Tab. 4176. 

 PORPHYROCOMA lanceolata. 



Lance-leaved Porphyrocoma. 



Nat. Ord. Acanthace;e. — Didynamia Angiospermia. 



Gen. Char. POBPHYROCOMA, Hort. — Calyx 5-partitus, laciniis subaequa- 

 libus, subulatis, basi tribracteis, bracteis coloratis magnis in spicam quadrifariam 

 digestis, exteriore majore, duabus interioribus minoribus, omnibus spathulatis 

 carinatis. Corolla longe exserta, tubulosa, bilabiata, labiis subsequalibus, superiore 

 angusto, recto, apice bifido, inferiore latiore, reflexo, trifido. Stamina 2, labiis 

 paulo breviora. Antherce loculis divergentibus. Ovarium ovatum, basi capsula 

 immersa. Stylus longitudine fere corollae. Stigma obtusum. Capsula oblonga 

 stipitata bilocularis. Semina 2, in singulis loculis, orbicularia plana retinaculo 

 subtensa. — Fruticosa. Patria — ? Folia opposita, lanceolata basi attenuata, sub- 

 sessilia, integerrima. Spicae terminates et subterminales aggregate, bracteata, brac- 

 teis exterioribus magnis vividi-purpureis, quadrifariam dispositis unifloris. Mores 

 exserti, purpureo-cesrulei. 



Pobphykocoma lanceolata, Hort. 



For the possession of this truly charming plant we are indebted 

 to Mr. Forkel, Gardener to His Majesty the King of the Belgians, 

 at Brussels, who sent it to us under the above name ; but unfor- 

 tunately without any history, so as to leave us in the dark as to 

 its native country, or the author of its very appropriate name, 

 (■n-op^vpa, purple, and *6 M , head of hair), given in allusion to the 

 singularly richly coloured spikes of deep purple, from within the 

 scales of which the scarcely less brightly coloured (but more inclin- 

 ing to blue) flowers appear. It was exhibited in the Horticultural 

 Society's Rooms, and excited admiration from the beauty of the 

 blossoms which consist in the dark purple comb-like parts half 

 covering the Lamium-like violet flowers. 



It is a stove plant, and continues flowering during the spring 

 and summer months. It may be referred to the Tribe Echna- 

 tacanthi, Nees, and the Sub-tribe Justiciea, Nees. 



Descr. Our Plant is about a foot high, clothed more parti- 

 cularly in the upper part with rather large drooping lanceolate 

 leaves, quite entire at the margin, acuminated at the point, taper- 

 ing at the base, but scarcely petioled, quite glabrous, dark green, 



august 1st, 1845. 



