Tab. 5866. 

 BARLERIA Mackenii. 



Mr, McKen s Barleria. 



Nat. Ord. Acanthace^e. — Diandria Monogynia. 

 Gen. Char. {Vide supra, Tab. 5628.) 



Barleria Mackenii; glaberrima, caule obtuse 4-gono, foliis recurvis anguste 

 ovato- v. elliptico-lanceolatis subacutis petiolatis tenuissime strigillosis 

 integerrimis, floribus terminalibus paucis in axillis supremis, bracteis 

 parvis subulatis, sepalis exterioribus amplis late-ovato v. rotundato- 

 cordatis obtusis venosis, interioribus parvis e basi ovato subulato-acumi- 

 natis, corollae purpura? tubo infundibuliformi calycem sequante, limbi 

 lobis subtequaliter rotundatis basi atro-purpureis, staminodiis 3, 2 late- 

 ralibus minutis subulatis intermedio lato apiculato approximatis. 



A close ally of the Barleria Gibsoni (Tab.Nost. 5028), which 

 it resembles in the corolla, but diners remarkably in the form 

 of the bracts and sepals. It was discovered in the Latin 

 goldfields district of the Natal colony, whence dried specimens 

 were communicated to me by Mr. McKen, of the Natal 

 Botanic Gardens, and who also sent fresh seeds of it from 

 that interesting district in November of last year, from which 

 the plant here figured was raised at Kew in spring, and 

 flowered in June of the present year. We have also dried 

 specimens collected by Messrs. Chapman and Baines, during 

 their journey towards the Zambesi, in lat. 23° S., in the year 

 1863. Like many of its congeners which inhabit the 

 Peninsula of Hindostan, it probably flowers in the beginning 

 of the cool dry season, and would under proper treatment 

 form a charming acquisition for the winter decoration of a 

 moderately heated house. 



The district in which this Barleria is found appears ^ to 

 be botanically little known, and to abound in novelties. 

 Amongst others which Mr. McKen has procured, are two 



OCTOBER 1st, 1870. 



