H. Rosa Sinensis is not well known; Loureireiro states 
that it is indigenous in both China and Cochinchina, and it 
has certainly been for long cultivated in China, and it 
occurs in so many of the Pacific Islands as to render it 
very probable that it is a native of the Pacific ; on the other 
hand, its two nearest allies, the present plant and H. 
liliiflorus, being natives, the one of Hast Africa, and the 
other of the Mascarene Islands, suggests the probability of 
Africa being the parent country of H. Rosa Sinensis. 
For the discovery of this fine plant we are indebted to 
our indefatigable correspondent, Dr. Kirk, H.B.M. Consul 
at Zanzibar, who found it first in 1874 on the coast hills 
at Mombasa, in lat. 4° 8.; in 1877 at Kilwa, in 7° 40’S.; 
and, lastly, at Lindi, in 10°S. It grows both in dry rocky 
slopes and in damp mountain glens, in dense shade, 
amongst Bignonias, Balsams, and Ferns. 
The specimen here figured was raised from seed gent by 
Dr. Kirk, which has been flowering in the Stove-house from 
the month of June till now, late in October.—J. D. H. 
Fig. 1, Section of base of flower through the ovary ; 2 and 3, anthers and portion 
of filaments; 4, ovary and rudiments of epicalyx ; 5, top of staminal column and — 
stigmas ; 6, transverse section of ovary :—adl enlarge 
