The plant belongs to the order of Verbenes, to which it is 
usually regarded as being of dubious affinity. And certainly 
it exhibits some peculiarities of structure which justify the 
doubts that have been entertained about it; for its ovary is 
distinetly one-celled, with two double placente turning aside, 
and bearing single ovules hanging down from their upper 
part. That is to say, the two carpels, of which the ovary of 
a Verbene is usually composed, instead of uniting in the 
middle and so dividing its cavity into two or more cells, are 
not able to touch. 
The specimens which were produced in the garden of the 
Horticultural Society were in many instances in an anomalous 
condition. Some of them had three carpels and six ovules ; 
others had an imperfect carpel rolled up between the two 
regular ones, and occupying the very axis of the flower. 
These peculiarities are represented in the accompanying 
plate; where fig. 1. represents a single flower ; 2. a stamen ; 
3. a perpendicular section of an ovary in its usual condition, 
the face of the imperfect partition being next the eye; 4. a 
transverse section of the same; 5. a transverse section of an 
ovary in the anomalous state above alluded to. 
It is a greenhouse plant, which appears to grow freely in 
a mixture of rough sandy loam and peat, and like other soft 
woody plants requires plenty of pot-room. During summer 
an ample supply of water should be given to its root, and 
it may be syringed overhead once or twice a day; but in 
consequence of its flowering in autumn, syringing should be 
discontinued as soon as the flower-buds are formed, other- 
wise they will be liable to damp off. In winter very little 
water is required; nor is it necessary to apply fire-heat, 
except to keep off frost. It strikes freely from cuttings of 
young wood under ordinary treatment. 
