Tas. 7213. 
CHIRITA pepressa. 
Native of China. 
Nat. Ord. Gusneracex. Tribe CrR?TANDREA, 
Genus Curnita, Ham. (Benth. & Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. ii. p, 1022.) 
Cuirita depressa ; humilis, surculifera, foliis rosulatis breviter late petiolatis, 
late ovatis obtusis obtuse serratis penninerviis utrinque sericeo puberulis 
subtus niveis nervis crassis, cymis paucifloris breviter pedunculatis, 
floribus 1} pollicaribus calycis pubescentis et glanduloso-pilosi laciniis 
5 inequilongis linearibus erectis tubo corolle multo brevioribus, corolle 
violacew tubo subinflato lobis rotundatis triplo longiore, staminibus 
medio tubo insertis, filamentis incurvis glaberrimis, antheris parvis co- 
herentibus nudis oblongis parallelis, staminodiis 2 filiformibus incurvis 
glandulosis capitellatis, tertio minimo erecto demissius inserto, disco 
annulari sinuato glaberrimo, ovario styloque valido apice incurvo pubes- 
centibus et sparse glandulosis, 
The habit of this Chirita is quite unlike that of any other 
of the genus known tome. A very short stout rhizome 
bears a tuft of rosulate leaves, and sends out all round from 
below the insertion of the leaves stout green surculi, as 
thick as a swan’s quill, that root at the apex and form 
plants similar to the parent. The whole forming a dense 
mass of foliage that quickly fills a pan. The plant is very 
succulent, of a pale green colour, except the under sides of 
the leaves, which are clothed with an almost snow-white 
pubescence. The flowers, which are abundantly produced, 
are disposed in bibracteate cymes terminating very short, 
stout peduncles, so short that the flowers appear nestled 
amongst the leaves. Its nearest congener is U. eburnea, 
Hance (Journ. Bot. vol. v. 1883, p. 168), a: native of the 
same province in China, which has similarly thick almost 
fleshy leaves, with broad petioles and covered with the 
same very fine pubescence, but the leaves are quite entire, 
and instead of being many- and penni-nerved the nerves 
are very few and irregularly disposed and branched. The 
flowers of (. eburnea are similar to those of CU. depressa in 
form, but its cymes are on long ascending peduncles, the 
JanvakyY lst, 1892, 
