Tas. 5927. 
BOMAREA CHONTALENSIS, 
Native of Nicaragua. 
Nat. Ord, AMARYLLIDER.—Tribe ALSTREMERIER. 
Genus Bomarra, Mirbel ; (Herbert Amaryllid., p. 109). 
Bomarea chontalensis ; caule volubili cylindrico velutino, foliis sparsis 
' summis subverticillatis lanceolatis ellipticisve acuminatis glabris subtus 
glaucis, umbellis pubescentibus, pedunculis elongatis, floribus numerosis 
laxe racemosis pendulis, perianthii equalis foliolis 3 exterioribus 
obovatis obtusis roseis, 3 interioribus spathulatis integerrimis pallidis 
brunneo maculatis, ovario triangulari. 
Bomarea chontalensis, Seemann in Gard. Chron. 1871, p. 479. 
A native of the margins of woods in the Chontales 
mountains of Nicaragua, where it was discovered by its de- 
scriber, at elevations of 2000 to 2500 feet above the sea, and 
whence roots were sent to Mr. Bull’s establishment at 
Chelsea, where the plant flowered in August of the present 
year. Asa species it is closely allied to B. edulis, Tussac 
(Alstremeria Salsilla, Tab. nost. 1613, not of Feuillet), a native 
of St. Domingo, the tubers at the end of the root-fibres of 
which are boiled and eaten as potatoes, under the name of 
Topinambours blancs: that plant has however fewer and less 
brightly-coloured flowers, and its inner perianth-segments 
are spotted with green; the size of the flower is the same in 
both. 
B. chontalensis is a very handsome stove climber, and is no 
doubt easily cultivated, and increased by the removal of the 
tubers at the proper season. Gai: 
Discr. Stem several feet high, climbing, cylindric, 
velvety, rich red-brown, as thick as a goose-quill. Leaves 
OCTOBER ist, 1871. 
