of which indeed what is now se])arated under the denomi- 

 nation Pterospermum, was the original type, but the above 

 character is common to that and the present genus." 



" Native of various parts of India, sometimes cultivated 

 for its beauty in our stoves, where it has been known con- 

 siderably above a century. It flowers in July, and is an- 

 nual. The stem is two or three feet high, round, branched, 

 leafy, besprinkled with a few close-pressed starry bristles, 

 indicative of its natural order. Leaves alternate, stalked, 

 lanceolate, taper-pointed, strongly crenate, smoothish, more 

 or less hastate at the base. Stipulas in pairs, linear. Flowers 

 axillary, solitary, drooping, on rough stalks shorter than 

 the footstalks ; they are of a beautiful scarlet colour, and 

 above an inch in diameter; the five leafy appendages (be- 

 tween every parcel of three stamens) are externally rough or 

 hoary, llie foolish name by which Rumphius has dis- 

 tinguished this flower (Flos impius) and which is said to be 

 a translation of its Indian appellation, alludes to its profane 

 or impious nature, in never looking towards heaven." Smith 

 in Rees's Cychpcedia. 



The genus consists at present of one species. The Penta- 

 PETES (DoMBEVA. Willd. sp. pi. 3. 725. and Curtis s magaz. 

 1000) Erythroxylon of the first edition of the Hortus Kew- 

 ensis has been referred to Melhania by Mr. Brown, in the 

 second edition of that work ; a genus differing chiefly from 

 the present in technical character, by having five instead of 

 fifteen stamens; but in nature and habit very widely. 



The drawing was taken this summer at Mr. Lee's nur- 

 sery. Hammersmith. The plant is rare with us, notwith- 

 standing its beauty and long-standing. 



The " Sjamin" of Van Rheede's Hortus Malabaricus, 

 quoted by Willdenow to this species, belongs to Hibiscus 

 Rosa malabarica of this work (vol. 4. fol. liS7). It is the 

 '* Naga-Pu' of Rheede, which is the species before us. 



