Tab. 5814. 

 JERDONIA Indica. 



Indian Jerdonia. 



Nat. Ord. DlDYMOCAEPE^E. DlDYNAMIA AnGIOSPERMIA. 



^ 



Gen. Char. — Calyx 5-partitus, lobia oblongo-lanceolatis. Corolla infun- 

 dibuliformis, tubo curvo ultra medium oblique ventricoso ; labio superiore 

 bifido lobis emarginatis, inferiore trilobo lobis obtusis. Stamina 4, medio 

 tubo inserta, omnia fertilia, filamentis curvis dilatatis ; antherae biloculares 

 supra stigma cohaerentes, loculis didymis. Ovarium disco cupulari imposi- 

 tum ; stylus breviusculus, stigmate peltato ; ovula numerosa, placentis 2 

 parietalibus bifidis inserta. Capsula ovoidea, polysperma. Semina sub- 

 globosa, testa foveolata. Herba parva, scapigera, pubescens. Folia petiolata, 

 cordata, integerrima. Scapi numerosi, l~2-Jlori ; fiores pallide lilacini. 



Jerdonia Indica. 



Jerdonia Indica; Wight, Ic. PL Ind. Or. t. 1352, 77/. gen. v. ii. t. 159 



A very curious little plant, discovered on the western slopes 

 of the Neilgherrie Mountains, by Dr. Wight, and of which 

 seeds were sent last year to the Royal Gardens, by Major 

 Beddome, Conservator of Madras Forests, which flowered in 

 October of the present year. The genus was named Jerdonia, 

 in honour of the eminent ornithologist, Surgeon-Major T. C. 

 Jerdon, F.L.S., of the Indian army ; it is a stove plant, inte- 

 resting in a horticultural point of view, from its pretty foliage 

 and numerous pale lilac flowers, streaked with blood-red. 

 Botanically it differs remarkably from its congeners in the 

 curious dilated filaments and plaeentation. I have seen 

 young capsules only, arid with immature seeds, these are in- 

 serted on parietal placentas, that do not project far into the 

 axis of the ovary like those of other Didymocarpe<i>. Dr. 

 Wight states that it flowers in March and April, but his 

 dried flowering specimens were gathered in September and 

 October, at which time the new plants also flowered. 



Descr. Rootstock, two to three inches long, creeping, 



JANUARY" 1ST, 1870. 



