The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-05-26 00:00:00

THE GREENHOUSE

Occupies the eastern portion of the conservatory, and is
nearly fifty yards in length. Here a great portion of the
plants are from New Holland, and (with others) form a very
extensive collection. These plants, like the animals of that

country, bespeak, when felt, the generally
the soil from which they are derived. They are invariably
harsh, and bard of feel in their foliage. We observed a
fine specimen of the camphor plant, " camphor volatile," the
leaves of which, are of a fine vivid green, and when rubbed
together emit the well-known odour of the truly volatile,

extraordinary, and valuable drug of that name. This plant
has already reached the full height of the roof. The minor
plants and flowers are of great variety, and so numerous
that they appear to be rather crowded. An addition to the
conservatory at each end would on this account be desirable.

THE .HOTHOUSES.
The centre and western divisions are devoted to the growth
of tropical plants and flowers, in the former are the larger
specimens. Here, those who have visited either of the
Indies, will immediately recognise several of their most strik-
ing and peculiar trees and plants, characterized by the im-
mense size and beauty of their leaves. We observed the
cocolobo pubescens, a tall West Indian plant, with a hard-
wood stem and large cerated leaves, growing from branches at
the top. This is known to the natives of the island's produc-
ing it as " the sea-side grape." Some of the leaves of this
identical plant before its removal from the old garden, (which
gave it a check, from which, however, it is rapidly recover-
ing), measured eighteen feet round, including the indentations !
The fruit which it bears is not held in much esteem. Perhaps
the finest plant here is the Australitzia Augusta, so called
in honour of the house of Austerlitz. It is a native of South
Africa, and somewhat resembles the Banana, but is very dif-
ferent in several respects. The stem. of thickly-jointed ap-
pearance, is not formed of the successive leaves, like the Ba-
nana, but is self grown. The leaves grow from stems or
stalks, proceeding from the top, and from two opposite sides
or points of the compass only, and as these are one over the
other and close together at the converging point, the tree is
of a fiat' form, not unlike an Indian dusting brush. The
leaves are from four to five feet in length. The lower
and larger leaves hang downwards like those of the Banana.
The present specimen is remarkably fine, being about 2G
feet in height, but it is compressed in stature, the upper leaves
having some time leached the roof, some of the glass in which
it once broke in its strength of vegetation. In its native
clime this plant attains a height of about fifty feet ; but it is
stated as remarkable, by a gentleman who has visited South
Africa, that the leaves are not so laige or so fine as those
which it throws forth in this country.
Here are found several varieties of the American Aloe, or
Agave, the Pandanas Uttilis, the " prickly pear," :ix.

THE WESTERN DIVISION.
This is also warmed by stoves. Here may be seen a plant
called after Captain Bligh, the " Blighia Sapida," the African
Acia, which bears a large fruit, the pulp of which resembles
marrow : also the Pandana in great perfection. Amongst
the smaller plants and flowers there are manythat are deemed
curious. The Cep/wird:is folicularis, or pitcher plant of New
Holland ; and the Bengal pitcher plant, Nepeuthos
distilla-
toria are remarkable, particularly the latter. At the end of
its tendrils it bears cups hanging perpendicularly, of a long
• shape, terminating in a scroll, and with a leaf forming a half
open lid at the top--not unlike in form to a Scotch horn snuff-
mull. This cup, or pitcher, in the native country of the
plant, contains about a gill of water, which is supplied not
by the rains, but by the distilling properties of the plant it-
self. Dr. Trail!, when he resided in thiS town, analysed some
of the liquid, and found it to be pure water. There are vari-
ous speculations as to the purposes of this aqueous depositary,
some conjecturing that it is to supply the thirsty traveller in
the torrid regions where the plant flourishes ; others, with
the greater semblance of accuracy, that it is for the support
of the plant itself, by reabsorptiou, during long droughts.
The Dionea musipula, is perhaps a still more remarkable
plant. It required united warmth and moisture, and even
in the hothouse is covered with a glass. It rises but little
above the soil, and has leaves (or rather appendages to the
general leaves,) two and two together, about the size and
form of a cockle-shell when opened, and with small sharp
thorns or spikes at the edges pointing towards each other
like teeth, and reminding one of an iron rat-trap. It is not
at all improbable the form of that useful instrument was
taken from this plant. There are three little spines in each
lobe of this little trap, so sensitive, that if a fly drops in, it
immediately closes, as if on its prey, and retains its captive !
Touched iu the spines by a bit of sprig or anything else, it
closes obediently to the hand of the visiter, the thorns or
teeth fitting between each other. Mr. Shephard one day ob-
served an earwig, a very strong insect for its size, secured in
this trap, and, unable to make its escape, it was afterwards
found dead. As might be expected, various assertions are
made by " travellers" relative to this plant : some alleging
(but without proof) that it fee& on the insects which it en-
traps; and one recently went the length of saying, (hear it,
shade of Munchausen !) that when he lived abroad, he had
some thriving specimens which he regularly fed with little
bits of beef!

Amongst other curiosities the visiter will observe the skull
of an elephant, filled with soil, and nearly concealed by vege-
tation. Here, too, may be traced the difference between the
plants called parasites and those called epaphitEs. The for-
mer, like the misletoe, cling round trees and plants, and lice
by extracting from them a portion of their vital juices. The
latter merely seek their support, feeding themselves from the
earth. We were shown a specimen (yet small) of the Galac-
tadendron Utile, or " Cow Tree" of Humbolt. In South
America this tree grows to a large size. From its top is ob-
tained, by incision, a milk or lacteal fluid, which was copiously
drunk by Humbolt and his companion Bompland, with
refreshing effect. The natives, it is said, even make cheese
from the milk that exudes from it ! The leaf is not unlike
that of a laurel. Near it may be seen the Dipterix Odorata,
or Tonquin Bean, so much prized by some snuff-takers.
Here are several varieties of the class Monandria, on which
Mr. Roscoe published one of his last botanical works (1824.)
We observed a fine dwarf Banana tree, bearing a large
bunch of fruit, each of which, though yet green, measures
about five inches in length. It is from Demerara,. and was
presented by Mr. Edward Steel, after whom it is in compli-
ment called the Banana Mesa Steelii. The leaves are large
and luxuriant. We noticed, too, the Clarija Ornata, a fine
South American plant, about six feet ip height, having thick
cerated leaves. The flowers grow colescent, or from the
stem—not from the branches—on slender long stalks, like red
berries. The branches grow out together at intervals, or in
heights, lessening in size towards the top of the tree, and
forming, as it were, a succession of shelves, like a dumb-
waiter.

But we must close our hasty notice of the conservatory, which
must be seen to be appreciated. The botanist and the gene-
ral observer will alike find in it numerous objects worthy of
their attention, and calculated to elevate the mind. and i, -
part a reverential impression of the wonders, the variety, the
beauty, and the abundance displayed in we vegetal le
for the service or the gratification of man.


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