6 
MARTYNIA fragrans. 
Fragrant Martynia. 
DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. 
Nat. ord. PEDALIACEZ. 
MARTYNIA., Botanical Register, vol. 11. fol. 934. 
M. fragrans ; foliis cordatis angulatis grossé dentatis suboppositis longé pe- 
tiolatis, racemo paucifloro, calycibus campanulatis obliquis plicatis, 
bracteo meena fungosis, floribus tetrandris. Bot. Reg. 1840. 
misc. no. . 
In the Miscellaneous notices of this work for 1840, the 
plant now figured was called ‘a half-hardy annual of very 
great beauty and delicious fragrance.” The accuracy of that 
statement will now be seen, for surely so remarkable a flower 
as that on the opposite page well deserves this eulogium. 
It is said to be a Mexican plant, from the vicinity of the 
Real del Monte Mines. For my knowledge of it 1 am in- 
debted to Mr. Marnock, of the nursery, Hackney, who has 
also supplied the following memoranda concerning it. 
“‘T received the plant about midsummer, it was at the 
time in bloom, and upwards of a foot in height. The first 
spike of flowers was then opening, being produced from the 
extremity of the branchless stem ; two lateral branches were 
then produced, and these also bloomed from the extremity, 
sending forth lateral opposite branches. In this way the plant 
continued to grow, and in a pot of light rich earth attained 
the height of three feet, and about the same extent in diameter. 
It was sent to me from a distance of upwards of two hundred 
miles, and was much injured by the journey; it may therefore 
be fairly inferred that under more favourable circumstances 
this plant might be had in much greater perfection. To 
grow it in a superior manner in pots, it will require the same 
treatment as the Balsam. 
