Gardner’s, as having been given to specimens collected, 
described, and figured by himself. He states that the plant 
is called Quatra Patacas in Brazil, and that its powerfully 
cathartic root is extensively employed in malignant 
fevers. 
Mr. Watson informs me that A. violacea was in cultiva- 
tion in England thirty years ago, but was soon afterwards 
lost; it is the first purple-flowered species known to 
gardens. All those figured previously in this work are 
yellow. Of these ‘A. Schottii, t. 4351; A. Aubletii, t.4411; 
A, nobilis, t. 5764, are now regarded as forms of the old A. 
cathartica, t. 388, as was indeed suspected by the Editor of 
this work when figuring A. nobilis. <A. neriifolia, t. 4594, — y 
on the other hand, is very distinct, in the short con- 
tracted portion of the corolla-tube, and in habit’ and 
“other characters. 
A. violacea flowered in a stove in the Royal Gardens in 
September of last year, and continued in flower all through — 
the summer. Mr. Watson tells me that there are two 
varieties of it at Kew, one with flowers much duller in colour 
than the other. That here figured was sent by Mr. Medley — 
Wood, Curator of the Natal Botanical Gardens, in August, 
1888.—J. D, Ho 
Fig. 1, Portion of corolla-tube with stamen ; 2, ovary and glands :—both. 
enlarged. 
