Tas. 5268. 
SPIGELIA spLENDENS. 
Brilliant Spigela. 
Nat. Ord. LoGANIACEH.—PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Gen. Char. Calyx 5-partitus, persistens. Corolla hypogyna, infundibuliformis, 
limbi 5-fidi laciniis cestivatione valvatis. Stamina 5, medio v. summo corolle tubo 
inserta, inclusa v. rarius exserta. Ovarium 2-loculare ; ovulis in placentis basilari- 
bus stipitatis plurima ; s¢y/o terminali infra stigma subcapitatum v. concavum ar- 
ticulato. Capsula didyma, dicocca, basi circumscissa, coccis bivalvibus. Semina 
pauca, cuneata. Hmbryo albuminosus, minimus.—Herbe, v. suffrutices, Ameri- 
cane. Folia opposita, petiolis basi connatis. Flores terminales spicati, secundi. 
SPIGELIA splendens, herbacea, basi frutescens pubescente-pilosa, ramis tereti- 
usculis, foliis amplis obovato-oblongis acuminatis in petiolum attenuatis 
lete viridibus, pedunculis validis, spica multiflora, floribus magnis, sepalis 
subulatis, corolla elongata coccinea, antheris exsertis. 
SpPiGEtia splendens, Hort. Wendland. 
Of this beautiful plant we can find no published description, 
and we are unaware from what country it was procured. In the 
foliage it resembles the SS. speciosa of Mexico, and in the flowers 
S. pedunculata of the Andes of Quindiu. Nothing can exceed 
the deep rich red colour of the spike, which renders it a most 
conspicuous and desirable addition to our stove plants. 
Drscr. A perennial herd, with the stem woody below. Our 
plant flowered when about one foot high. Stems nearly terete 
covered with loose spreading hairs. - Leaves four to five inches 
long, contracted into a short petiole, obovate-oblong, acuminate, 
dark-green with prominent veins, slightly hairy. Spikes several 
towards the apex of the stem, stout, erect, each bearing an ele- 
gantly recurved spike of numerous two-ranked, closely set, bright 
scarlet flowers, upwards of one inch long. Calyz small, with su- 
bulate teeth. Corolla cylindric, slightly inflated upwards : /imé 
SEPTEMBER IsT, 1861. 
