living flowering plant at the same time. ‘“ This beautiful 
species of Prepusa inhabits the summit of the Organ Moun- 
tains, at an elevation of 6,857 feet above the level of the 
sea; growing in large patches in moist, exposed places, 
flowering in March and April. It is the third species of 
the Genus which has been detected*, and was one of the 
many discoveries that resulted from a visit of six days to 
the summit of the Organ Mountains in the month of March 
of the present year (1841); and it is with much pleasure that 
I dedicate it to my kind friend and patron Sir W. J. Hooker, 
as the most lasting memento I can offer him for his first 
suggesting my voyage to Brazil—his liberal assistance in 
enabling me to undertake it—and his unremitting kindness 
during my absence in directing my attention to such places 
and objects as were most likely to advance that Science to 
which we are both so devotedly attached.”’ 
Descr. Root perennial. Stem herbaceous, from a foot 
to a foot and a half high. Radical leaves opposite, linear, 
spathulate, apiculate, somewhat fleshy ; one-nerved, about 
three inches long, and nearly half an inch broad. The 
flowering stem, which is of a pinkish purple colour, has 
from two to three pairs of cauline leaves, which are small 
and of a linear form, and somewhat connate at the base. 
Flowers large, nodding, generally from three to five in num- 
ber, arising from the axils of the two upper cauline pairs of 
leaves. Calyx large, much inflated, membranaceous, of a 
paler colour than the stem, hexangular, with the angles 
very prominently marked at the base, six-toothed ; teeth 
apiculate. Corolla, with the exception of the limb, includ- 
ed. The two upper thirds of the tube are urceolate, the 
lower very much contracted ; and the whole is of a pale 
purple colour. The limb, which is of a yellowish-white 
colour, is spreading and six-lobed ; lobes obovate, apiculate. 
Stamens six, arising from the bottom of the utricular portion 
ofthe corolla. Filaments filiform. Anthers versatile, oblong, 
two-celled. Pollen yellowish. Ovary placed on a short 
gynophone, cylindrical, one-celled, many-seeded. Seeds 
attached to four parietal placenta, which are formed by the 
incurved margins of the two carpels of which the ovary 
consists, and which stand right and left to the axis of 
inflorescence. Style filiform. Stigma bilamellate-—Organ 
Mountains, Brazil, April, 1841. 
te a wommene 2 
* The first is the original species, P. montana, Marv. Bras. tab. 190 :— 
the second is the P. connata, Garpn. in Hook. Ic. Plant. v. 8. t. 225, 
All are remarkable for their large and very showy flowers. 
Fig. 1. Corolla. 2. The same laid open. 3. Stamen. 4. Pistil :—magnified. sae 
a 
nies 
