56 
* BATATAS betacea. 
Beet-rooted Sweet Potatoe. 
PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Nat. Ord. CONVOLVULACER. 
BATATAS. Sepala 5. Corolla campanulata, Stamina inclusa. Sty- 
lus 1. Stigma capitatum, bilobum. Ovarium 4-loculare, loculis monosper- 
mis. Capsula 4-locularis, aut abortu 3-locularis.——Herbe nune repentes, 
nune volubiles. Choisy conv. or. p. 52. 
B. betacea; foliis ovatis cordatis angulatis et subquinquelobis acutis, racemo 
contracto composito, sepalis acuminatis, tubo corolle limbo circulari 
longiore, radice fusiformi sanguineá. Bot. Reg. 1839. misc. 152. 
Until the confusion that exists among the species of Con- 
volvulaceous plants shall have been cleared, up by the publi- 
cation of the labours of M. Choisy in DeCandolle's Prodromus, 
it is impracticable to say whether a given tropical species is 
new or not. I am therefore by no means able to affirm that 
such is the case in the present instance; a diligent search 
however has not enabled me to discover any record of it, and 
at all events it is new to our gardens. 
As has already been stated at No. 152 of the miscellaneous 
matter of the Botanical Register for 1839, the plant is a 
native of Demerara: and according to Mr. May, of the Ripon 
Nursery, who first had it for sale, it is a stove plant, with 
sufficient hardiness to succeed in a good greenhouse; which, ` 
* To the language of what American nation this word is to be assigned, 
does not seem clearly ascertained ; that it is American seems however cer- 
tain, for it has no designation among the natives of Asia ; the Malay names 
mentioned by Rumphius being clearly exotic to those countries. According 
to Piso and Marcgraaf the Portuguese of Brazil, in their day, called the 
Sweet Potatoe Batata, but the natives had a different name. Whether or not 
Hernandez throws any light Hem the subject I have not the means of ascer- 
taining, as there is no copy of his book within reach just now. 
