Tas. 4212. 
SINNINGIA vELuTINA. 
Velvety Sinningia. 
Nat. Ord. GEsSNERIACEZ.—DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. 
Gen. Char. Calyx tubulosus 5-angulatus, foliaceo-alatus, ore quinquefido. 
Corolla fauce inflata, sub-bilabiata. Rudimentum filamenti quinti, basi corolle 
superne insertum. Nectarii glandule cum filamentis alternantes. Fructus cap- 
sularis. Capsula subcarnosa. C. G. Nees. 
SINNINGIA velutina ; caule suffruticoso erecto crasso brevi, foliis ad apicem caulis 
late ovato-ellipticis acutis crenato-serratis velutinis, pedicellis unifloris ca- 
lyce ovato alte alato (colorato) brevioribus, ovario calyce 4-plo breviore, co- 
rolla longe exserta limbo amplo obliquo. 
SINNINGIA velutina. Lindl. Bot. Reg. sub. tab. 1112. 
This is the handsomest of the Genus Sinuingia*, with large 
ample dark green velvety leaves, the younger ones and _ petioles 
tinged with red, very large red calyces and large flowers. Inde- 
pendent of the angled or winged calyx, there is something in the 
form and colour of the flower and general habit that mdicates 
the propriety of keeping the genus distinct from Gloxinia; with 
which, however, De Candolle unites it. All the species are natives 
of Brazil, whence the present was introduced to the Garden of 
the Horticultural Society in 1826. A plant of it, sent by Messrs. 
Rollison, under the name of 8. Hellert (which it cannot be if the 
descriptions of that species are accuraté), flowered in the Royal 
Gardens of Kew, in June 1845. It requires the heat of a stove. 
Descr. The sfem short, stout, and uneven, scarcely three 
inches high, and almost one-third of an inch thick ; bare of foli- 
age for the greater part of its length from the base. Leaves from 
the summit of the short stem, opposite, spreading, dark-green 
velvety, elliptico-ovate, broad, obtuse at the base, acute at the 
point, the margin rather obscurely crenato-serrate, penninerved, 
the nerves prominent in the young leaves beneath. Pe/ioles ra- 
ther long, very thick and fleshy, grooved above. Peduncles axil- 
* So named in compliment to Mr. Sinning, Gardener to the University of Bonn. | . 
