the style of the double white; and is said to be a little fragrant, although I never could perceive it. It is not usual, but I have seen a few perfect stamina, and with the pollen, impregnated the warratah, and obtained seed. This plant is of very slow growth, not obtaining a large size for many years. The largest I have ever seen is now in the possession of the Messrs. Hovey, being about six feet in height.

12. Caméllia japónica fimbriàta. Trans. Hort. Soc.

Fringed Double White.

This lovely variety resembles the double white in almost every respect, both as it regards foliage and flower, except that the latter has the peculiar and singular character of being fringed after the manner of the picotee, and is the only variety yet known, unless it is Park's rose stripe (which I hope soon to see the flower of) that has this remarkable characteristic.

13. Caméllia japónica pæoniæflòra ròsea. Chand. & Booth's Il. Red Pæony-flowered Camellia.

See C. Pompònia. This I believe to be a distinct and the only variety of the pæony-flowered, having blossomed with me for three or four years past, and invariably produced a rose-colored flower. The habit and foliage of the plant, strongly resemble the pompone.