For the present it must remain among the genus Ruellia, 
but its two lipped flowers will render it impossible to associate 
it eventually with R. latebrosa and its companions, which 
Professor Nees v. Esenbeek makes the type of that genus. 
We are, however, the less prepared to interfere with its name, 
because in all probability it has already been properly placed 
in the new volume of DeCandolle's Prodromus, now, we be- 
lieve, in the press. 
It should be an instruction to all persons sending home 
South American seeds, not to forget the fine species of Acan- 
thads, with which that part of the world abounds; for al- 
though many are but weeds, yet others are guite as striking 
for their beauty as this and the Justicias, Aphelandras, &c., 
already in cultivation. They were formerly here in many 
instances, but reguiring a moist warm atmosphere at a time 
when gardeners did not know how to obtain heat without 
dryness, they soon became sickly and died. Among the re- 
puted species of this very genus, we see in our berbarium the 
Ruellia trivialis, grandiflora, and longiflora of Salzmann, 
all from the woods of Bahia, every one of which is a finer 
species than even this. Nor are the East India species in- 
ferior, as is attested by the numerous kinds of Goldfussia, 
Strobilanthes, Dipteracanthus, &c. with which botanists are 
familiar—only, however, in their dried gardens. As they 
are easily propagated and grown, all these would be real 
acquisitions, and might easily be had. 
This species requires to be kept in a stove, and being a 
plant of free growth, will succeed in almost any sort of soil. 
During summer an ample supply of water should be given 
to its root, and syringed over head once or twice a-day. 
After flowering it should be cut back to secure a supply of 
young shoots from the bottom, for flowering the following 
season. This may be done advantageously once or twice, 
but for such free growing plants it is best to renew them 
every three years, In winter, when syringing would be in- 
jurious, it will be necessary to keep up a humid atmosphere, 
as this plant is very liable to be attacked by red-spider. It 
is easily multiplied by cuttings of young wood under ordinary 
treatment. 
