11 
TACSONIA mollissima. 
Soft-leaved Tacsonia. 
MONADELPHIA PENTANDRIA. 
Nat. ord. PassrFLORACEX. (PassroNwoRTS. Vegetable Kingdom, 
p. 332. ined.) 
TACSONIA. Botanical Register, vol. xviii. t. 1536. 
T. mollissima (Humboldt, Bonpland et Kunth, Nov. Gen. & Sp. Amer. 
2. 144. DeCand. Prodr. 4. 334.); foliis tripartitis pubescentibus sub- 
tus tomentosis basi cordatis laciniis ovato-lanceolatis serratis, petiolis 
pluri-glandulosis, stipulis semi-ovatis cuspidato-acuminatis dentatis, 
pedunculo unifloro, flore glaberrimo, calycis segmentis intus coloratis 
(roseis) nectario glanduloso ad faucem tubi.—Hooker in Bot. Mag. 
t. 4187 : 
The beauty of the Tacsoma pinnatistipula, figured in 
this work at t. 1536, has become so well known that every 
one has been eager to acquire other species bearing the same 
generic name ; and hence the popularity of this **soft-leaved" 
kind. It is, however, inferior.in size, and does not open 
quite so readily. On the other hand, its colour is more 
vivid, though not, as far as our observation has gone, nearly 
so bright as is represented in the Botanical Magazine. It 
has, moreover, the fault of hanging down so as to conceal 
what brilliancy it has, and therefore can only be grown where 
there is room for it to bloom above the eye. 
It is called soft-leaved, because its foliage is clothed with 
a fine soft down, which is sensible to the touch, though not 
visible to the naked eye. The most singular part of its struc- 
ture is the row of green glands or warts which stud the 
purple petiole, and which furnish one of the best means of 
recognizing the species. Botanists believe these processes to 
be organs of secretion, and perhaps they are so; but why this 
soft-leaved Tacsonia should require a dozen for each leaf, 
