Tab. 4175. 

 ACHIMENES argyrostigma. 



Silvery -spotted Achimenes. 



Nat. Ord. Gesnerace.e. — Didynamia Angiospermia. 

 Gen. Char. {Vide supra, Tab. 4125.) 



Achimenes argyrostigma; pubescenti-pilosa, cauli brevi inclinato, foliis oppo- 

 sitis ellipticis crenatis albo-maculatis, racemis subterminalibus elongatis 

 multifloris calycibusque piloso-glandiilosis, corollse labio superiore abbreviate 

 bilobo inferiore concavo fimbriato, tubo extus ore ovarioque pilosis. 



Among many novelties sent by our Collector for the Royal 

 Botanic Gardens from the Sierra Nivada de Sta. Marta in New 

 Grenada, is the accompanying highly interesting plant. The 

 leaves are peculiarly beautiful, of a rich, velvetty, dark green, with 

 a tinge of purple, spotted with white, as in Begonia argyrostigma. 

 We will not deny that (partly from the consciousness that the 

 plant was a true Achimenes), very great expectations were raised 

 in respect to the beauty of its flowers. Their first appearance 

 no doubt disappointed us ; but as the racemes increased m length 

 and more blossoms expanded, the plant became a general favourite 

 and is likely to continue so, for the flowers bid fair to continue 

 the whole summer months. They are white or cream-colour, 

 spotted with red. The plant requires the same treatment as others 

 of this family ; and we find it best, after rearing it in in a moist 

 and hot stove, to remove it to a cooler place; thus treated 

 the bloom and'foliage continue in beauty a great Length of time. 

 It will be readily increased, we cannot doubt, by its scaly, cater- 

 pillar-like tubers, as is the case with the original Acktmenes cocci- 

 nea, of winch this is unquestionably a true congener. 



Descr Boot branched and fibrous, bearing from the fibres 

 long scaly buds or tubers, by which the plant readily increases 

 Stem herbaceous, short, somewhat branched, green hairy, as well 

 as the thick petioles. Leaves opposite, elliptical, obtuse, crenafco- 

 serrate, downy, of a rich deep velvetty green, marked with scattered 

 white rounded spots. Racemes erect, from the axils of the upper 

 leaves, very much longer than the leaves, ^anduloso-mrsute, and 



AUGUST 1st, 1845. 



