Magdalena, South America, by Humsoxprt, who retained, 
for its specific name, the uncouth appellation given to it by 
the natives of New Grenada. Mr. Tare introduced it to 
the stoves of this country from Mexico, and to him the 
Glasgow Botanic Garden owes the possession of it. With 
us it flowers in May and June. 
Descr. The specimen before us is scarcely a foot in 
length; its stem rounded, fruticose, brownish-green, with 
several tufts of deciduous spines, two to five in number, 
from one-half to three-fourths of an inch long, imbedded 
ina dense mass of hairs, or soft bristles. Leaves alternate, 
four to six inches long, rather soft and fleshy, elliptical, 
acute, tapering at the base into a very short footstalk ; and 
bearing, in the axils which do not contain peduncles, similar 
tufts of spines and hairs. The upper axils bear peduncles, 
which are thick, rounded, and fleshy, about an inch or 
more long, with from three to five handsome rose-coloured 
flowers. Calyx fleshy, green, of several somewhat imbri- 
cated teeth, with a small leafy appendage at the extremity, 
the outer ones with a small dense tuft of hairs on each side 
at the base ; petals ten, in two series; the outer smaller, 
greenish on the back ; the inner larger and deeper coloured, 
all obovate, more or less retuse, soon reflected. Filaments 
numerous, inserted upon the calyx. Anthers yellow. 
Style as long as the stamens. Stigma large, of five to six 
erect rays. 
