Tas. 6556. 
MUSSCHTA AUREA. 
Native of Madeira. 
j Nat. Ord. CampanuLacex.—Tribe CAMPANULER. 
- Genus Musscuia, Dumort.; (Benth. et Hook f. Gen. Pl. vol. ii. p. 560.) 
Musscuta aurea; acaulis v. caule brevi valido, glaberrima, nitida, foliis confertis 
breviter crasse petiolatis elliptico-lanceolatis utrinque angustatis subdupli- v, 
triplicato serratis coriaceis, panicula terminali erecta stricta pyramidata ramis 
apices versus cymiferis, bracteis foliaceis integerrimis v. subserratis, cymis 2-5- 
floris, floribus erectis, pedicellis crassis incurvis, calycis tubo obconico lobis 
magnis ovatis acutis erecto-patentibus, corolla aures segmentis patentibus v. 
reflexis lanceolatis acuminatis calycis lobos sequantibus. ’ 
M. aurea, Dumort. Comm. Bot. 1823, p. 28; Alph. DC. Mong. Campan. p.368, 
et in Prodr, vol. vii. p. 495; Lowe Man, Kl. Madeir. vol. i. p. 574, 
CAMPANULA aurea, Linn. f. Suppl. p. 141; Ait. Hort. Kew. ed. 2, vol. i, p. 351; 
Vent. Jard, Malm. t. 116 Py ihianit traite des Arbres. vol. iii. p. 169, cum 
ic. ; Jacq. Hort. Schenb. vol. iv. t. 472 ; Ker Bot. Reg. t. 57. 8 
This is the most beautiful of the indigenous plants of 
Madeira, of which Mr. Lowe, in his Manual of the Flora of 
that island, says: ‘“ Nothing can exceed the singularity 
and splendour of a fine panicle as it occurs on its native 
rocks; almost wholly of a rich golden-yellow, and shining 
as if varnished, in full contrast with the equally bright 
shining dark green foliage.” And agam: * Had this 
plant grown in Italy, it might well be supposed to have 
suggested the idea of the famous golden branch of the 
Cumean Sybil to the Roman poet.” Though more beauti- 
ful, in point of singular appearance it falls short of its only 
congener, M. Woollastoni, also a native of Madeira, figured 
at Tab. 5606 of this work, which has larger and ver pale 
flowers, surmounted by a columnar green style wit five 
spreading and recurved arms, each one-half to nearly an 
inch long. With regard to this last species, it may be well 
to record here Mr. Lowe’s observation (Manual, p. 577) 
that the flowers in its native state are much more coloured 
May lst, 1881. 
