gardens, where it is a great ornament to our stoves, flow- 
ering during the winter and spring months. The flowers 
are handsome, but in a measure concealed by the distichous 
foliage, under which they seem to insinuate themselves, 
though they originate in the upper axis of the leaf. The 
leaves themselves have a striking peculiarity in exhibiting 
the costa and nerves prominent on the upper side of the 
leaf, and sunk into the substance of the leaf (the costa ex- 
cepted, which is slightly prominent) on the under side. On 
each side of the nerve, however, on the upper side, the pa- 
rencbyme forms a closely-placed elevated line. 
Descr. Plant one and a half to two feet high, much 
branched, glabrous ; branches zigzag, patent or even, re- 
curved, compressed, slightly winged. Leaves distichous, 
opposite, though appearing alternate by the abortion of 
one of every pair alternately, broadly lanceolate, acumi- 
nato-caudate, serrated, above dark-green, with prominent 
nerves, beneath pale, with sunken nerves: when held be- 
tween the eye and the light, copious small pellucid lines, 
generally lying in a transverse direction, are visible. Petiole 
short, flat above, keeled below, slightly winged at the mar- 
gin. Abortive leaf very small, lanceolate, acuminate, with 
an obscure central nerve, sometimes altogether wanting. 
Pedunceles axillary, but inclined downwards, so that they 
are in a measure concealed under the spreading leaves and 
branches. Peduncles from the axil of the fully-formed leaf; 
rarely one arises from the opposite side also ; an inch or an 
inch and a half long, bearing a terminal, sessile glomerule, 
and sometimes one or two lateral ones of two to three flow- 
ers, and these subtended by about as many small bracteas. 
Calyx very small, of five deep linear-lanceolate, erect, equal, 
pale yellow-green, erect, segments, clothed with glandular 
hairs. Corolla funnel-shaped, the throat slightly compressed, 
the limb a little irregular, within hairy, the whole pis 
blue, prettily variegated and veined with pale marks of the 
same colour, and red and yellow. Anthers and filaments 
white, Style clavato-acuminate. 
