Leucadéndrons, Silver tree, above forty species, all natives of Cape of Good Hope. They are evergreens with handsome, silvery-like foliage. L. argentéum (once Pròtea argentéa) is a great beauty; foliage white, lanceolate, and silky. It is a plant that has been long in cultivation, greatly admired, and much sought for, and is the finest of the genus. L. squarròsum, L. stellàtum, (once Pròtea stellaris) L. tórtum, L. servíceum, L. margìnàtum, and L. plumôsum (once P. parviflòra) are all fine species. The pots must be well drained, and the plants never over-watered. They are very desirable in collections for their beauty of foliage; flowers similar to Pròtea.
Magnòlias. There are four species that require the protection of our Green-houses; all the others are hardy. M. fuscàta, and M. annonæfòlia, are very similar in foliage and flower: the young branches and leaves of M. fuscàta is covered with a brown, rusty-like down; the other by some is considered merely a variety; flowers small, brown, and very sweet-scented. M. pùmila is very dwarf growing; leaves large and netted; flowers semi-double, white, pendant, and fragrant. They are natives of China. We have several others from the east, but being deciduous are perfectly hardy. M. odoratíssima, now Talàuma Candólii, a native of the Island of Java, and said to be very odoriferous, but is very rare even in Europe; said to have a straw coloured flower. M. conspícua is desirable to have in the Green-house, if enarched on a stock of M. purpùrea, which will always keep it dwarf, and it will flower magnificently in February and March.
Melalèucas, above thirty species, and a beautiful genus of New Holland plants, of easy culture; flowers come out of the wood like fringes. M. elíptica, M. fúlgens, scarlet, M. decussàta, M. hypericifòlia, M. squarròsa, M. linarifòlia, M. incana, M. tetragònia, M. thymifòlia, are all very fine species, and flower freely if they have been grown from cuttings; the singularity of flower and diversity of foliage make them generally thought of.
Maurándias, three species, of very pretty climbing Green-house plants, flowering from March to October. M. Barclàyana has splendid flowers, large, light blue, campanulate, and very abundant. M. semperflòrens has rose coloured flowers, of the same character. They will flower best if planted in the ground.
Myrsínes, Cape Myrtle, dwarf cape evergreen shrubs covered with small flowers from March to May. M. retùsa has green and purple flowers; M. rotundifòlia, flowers white and purple. They will grow in any situation, and are of easy culture.
Méspilus japónica. The plant, known under that name, is now Eriabòtrya japónica, Loquat, is a fine plant with large lanceolate, distantly serrated leaves, white underneath; small white flowers on a racemose spike, and produces a fruit about the size of a walnut, of a fine yellow blush colour, and of delicious flavour. If it flowers in the fall, it will require the heat of a Hot-house to ripen the fruit. It is of very easy culture, and its noble aspect is never passed unobserved.
Metrosidèros, about five species. Many have been added to Callistèmon. M. flòrida, M. umbellata, and M. angustifòlia, are the best species. C. salígnum, C. lanceolàtum, variety semperiflòrens, C. glaùcum, once M. speciòsa, has splendid scarlet flowers and C. formòsum; these are all beautiful plants, with scarlet flowers. Other two beautiful species with white flowers have been given to Angóphora. A. cordifòlia, once M. híspida, and A. lanceolàta, once M. costàta; these genera are very easily distinguished from any other Australasian shrubs, by the peculiar character of having both sides of the leaves alike. The flowers consist of stamens, stiles, and anthers, coming in hundreds out of the young wood for the length of three or four inches, forming a dense cone crowned with a small twig; leaving capsules in the wood, which will keep their seeds perfect for a great number of years. They grow freely, and the pots should be well drained.
Myrtus, Myrtle, is a well known and popular shrub, especially the common varieties; and was a great favourite, (even to adoration,) among the ancients. It was the mark of authority for Athenian rulers, and is amongst the moderns an emblem of pre-eminence. They are elegant evergreen shrubs, with an agreeable odour. M. commùnis multipléx, double flowering, is a very neat shrub, and flowers abundantly. M. commùnis leucocárpa, White-fruited Myrtle, is quite unique, when the berries are on it. M. itálica variagáta, striped leaved; M. itálica maculàta, blotch leaved, are very fine shrubs; and M. tomentòsa, Chinese Myrtle, is a magnificent erect growing shrub, with a white down over the foliage; the flowers are the largest of the genus. When they first expand, they are white, and afterwards change to purple, so that there are beautiful flowers of several shades of colour on the plant. We have not the smallest doubt but this species will become in many instances as plentiful as the common myrtle. It is more easily grown, but cannot stand much exposure to the sun in summer. M. tenuifòlia is a very fine plant, and a native of New South Wales. Myrtles in general should be sprinkled with water in the evenings, to keep off mildew and red spider.
Nandìna doméstica, the only species, and a popular shrub in the gardens of Japan, where it is called Nandin. It has supra-decompound leaves, with entire lanceolate leaflets, a kind of foliage that is very rare; the flowers are small, whitish green, in panicles, succeeded by berries of the size of a pea; drain the pots well.