it, “ Itis a half-herbaceous plant, and I should think will 
stand the winter of this climate (Dublin) if placed at the 
bottom of a sheltered wall, and if so, it will be a particu- 
larly desirable plant, its very dark, glossy flowers contrast- 
ing singularly with the gayer colours of others that may be 
placed near it. The main stem is now four feet high, and 
covered with these blossoms.” 
Descr. Stem suberect, scarcely climbing, yet weak, 
terete, clothed, as are the petioles and peduncles and the 
nerves and margins of the leaves, with long, rather soft, 
patent, and somewhat tawny hairs. Leaves on petioles 
about an inch long, cordato-ovate, membranaceous, acute. 
Peduncles axillary, hardly so long as the petioles, bearing 
an umbel of five to ten flowers, bracteated at the base. 
Pedicels scarcely an inch long, thick. Calyx with five 
acute lobes. Corolla rotate, very concave, singularly thick 
and leathery, dark, glossy brown-purple, at the base within 
beset with small raised points: lobes broadly ovate, acute, 
quite glabrous. Nectary of five, erect, dark purple, fleshy, 
bifid scales, from the base of the corolla. Within this 
are the five stamens, united into a very short, thick stipes. 
Between the anthers are two small, diverging lobes or seg- 
ments. Retinaculum brown. Pollen-masses yellow. Pis- 
tils two. Germens broadly ovate, rough. — 
Fig. 1. Portion of the Corolla. 2. Nectary and Stamens. 3. Stamens. 
4. Pollen-masses. 5. Pistil :—magnified. 
