Tab. 4182. 

 CHIRITA Zeylanica. 



Ceylon Chirita. 



Nat. Ord. Cyrtandrace^e. Gesnerace^: Cyrtandraceje, Br. — 



DlDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. 



Gen. Char. CHIRITA, Ham. in Don's Prodr. Calyx tubulosus sub 5-gonus, 

 lobis per asstivationem subvalvatis. Corolla basi tubulosa superne ventricosa 

 campanulata, limbo 5-lobo bilabiato, lobis subrotundis. Stamina 5, duo anthe- 

 rifera, 3 steriba minima. Antherce reniformes nudse superne cohasrentes 1-locu- 

 lares. Ovarium sibquosum. Stylus 1. Stigma bipartitum lobis oblongis. Cap- 

 sula siliquaeformis bilocularis stylo terminata bivalvis, septo valvulis adnato bi- 

 partite Semina 00, minuta calva subulata. — Herbas perennes hirsute Nepalenses. 

 Caules simplices. Folia opposita scepius disparia et basi vix incequalia petiolata 

 serrata. PeduncuH axillares oppositi bibracteati seepius \-flori. Corollae magna 

 rubra autflavcB. Be Cand. 



Chirita Zeylanica; fobis oppositis longe petiolatis supra appresso-brunnco-se- 

 riceis obscure serratis basi obliquis, pedunculis axillaribus, floribus panicu- 

 latis tricbotome divisis, bracteis lobisque calycinis ovatis, coroUse (purpurea;) 

 tubo intus supra bilamellato infra lineis duabus elevatis hirsutis (flavis), 

 stigmate transversim triangulari. 



Of the family of Cyrtandracea, lately so admirably illustrated 

 by Mr. Brown, and more fully described by De Candolle, father 

 and son, very few species indeed have been in cultivation, and 

 two of those that are at this moment blossoming in the Royal Gar- 

 dens of Kew, do not appear to be anywhere described. Our 

 knowledge of those we have (including jfischynanthus), will lead 

 us to seek for more ; since, like their affinities, the Gesneracea (of 

 which, indeed, Mr. Brown considers them a group or section), 

 they are of great beauty and easy cultivation ; and they seem to 

 abound in the East Indies, as the true Gesneracea do in the 

 tropical parts of the New World. The generic Chirita of Hamil- 

 ton, (written Chirata in Don's ' System of Gard. and Botany'), is 

 said to be altered from the vernacular name of one of the species, 

 and of course of Indian origin. Our present species is a native 

 of Ceylon, and was raised from seeds sent from that island by Mr. 

 Henderson, the scientific gardener to Lord Rtewilliam, late at 

 Milton, now at Wentworth. The plant strikes readily from cut- 



BEFFKMBSB 1ST, 1st."). 



