Tas. 6183. 
COLUMELLIA OBLONGA. 
Native of Ecuador. 
Nat. Ord. CoLUMELLIACER. 
Genus ConumeLiia, Ruiz §& Pav. ; (Endl. Gen. Plant., p. 745). 
CotumELLIA oblonga; ramulis sericeo-pubescentibus, foliis planis petiolatis 
obovato- v. elliptico-lanceolatis obtusis integerrimis v. apices versus 
dentatis subtus glabris v. sericeo-pubescentibus, nervo percurrente 
calloso-apiculatis cymis, terminalibus pedunculatis sericeis. 
C, oblonga, Ruiz et Pav. Fl. Per. et Chil., vol. i. p. 28, t. 8, f. i. Vahl, 
Enum., vol. i. p. 800 (Columella); DC. Prodr., vol. vii. p. 549; Endl, 
Iconog., t. 84. 
C. sericea, Humb, Bonpl. & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Am., vol. ii. p. 388; 
DCTS 
The very remarkable plant here figured belongs to one of 
the comparatively few genera of flowering plants whose 
affinities are quite unsettled, although their structure is per- 
fectly well understood. It was referred to the neighbourhood 
of Jasmines by Don, who raised the genus to the rank of a 
natural order, but differs in the adherent calyx, seeds, and 
other characters. Lindley places it between Vacciniee and 
fubiacee, confessing, however, that “it is impossible to say 
where it really ought to stand.” De Candolle suggests its 
affinity with Gesneriacee, and no better has been hitherto 
found, though Sazifragee have been preferred upon plausible 
grounds. Decaisne considers it to be very near Ludbiacea, 
and I have suggested Loganiacee. 
There are but two species known of the genus, and both 
are natives of the Andes, where, however, they have no wide 
range, being apparently confined to the Andes of Peru and 
Equador. 
C. oblonga inhabits an elevation of 9000 to 13,000 feet, 
and is very common in the heights above Quito. It was 
raised from seeds sent by Dr. Jameson to J. Anderson Henry, 
Esq., who forwarded a young plant to Kew in 1870, which 
AuGust Ist, 1875, 
