Tas. 4221. 
ARISTOLOCHIA GiIGAnTEA. 
Giganticflowered Birthwort. 
Nat. Ord. ARISTOLOCHIE®.—GYNANDRIA HEXANDRIA. 
_ Gen. Char. Perianthium monophyllum tubulosum basi ventricosum, limbo 
ligulato-extenso, Anthere 6, stigmatis lateribus adnate. Stigma subsessile, 
sex-partitum. Capsula 6, locularis, polysperma. 
\ 
ARISTOLOCHTA gigantea ; foliis cordatis acutis, pedunculo unifloro, perianthio 
amplo unilabiato oblique pendente, tubo sursum curvato, parte inferiore 
oblonga angulato-suleata demum contracta, parte superiore assurgente hinc 
inflato-globoso, superne in limbum maximum concavo-conchiformem venosum 
album maculis purpureis reticulatis irroratum, margine anteriore fisso, apice 
mucronato-caudato. 
ARISTOLOCHIA gigantea. Martius, Nov. Gen.et Sp. Bras. v.1.p. 15. t.48. Spreng. 
Syst. Veget. v. 3. p. 150. 
At the first view of the figure of Martius above quoted, few 
would be bold enough to say that that representation and our 
plant are identical, yet. such I believe to be the fact, though no 
two flowers can well be more unlike, whether as regards form or 
colour, and yet belong to the same genus. ‘The difference may 
be accounted for by supposing the drawing to be made from a 
dried specimen, when the pressure vertically upon the mouth of 
the perianth, would destroy the conchiform limb, and render that 
which is remarkably concave, in appearance flat; and the same 
kind of pressure would in all probability render very indistinct 
or altogether obsolete, the singular inflation of the tube of the 
perianth just below the ample limb. It is in reality a very striking 
and handsome flower, and rendered more worthy of cultivation 
in consequence of the absence of the horrid stench which will 
prevent the much larger blossoms of 4. gigas, Lindl., from ever 
becoming favourite inmates of our stoves. I am indebted to 
Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, and Co., for the very fine specimen 
here figured. Those successful cultivators received it from 
Germany. Its native country is, according to Martius, in the 
province of Bahia, Brazil, from which territory it was probably — 
introduced to the stoves in Germany. It flowered in April (1845). 
prin 1st, 1846. 2B 
