Tab. 5538. 

 STACHYTARPHETA bicolor. 



Two-coloured Bastard- Vervain. 



Nat. Orel. Verbenace.^. — Diandria Monogynia. 

 Gen. Char. (Vide supra, Tab. 4211.) 



Stachytarpheta bicolor ; suffruticosa, foliis ovatis v. ovato-lanceolatis acutis 

 serratis basi in petiolum brevem angustatis glabris, spicis sublaxifloris, 

 bracteis subulatis acutis, corolla tubuloso-infundibuliformi calyce'duplo lon- 

 giore, tubo infra medium abrupte curvato atque angustato, limbo breviter 

 recurvo, germine basi gibboso. 



Though less effective than S. aristata (Bot. Mag. Tab. 4211), 

 this interesting species has the advantage of many of its weed- 

 like congeners in the comparatively great length of its corolla, 

 which is moreover of an unusual colour. On emerging from the 

 bud of a deep purple, it soon acquires a peculiar greenish-blue, 

 the throat remaining white. It is further remarkable in the 

 form of the corolla, which is funnel-shaped, with a very short 

 spreading limb, and not hypocrateriform or salver-shaped, as is 

 usual in the genus. The specimen from which our figure was 

 drawn developed its flowers on the passage home from Bahia, 

 whence it was forwarded to us by our excellent correspondent 

 C. H. Williams, Esq.; and it is just possible the unusual 

 colour of its flowers may have something to do with the circum- 

 stances under which they were produced. Although there are 

 thirty-five species of Stachytarpheta described from Brazil, our 

 friend M. Bocquillon, who has made the Ferbenacea his special 

 study, and who happens to be by us as we prepare this for 

 press, is unable to refer this plant to any of them, so that we 

 have no alternative but to publish it as new. 



Descr. Leaves varying from ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute, 

 serrate from a little above the base, which, in the broader leaves, 

 is rather abruptly or cuneately narrowed into the petiole, gla- 



october 1st, 1865. 



