Botanists have made us acquainted, we know of none more 

 to be desired, wherewith to enrich our collections, than this 

 very remarkable and beautiful Speedwell, judging both 

 from the fine specimens we have received, and from the 

 description given of it on its native hills by its discoverer 

 (Richard Cunningham). Since the country around its 

 locality, at the mouth of the Hokianga River, is now occu- 

 pied by Europeans, let us hope soon to receive the seeds, 

 which we may reasonably expect will succeed, as well as 

 the Clianthus has done, in the open borders ; the elevated 

 grounds, occupied by our Veronica, being greatly exposed 

 to the prevalent tempests of its weather-beaten coast, in 

 nearly the same degree of southern latitude (about 36°) in 

 which we believe the Clianthus has lately been found." 

 Living plants have been brought over by Mr. Edgerley from 

 Hokianga, which were purchased by our respected friend, 

 Mr. Knight, in whose Exotic Nursery they have produced 

 their fine spikes of flowers in the month of September of the 

 present year ; — and well does the plant deserve the name of 

 speciosa. It is at present too rare to run the risk of ex- 

 posing it to an English winter : but it thrives well in a cool 

 greenhouse, and the Royal Botanic Garden of Kew is in- 

 debted to Mr. Knight for the possession of this scarce 

 plant. 



Descr. In its native country, this shrub attains to a 

 height of three to six feet ! It is much branched, the 

 branches stout, the younger ones succulent, often tinged with 

 purple, and glabrous as is every part of the plant. Leaves 

 opposite, two to three inches long and two broad, obovate, 

 fleshy, quite entire, nearly sessile. Peduncles from the 

 axils of the upper leaves, solitary, bearing a spike of num- 

 erous, crowded flowers, before expansion, red-purple, after- 

 wards rich blue purple. Corolla two-lipped ; upper lip 

 ovate, lower of three deep, ovate, segments, the interme- 

 diate one the smallest. Stamens two, much protruded, and 

 equal in length to the style. 



Fig. 1. Flower. 2. Calyx and Pistil :— magnified. 



