This little brilliant flowering plant is of hybrid
origin, and was raised at the Nursery of Mr. Colvill
from a seed of Dimacria pinnata that had been fertilized
by Hoarea melanantha. Although the mule was
produced between two such different species, its flowers
are still quite perfect, and it produces abundance of
perfect seeds. Here we have a brilliant flower of a
dark crimson, produced from two plants, the flowers
of one. being of a dirty cream-colour slightly tinged
with rose, and the other of a velvetty black. H. de-
vans, published in a former number, was raised from
a seed of the same plant mixed with H. atra; in that
the colour was not so deep nor so brilliant: this we
might expect, as H. atra is of a dark brown, instead
of black.
Numerous other interesting and curious mules have
been raised at Mr. Colvill’s Nursery, from the tuberous-
rooted species, and many of them are very handsome.
In Mr. Jenkinson’s collection, also, a great many have
been raised, and some curious anomalies between the
tuberous-rooted and shrubby species.
The present plant thrives well in an equal mixture
of turfy loam, peat, and sand, keeping it quite dry
when in a dormant state, and watering it regularly as
soon as it begins to grow afresh. It may be propagated
by the little tubers from the roots, like most ot
the other tuberous-rooted species, or by seeds.