Tap, 5938. 
SPHARALCEA MINIATA, 
Native of La Plata, 
Nat. Ord, Matvacea,—Tribe, MaLvea. 
Genus Spamracea, St. Hil.; (Benth. and Hook,, Gen. Pl., vol. i. p. 204), 
SPHERALCEA miniata ; fruticosa, tomentosa, foliis trilobis grosse ineequaliter 
crenatis lobo intermedio productiore oblongo acuto lateralibus brevibus 
patentibus obtusis, stipulis subulatis persistentibus, petiolo lamina 
breviore, cymis axillaribus paucifloris, pedicellis calyce subsquilongis, 
bracteis setaceis, calycis 5-lobi lobis acutis, corolla ampla miniata. 
SPHHRALCEA miniata, Spach, Hist. Nat. Veg., vol. iii. p- 852. 
SpH#RoMA miniatum, Garcke in Bot. Zeit. 1853, p- 847; Walp. Ann., 
vol. iv. p. 801. 
Matva miniata, Cav. Ic., vol. iii. p. 40, t. 278; Jacq. Fragm., t. 132; 
DC. Prod., vol. vi. p. 484; Sweet, Brit. Fl. Gard., ser. 2, vol. ii. t. 
120; Wiilld., Sp. Pl., vol. iii. p. 783; Ait. Hort. Kew., vol. iv. p. 214. 
The “ Painted Mallow” of Hortus Kewensis was introduced 
into England in 1798 by the Marchioness of Bute, and was 
extensively grown at one time both as a greenhouse ornament 
and shrubby plant, being regarded, according to Sweet 
(writing in 1831), as of great importance to the decoration of 
shrubberies in the months of October and November, at 
which time it is profusely clothed with fine vermilion-coloured 
blossoms. It is added, however, that it is apt to be killed in 
Severe winters if left without protection ; this, no doubt, has 
led to its disappearance from our borders, though why it 
should be neglected in the greenhouse does not appear. 
The native country of 8. miniata was for many years 
unknown. Aiton (Hortus Kewensis) gives South America 
for its habitat. Cavanilles, who first figured and described 
it, did so from a plant which flowered in the Madrid 
DECEMBER Ist, 187]. 
