27 



ECHITES atropurpurea. 

 Dark-purple Echites. 



PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Nat.ord. Apocynace^e. 

 ECHITES. L. 



E. atropurpurea ; glabra, foliis petiolatis ovatis acutis, pedunculis bifloris 

 axillaribus folus longioribus, sepalis lineari- ovatis, corollae glabrae lobis 

 triangularibus undulatis patentissimis, disco biglanduloso. 



E. atropurpurea. Lindley in Paxtons Magazine of Botany, 1842. 



This is a handsome greenhouse climber, introduced from 

 South Brazil by Messrs. Veitch of Exeter. It is nearly allied 

 to the E. Martiana, from which it differs in having smooth 

 shoots and leaves, and a corolla whose lobes are not crisp. 



We find the following popular account of the plant in 

 Paxton's Magazine of Botany. 



" The blossoms of this plant are borne on long and grace- 

 ful axillary peduncles, two or more appearing on each. They 

 have a tube nearly two inches in length, expanding, about half 

 way from the base, into a wide throat, which has an ample 

 and spreading limb, an inch and a half across. In the earlier 

 stages of their development, they have a pleasant odour, which 

 enhances the interest of the species. 



" It was exhibited by Messrs. Veitch at one of the great 

 meetings in the Horticultural Society's gardens, and a Banksian 

 medal was awarded for it. The dark tint of its flowers seems 

 to contrast finely with the lightness and airiness of its habit. 



" In cultivation, it requires the temperature of the stove, 

 and may be trained to the rafters of the house, or to a wire 

 trellis spread entirely over the roof. If the branches are in- 

 termingled with those of E, suherecta and Stephanotis flora- 

 bundus, their flowers make a very harmonious and delightful 



