From seeds, gathered at the period of its discovery, it 
was raised in Kew Gardens, where it has ever since been_ 
an inmate ; but, under whatever culture, has not shown it-— 
self a plant of free growth. 
It appears to succeed best in a dry, warm part of the 
greenhouse, where it annually puts forth its pretty azure 
blossoms in the spring. The plant has not hitherto ripened 
its seeds in this country, but may be increased by cuttings. 
Descr. A tufted, smooth, subglaucescent, perennial plant, 
throwing up from the roots, many slender, slightly-com- 
pressed reclining stems, which are clothed with the sheath- 
ing bases of the leaves. Leaves wholly cauline, distinct, 
alternate, four inches long and under, erect-patent, disti- 
chous, the upper pagina more or less opposed to the stem, 
or but slightly turned from it ; carinate, striated with many 
longitudinal ee sheathing at the base, where the mem- 
branaceous margins are equal and simple. Flowers of a 
bright azure, terminal, formed into a corymbose panicle, 
each corymb few-flowered, sheathed at the base by a folia- 
ceous, acuminated bracte. Pedicels ebracteated, nodding, 
simple, dichotomous, or umbellate. Perianth six-partite, 
nearly equal, each segment ovate, acute, five-nerved. Sta- 
mens six, hypogynous, erect, of a bright yellow. Filaments 
smooth, attenuated, curved ; the upper portion thickened 
into a bearded or stupose tuft. Anthers bilocular, bursting 
longitudinally, and after dehiscence revolute, curved at the 
apex ; base emarginate, at which point they are attached 
to the filaments. Stigma subecapitate. All. Cunningham. 
