eset. 
Tas. 4428. 
LOASA picra. 
Painted-flowered Loasa. 
Nat. Ord. Loaspx®.—PoLyaDELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
Gen. Char. Calycis tubus ovario adherens, limbus persistens, 5-partitus, equalis. 
Petala 5, lobis cal. alterna, breviter unguiculata, concava. Sguame 5, petaloidex, 
petalis alterne, bi- aut trilobee, in conum conniventes et basi intus filamentis 2 
sterilibus instructee. Stamina numerosa, exteriora 10 sterilia, ceetera in phalangis 
15-17-andras petalis oppositas disposita ; axtheris erectis bilocularibus. Stylus 
apice trifidus. Capsula turbinato-oblonga, . 1-locularis, apice 3-valvis calyce 
Coronata, valvis margine placentiferis, placentis ideo cum vicina continuis. 
Semina ovalia creberrima reticulata. D.C. 
Loasa picta; erecta debilis dichotoma parce pubescenti-pilosa, caule ramis 
petiolis pedunculisque pungenti-setosis, foliis rhombeo-ovatis lanceolatisve 
acuminatis acutis lobatis serratis, inferioribus petiolatis superioribus (brac-_ 
teisve) sessilibus, racemis terminalibus foliosis, pedicellis elongatis, ovario 
hispidissimo, petalis sterilibus ovatis acuminatis basi cucullatis apice bifidis, 
lobis calycinis petalisque reflexis. 
An extremely pretty species of Zoasa, native of Chacapoyas 
in the Andes, and which, from the varied colour of the petals 
and nectaries (or petaloid scales), we have named picia. It 
was detected by Mr. William Lobb, and seeds were raised by 
Messrs. Veitch and Sons at their Nursery, Exeter, from whose 
plants the accompanying figure was taken in December, 1848 ; 
during which season, in a cool frame, the plants are covered 
with blossom from top to bottom. There is every reason to 
believe that it will prove a hardy annual, well suited for bedding. 
out in the summer, when its graceful and lively flowers, yellow 
and white, with a red eye, cannot fail to prove attractive. We 
possess specimens in the Herbarium of the same species, gathered 
precisely in the same locality by the late Mr. Mathews. Its 
hearest affinity is with Z. xanthizfolia, Juss., but that has more 
cordate leaves, very hairy on both sides, the flowers smaller, 
Wholly yellow, and the nectaries, as far as can be judged from 
the figure and from the dried specimens, are of a different form. 
FEBRUARY Ist, 1849, 
