bractlet at the base of the pedicels or partial flower-stalks, which 
are about three quarters of an inch long, and thickened upwards. 
On making a section of the pedicel, near its upper part, the cel¬ 
lular tissue in the centre was seen, under the microscope, to be 
arranged in a stellate manner. Inflorescence centrifugal. Calyx 
glabrous, of five, somewhat elliptical, obtuse, concave, adpressed 
sepals, membranaceous at their margins, the two outer ones 
smaller. Corolla shining, glabrous, between funnel- and salver¬ 
shaped ; of a purplish-red colour; tube slightly contracted at its 
juncture with the limb, then widening, and ultimately tapering 
downwards, about two inches long, four times the length of 
the sepals, purplish-red outside, whitish within; limb expanded, 
two and a half inches across, somewhat rugose or undulated, of 
five blunt slightly notched lobes and shallow sinuosities between 
them. Beautiful spiral vessels may be seen in the corolla under the 
microscope. Estivation contorted. Stamens five, colourless, ex- 
serted beyond the tube, and, towards one side of the throat, shorter 
than the limb; fllaments unequal in length, from two to two and a 
half inches long, inserted near the base of the tube of the corolla, 
where they are flattened, with scattered hairs or tooth-like pro¬ 
jections towards their lower half; anthers two-lobed, opening lon¬ 
gitudinally, innate, introrse. Pollen spherical, exteriorly marked 
with numerous prominent processes. Pistil rather longer than 
the longest stamens; stigma colourless, two-lobed, capitate, 
tubercular, i. e. covered with numerous projecting cellular pro¬ 
cesses. Style about three inches long, slender, tapering. Ovary 
superior, conical, gradually ending in the style, surrounded at the 
base by a thickened annular disc of a yellowish colour, two- 
celled, with two ovules in each cell; ovules somewhat triangular, 
anatropous. 
For the medical history of the plant, and the account of its 
introduction into the country, I am indebted to the kindness of 
Professor Christison. 
J. 11. Balfour. 
