16 
PENTSTEMON. gentianoides, var. diaphanum. 
Transparent Gentian-like Pentstemon. 
DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. 
Nat. ord. SCROPHULARIACEE. 
PENTSTEMON. Bot. Reg. vol. 13. fol. 1131. 
P. gentianoides. Supra, 1838. t. 3. Hooker in Bot. Mag. t. 3661. 
Var. transparens ; floribus ventre pallidis semidiaphanis, caulibus viridibus, 
calycibus glandulosis villosis. 
The beautiful gentian-like Pentstemon is now so univer- 
sally known in gardens, that every one will at once perceive 
wherein the plant, now represented, differs from it. 
The flowers are rather larger, and almost colourless on 
the under side of the tube, which is moreover so thin as to be 
semi-transparent, and to allow the filaments to be perceived 
through it. The calyx too is much more covered with glands 
than in the true gentianoides. The latter has by some dealers 
been called suffruticosum, a preposterous name, and calcu- 
lated to mislead; for it is not more suffruticose than half the 
common herbaceous plants in cultivation. Its stems become 
a little woody at their base, and so do the stems of Turnips 
and Radishes, and Mustard and Cress, which might, with 
just as much propriety, be called under-shrubs. 
We also find that it is known under the name of P. gran- 
diflorum, which is quite a different species. 
This is à very handsome and nearly hardy perennial, 
growing two or three feet high in any good rich garden soil, 
and becoming rather woody next the ground. It flowers freely 
from July to September, and like most of the Mexican species 
is easily increased either by seeds, or cuttings of the half 
ripened shoots. 
It is no garden variety, but was raised from seeds received 
from G. F. Dickson, marked from the Tierra Fria of Mexico. 
G 
