B. fruticescens (shrubby).* fl., umbels small, three to five-rayed; involucre of three to five, very short, subulate leaves. August. l. linear-subulate, stiff, striated, five to seven-nerved. Branches slender, elongated, erect. h. 1ft. Spain, 1752. Hardy and evergreen.
B. fruticosum (shrubby).* Leaves of involucre oblong. July. l. of a sea-green colour; oblong, attenuated at the base, coriaceous, one-nerved, quite entire, sessile. Bark of branches purplish. h. 3ft. to 6ft. Spain, 1596. Hardy. This is nearly the only species grown. (W. D. B. 1, 14.)
B. gibraltarica (Gibraltar). fl. yellow. June. l. lanceolate, one-nerved, coriaceous. h. 3ft. Gibraltar, 1784. Evergreen, half-hardy.
B. graminifolium (Grass-leaved).* fl. green-yellow. June. l. linear, grass-like. h. 6in. Switzerland, 1768. Hardy perennial.
B. longifolium (long-leaved). fl. green-yellow. June. l. ovate-oblong; radical ones stalked; cauline ones amplexicaul. h. 3ft. Switzerland, 1713. Hardy perennial.
BUR. See Centotheca lappacea.
BURBIDGEA (named after F. W. Burbidge, the discoverer of the genus, a traveller in Borneo, and author of several horticultural works). ORD. Scitamineæ. A very large, brilliant-flowered stove herbaceous perennial, allied to Hedychium. For culture, see [Alpinia.]
B. nitida (shining).* fl., perianth-tube 1in. to 1½in. long, slender; outer segments 1½in. to 2in. in diameter, bright orange-scarlet; panicle terminal, 4in. to 6in. long, many-flowered. Summer. l. 4in. to 6in. long, elliptic-lanceolate, cordate-acuminate, rather fleshy, bright green above. Stems tufted, 2ft. to 4ft. high, slender, terete, leafy. N. W. Borneo, 1879. See Fig. 302, for which we are indebted to Messrs. Veitch and Sons. (B. M. 6403.)
BURCHARDIA (named after H. Burchard, M.D., a botanical author). ORD. Liliaceæ. An ornamental greenhouse herbaceous perennial, allied to Androcymbium. It thrives best in sandy peat, or peat mixed with a little loam. Propagated by offsets or divisions, made just previous to potting, in spring. It is best to repot annually. Good drainage should be allowed, and the plant must not be potted too firmly.
B. umbellata (umbelled). fl. white, green. August. h. 2ft. New Holland, 1820.
BURCHCHELLIA (named after W. Burchell, a botanical traveller in the Cape of Good Hope, and in Brazil). ORD. Rubiaceæ. A stove evergreen shrub from the Cape of Good Hope. Flowers scarlet, disposed in heads at the tops of the branches, sessile upon a villous receptacle, intermixed with small distinct bracteoles; and each head is propped up by the ultimate pair of leaves; corolla of a clavate-funnel-shape. Leaves ovate, acute, a little cordate at the base, petiolate; stipules interpetiolar, broad, cuspidate at the apex, deciduous. It grows well in a rich light soil, or a mixture of turfy loam, turfy peat, and sand. Cuttings, not too ripe, root readily if planted in sand, and placed under a hand glass, in a gentle heat.
B. bubalina (buffalo). A synonym of B. capensis.
B. capensis (Cape).* fl. deep scarlet, nearly 1in. long. March. l. ovate, acute, clothed with hispid pubescence; stipules very broad, and very short. h. 3ft. to 5ft.; 12ft. to 14ft. in a wild state. SYN. B. bubalina. (B. M. 2339.)
BURLINGTONIA (named after the "amiable and accomplished" Countess of Burlington). ORD. Orchideæ. A small genus of epiphytal orchids, all of which are beautiful and eminently well worth growing. They may be grown upon small blocks of wood, or in rustic baskets, suspended from the roof of the plant stove, where, if liberally treated with water, and a genial moisture in the air during the growing season, very little else will be required to ensure health and vigour. In the dull days of winter, they should be watered less frequently, but the plants must not be allowed to exhibit the slightest signs of distress from drought, or the consequences may be fatal to their health. When fastening these plants to blocks of wood, a little sphagnum should be used, for experience proves that they thrive best when their thin white roots can escape and hang exposed to the air. If growing them in baskets, it is preferable first to fasten them securely upon small pieces of bare cork, then to fill the basket, and finally to cover the whole thinly with a layer of sphagnum.