Tab. 4147 

 ruellia lilacina. 



Lilac-flowered JRuellia. 



Nat. Ord. Acanthace*:.— Didynamia Angiospermia. 

 RUELLIA. (Vide supra Tab. 3718.) 



Ruellia hlacina; glaberrima fruticosa, foliis ovatis brevissime petiolatis 

 obtuse subacurainatis subcoriaceis integerrimis, floribus axillaribus ses- 

 sihbus subbinis, calycis tubo corollino triplo brevioris laciniis subulatis 

 paululum insequalibus, corollae venosse tubo elongato gracili infundibu- 

 liformi curvato, lirabi lobis patentibus rotundatis subsequalibus, semin- 

 ibus orbiculatis marginatis ciliatis. 



The stove of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew is indebted 

 for this handsome Ruelliaceous plant to Mr. Glendinning of 

 the Chiswick Nursery : but of its native country, I regret I 

 can learn nothing. Its fine dark and glossy foliage, with 

 large, full lilac-colored flowers, which are produced from time 

 to time during the greater part of the summer months, renders 

 it well worthy of a place in the hothouse. 



Descr. A low shrub, having attained with us a height of 

 from two to three feet, branched, the young branches herba- 

 ceous, glabrous, as is every part of the plant, and smooth. 

 -Leaves opposite, ovate, bluntly acuminate, penninerved, quite 

 entire at the margin, dark green, somewhat glossy, paler 

 beneath. Flowers axillary, generally two from each axil, 

 sessile. Calyx less than two-thirds the length of the tube of 

 the corolla, of five deep, rather unequal, subulate, glabrous, 

 erect segments. Corolla with a very long, curved, slender, 

 infundibuliform tube, veiny and lilac above, pale and almost 

 white towards the base ; limb spreading, of five rounded, very 

 obtuse, and nearly equal lobes, veined, and of a purple-lilac 

 color. Fruit an oblong, two-celled capsule, a little longer 

 Jhan the persistent segments of the calyx, slightly acuminated 

 but obtuse, containing about four orbicular, compressed, mar- 



