I have retained the well-known and hitherto universally 
adopted name for this plant, though it can hardly be 
doubted that one of the earlier ones of Lagasca (fleewosum 
and acutangulum), published in 1814, is of earlier date. 
The descriptions, however, of Lagasca are very unsatisfac- 
tory, and he made two species out of the one. The 
Royal Gardens are indebted to Mr. Joad, F.L.S., of 
Wimbledon, for plants which flowered profusely during the 
month of August. 
Descr. A tall, very slender, much-branched diffuse or 
erect glabrous herb, a foot to a yard high; branches strict, 
acutely angled, leafy throughout. Leaves one-fourth to 
one inch long, all alternate or the lower opposite, more or 
less oblong or linear-oblong, the lower usually broader and 
sometimes cordate at the base, acute or obtuse, upper nar- 
rowly oblong. lowers solitary in the axils of all the upper 
leaves, shortly pedicelled, two-bracteolate, six- rarely five- 
merous ; bracteoles small, narrowly subulate. Calyx about 
a quarter of an inch long; tube slender and cylindric below 
the middle, then funnel-shaped; lobes twelve, six larger. 
triangular acute erect, six interposed minute subulate 
spreading. Petals longer than the calyx, obovate, subacute, — 
bright pink, nearly equal. Stamens twelve, the six longer — 
exserted, the shorter included. Ovary slender, glabrous.— 
wa. 24; 
Fig. 1, flower ; 2, the same cut longitudinally ; 3, stamens; 4, pistil; 5, trans- 
verse section of ditto :—all enlarged. 
? 
