Tas. 5933. 
DIASCIA BARBERS. 
Native of South Africa. 
Nat. Ord. ScropHuLARIACEa.—Tribe HemIMerIDER. 
Genus Diascta, Link and Otto ; (Benth. in DC. Prodr., vol. x. p. 256). 
Diascta Barbere ; erecta, foliis petiolatis ovatis apice rotundatis crenato- 
serratis supremis sessilibus, racemo stricto erecto terminali glanduloso 
bracteato, floribus majusculis, bracteis late ovatis, calycis segmentis 
lineari-oblongis obtusis, corolla rosea, lobis rotundatis, supremis parvis, 
lateralibus majoribus, inferiori multo majore subangulato, calcaribus 
cylindricis decurvis obtusis corolle lobis subsquilongis, filamentis 
crassiusculis glandulosis, ovario glaberrimo. 
The pretty Cape genus Déascia, which, like Satyrium 
amongst Cape Orchids, is remarkable for its two spurs, com-_ 
prises some thirty species, of which but one had previously 
been figured from living specimens in Europe, and this in a 
German work. Most of them are inconspicuous-flowered 
plants, and little worthy of cultivation for their beauty. 
Hitherto nothing is known of the economy of their two- 
spurred flowers; the spurs are, no doubt, :illed with nectar, and 
their function is to attract insects for the purpose of effecting 
cross-fertilization, towards which operation the curious ocel- 
lated green spot on the throat of the corolla may be expected 
to be further subservient. It is to be hoped that this curious 
subject will be taken up by some of the intelligent botanical 
observers of South Africa, who should watch the flower for 
the visits of insects, and carefully scrutinize the operations of 
these in their search for honey. oe. 
The Royal Gardens are indebted to their highly-valued 
NOVEMBER Ist, 1871. 
