Tab. 4282 . 
NIPHiEA ALBO-LINEATA. 
White-lined Niphcea. 
Nat. Ord. GesnekiacejE.—^Didynamia Angiospermia. 
Gen. Char. Calyx semisuperus, sequalis, 5-partitus. Corolla rotata, subaequalis; 
laciniis superioribus paulo minoribus et magis connatis. Stamina inclusa, libera, 
conniventia; 4 fertilia, siibgequalia, antberis glabris ovatis; quintum sterile, 
carnosiim, coroUae dorso suo adnatum, deforme. Glandules perigynee 0. Ovarimn 
1-loculare, placentis didymis polyspermis. Stigma simplex.—Herba Ramondae 
cujusdam caulescentis fade; foliis rugosis in vertidllum approximate, flonbm 
axillaribus temiinalibusque aggregate candidis. Lindl. 
NiPHiEA albo-lineata hirsuta, foliis oppositis internodiis elongatis, segmentis 
calycinis rotundatis tuboque hispidis. 
The genus Niphaa was recently established by Dr. Lindley, 
upon a Guatemala plant, and is derived from snow, in 
allusion to the snowy white blossoms. The present species, 
evidently of the same genus, and preserving the same character 
in the pure white of its flowers, was discovered by Mr. Purdie, 
on moist banks, near Laguneta, Ocafia, in New Grenada. The 
curious scaly roots, resembling those of Achimenes coccinea, were 
sent to the Royal Gardens in 1845, and quickly came to perfection, 
being planted in pots with a mixture of loam, peat, and leaf-mould, 
and placed in the tropical propagating house. By a httle manage¬ 
ment in the periods of planting these roots, by which the plant 
readily increases, it may be made to bloom at almost all seasons 
of the year; and although the flowers do not display any gaudy 
colours, like many of the Gesneriacea, yet the purple-tipped 
calyces contrast prettily with the snowy white of the corollas, 
and the leaves, with their rich purple green hue marked with 
white lines upon the costa and nerves, are always beautiful. Our 
figure was drawn in October. 
Descr. The root is fibrous, and in reality annual, but it pro¬ 
duces those curious elongated scaly tubers, denominated “ radix 
squamosa,’’ each fleshy excrescence or scale of which is capable 
of forming a new plant. Stem erect, a span or more high, simple, 
rounded, hairy, herbaceous, green. Leaves opposite, on long foot- 
february 1st, 1847. 
