any with which I am acquainted. Probably Chamisso and 

 Schlechtendal, in naming it "nigrescens," had an idea 

 that it became black only in drying ; and Grisebach and 

 Don even speak of the flowers as white (Grisebach), or 

 probably, greenish-yellow (Don) in the recent state. Such 

 is not the case, however; they are of as rich a deep blue, 

 or, rather, purplish blue-black, as a flower can well be. 

 But this singularity is not their only recommendation ; they 

 are large (larger than our figure represents them, when in 

 perfection), graceful in form and inclination (drooping like 

 a Fuchsia), so numerous as to form a large panicle, two 

 to three feet high and a foot and a half broad ; a great 

 many are in beauty at one time, and they continue in perfec- 

 tion for a very long time, if kept cool, and protected from 

 the too powerful rays of the sun. Indeed, with us, in a 

 shady greenhouse, its flowers have been equally profuse 

 and perfect for a period of four months. I scarcely know 

 a more interesting plant, that has for many years been in- 

 troduced to our collections, even in this age of novelties, 

 than the present. Schiede appears to be the first to disco- 

 ver it at Papantla, in Mexico. But it had been long known 

 to Mr. Skinner, as an inhabitant of Guatimala ; and to him I 

 am indebted for the plants which were reared from his seeds 

 in the Royal Gardens of Kew, in 1842, and for a dried speci- 

 men. Mr. Hartweg (n. 493) detected it at Tanetze, Talca, 

 and Comaltepeque, and Mr. Galeotti at Xalapa ; from 

 both of these Botanists I possess fine native specimens. 

 It bids fair to produce seed with us, and it strikes readily 

 from cuttings. 



Descr. The plant appears to be biennial. It produces an upright 

 stem, scarcely branched for about a foot and a half (but sending out 

 annotinous shoots in the autumn) which terminate in a large, much 

 branched, trichotomous panicle, two to three feet high. Branches as 

 well as the stem rounded. Leaves most crowded on the stem, op- 

 posite, decussate, lanceolate, acuminate, three to five-nerved, spread- 

 ing, the bases almost connate ; distinct and smaller and more acumin- 

 ate on the branches. Petals long, slender, with usually a pair of sub- 

 ulate bracteas or small leaves below the calyx. Flowers gracefully 

 drooping, two to three inches long. Calyx of five deep, subulate, ap- 

 pressed segments, rather more than half the length of the tube of the 

 corolla. Corolla deep purplish blue-black, funnel-shaped, regular. 

 Tube cylindrical, dilated a little upwards ; the limb of five spreading, 

 or almost recurved, lanceolate, very acuminated segments, about half 

 as long as the corolla. Stamens five, inserted a little below the middle 

 of the tube. Filaments slender, rather longer than the tube. Anthers 

 oblong, two-lobed. Pistil: ovary oblong, two-celled, and style rather 

 longer than the filaments. Stigma large, capitate, two-lobed, velvety. 



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