Tab. 5465. 



MACLEANIA pulchra. 



Showy Macleania. 



Nat. Ord. Vacciniace^:. — Decandria Monogynia. 

 Gen. Char. {Vide supra, Tab. 5453.) 



Macleania pulchra; fruticosa, glabra, ramis teretibus elongatis pendentibus, 

 foliis 3-4-uncialibus oblongis basi obtusis brevipetiolatis obtuse acumi- 

 natis coriaceis nitidis 5-nerviis, junioribus angustioribus rubro-tinctis, flori- 

 bus axillaribus aggregatis copiosis pendentibus, pedunculis clavatis calyceque 

 turbinate profimde 5-angulato lobisque triangulari-acuminatis coccineis, 

 corollae, tubo 15 lineas longis obscure 5-angulatis coccineis, limbo 5-lobato 

 flavo, lobis parvis ovato-triquetris subpatentibus. 



This fine plant was presented to us in full flower in May, 

 1864, as a native of New Granada, under the name of Thibau- 

 dia floribunda, H.B.K. Nov. Gen. An. 3, p. 369, tab. 254; 

 but with that figure and description our plant does not accord, 

 neither does it, I regret to say, with any of the numerous sup- 

 posed forms in my Herbarium, chiefly from Mexico, Columbia, 

 Peru, and Ecuador. The species are probably very variable and 

 in the nature of the opening of the anthers ; sometimes the 

 tubular portion of the two cells forks and two distinct cells and 

 openings or pores are the consequence, and sometimes the two 

 seem to combine and constitute one pore or slit, but with an im- 

 perfect longitudinal septum as in our present species, which ac- 

 cords in so many points with our Macleania speciosissima that, 

 but for that circumstance, the much longer and acuminated 

 lobes of the calyx and the rich scarlet colour of the peduncles 

 and calyx, I should have been disposed to refer it to that plant. 

 Dried specimens of this genus of plants have their succulent 

 flowers so altered and diminished in size in drying, that it is 

 hard to recognize them. A good series of figures from living 

 individuals will, it is to be hoped, help to clear up the difficulties 

 attending their determination. 



SEPTEMBER 1ST, 1864. 



